How do I find someone to move my stuff?
June 23, 2011 1:33 AM Subscribe
I have a storage locker full of my family's belongings that is 1,200 miles away from me, along the US West Coast. Is there any way I can hire someone to empty it out,, haul it the long distance and deliver it to me?
Is there a trustworthy service that provides this and how much might it cost? The kicker is that I don't want to travel 1,200 miles and back myself.
NOTE: I am NOT, repeat NOT, soliciting bids for this job on MeFi. I'm just asking if such a service exists.
Is there a trustworthy service that provides this and how much might it cost? The kicker is that I don't want to travel 1,200 miles and back myself.
NOTE: I am NOT, repeat NOT, soliciting bids for this job on MeFi. I'm just asking if such a service exists.
If you're potentially looking for someone to monitor the gathering of the items once you've got an idea of what service to use, do you know anyone in that area that could stop by and keep an eye on the proceedings?
Or, perhaps, enlist someone you know out that way to transport it (reimbursing them, of course)?
posted by Heretical at 2:09 AM on June 23, 2011
Or, perhaps, enlist someone you know out that way to transport it (reimbursing them, of course)?
posted by Heretical at 2:09 AM on June 23, 2011
The easiest way would be to find a long-distance mover, and a friend in the town. Send your friend the key to the locker and a few bucks, get them to let the movers into the locker, supervise. You might be able to cut out the friend and just send the movers your key, just ask them when you call.
I did that for a friend a few weeks ago; I hung outside and read a book while the movers loaded her storage unit up.
(for cost reference to go along with j03,, I spent just under $2k CAD to move about 2000 pounds about 4100 miles. Everything in boxes already, though.)
posted by Lemurrhea at 3:29 AM on June 23, 2011
I did that for a friend a few weeks ago; I hung outside and read a book while the movers loaded her storage unit up.
(for cost reference to go along with j03,, I spent just under $2k CAD to move about 2000 pounds about 4100 miles. Everything in boxes already, though.)
posted by Lemurrhea at 3:29 AM on June 23, 2011
If you're potentially looking for someone to monitor the gathering of the items once you've got an idea of what service to use, do you know anyone in that area that could stop by and keep an eye on the proceedings?
Seconding the person to "keep an eye on the proceedings" if you have anything of value in your belongings.
I haven't heard of very many moves where some items haven't mysteriously gone missing.
posted by fairmettle at 5:07 AM on June 23, 2011
Seconding the person to "keep an eye on the proceedings" if you have anything of value in your belongings.
I haven't heard of very many moves where some items haven't mysteriously gone missing.
posted by fairmettle at 5:07 AM on June 23, 2011
Moving companies are notoriously sketchy. Hire what looks like the best bidder, and then they demand money to give you your stuff, some of which has vanished. Hire the most reputable mover, and get lots of pictures and a good inventory. Definitely use Jobs.Mefi to find somebody.
posted by theora55 at 8:38 AM on June 23, 2011
posted by theora55 at 8:38 AM on June 23, 2011
Where on the West Coast? If you don't have an RL friend in the city in question, I bet you have a friend in MeFi. see what I did there?
posted by KathrynT at 9:32 AM on June 23, 2011
posted by KathrynT at 9:32 AM on June 23, 2011
You could call the storage rental place and ask if they like any long distance movers who they work with. Or post another AskMe next week for suggestions for a reputable long distance mover who covers the area. I like the PODS idea if you can get local labor to load it; perhaps the folks at the storage place can hook you up?
No matter what you do, I would very much suggest that you have a friend of some sort observe and document the loading process. If you don't have anyone in the area, see KathrynT's suggestion above.
posted by zachlipton at 9:43 AM on June 23, 2011
No matter what you do, I would very much suggest that you have a friend of some sort observe and document the loading process. If you don't have anyone in the area, see KathrynT's suggestion above.
posted by zachlipton at 9:43 AM on June 23, 2011
Just to give a different perspective, are you sure it is full of stuff you want to keep? I only ask because much of the time what people put in a storage unit is extra kitchen stuff, old clothes, record collections, etc. (according to the manager at the storage facility my work uses -- whenever they have auctions these days the place is swamped because of the show "Storage Wars" and inevitably people are disappointed with the junk they ended up bidding on). You could probably save yourself some money by booking a flight out for a weekend, going through the unit yourself, and purging stuff. Then again, I'm always looking for ways to downsize these days, so that would be the first thing to come to my mind.
Otherwise, I agree with the suggestion to post on mefi jobs.
posted by JenMarie at 11:05 AM on June 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Otherwise, I agree with the suggestion to post on mefi jobs.
posted by JenMarie at 11:05 AM on June 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
« Older How many more blood donations would it take in the... | Desperately trying to not make this a recipe... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Long Distance Mover Cost Moving the contents of a 600-square foot one-bedroom apartment from Washington DC to Los Angeles, California averages $3,600 -$5,000 for full service, which includes packing. Estimated weight is 3,400 pounds.
I would imagine moving the contents of a small storage space half the distance would be quite a bit cheaper.
Another potential option is PODS. That is if you can somehow convince/pay the current storage company to move your junk from their storage space into a POD for moving.
posted by j03 at 1:56 AM on June 23, 2011