Professional Movers: Why Do They Charge So Much?

Because it's worth it. And probably then some.

We've been in our home 25 years. I'm finding stuff I didn't even know existed. We've had 2 garage sales. We still have enough crap that we'll be lucky to get half of it packed by the time we're ready to go.

I have no idea how I'm gonna get my safe on to a truck...or off. Tool boxes, large tools, small tools, car stuff, ladders...all things I use far too often to sell and have to replace. Good thing I don't have lots of guns...or ammo. I have no idea what I'd do with those things for safe keeping once we arrived at our destination.

The wife literally has tons of fabric and quilting crap...a truckload in itself.

What a PITA.

Get a case of gatorade for the lumpers and order them a pizza for lunch. It is very much appreciated.

I have a 6x10 utility trailer if you want to borrow it. I live by the super Walmart at Bowles and c470.

Moving sucks!!!! Good luck!!

I finally paid someone for this last move and let me tell you it was worth every penny. They kicked ass and took names. I thought I'd be all cool and help load to try and save time and by the 4th trip into the truck I realized I was just slowing them down.

We are going through the identical procedure. I have 20 year accumulation of "STUFF" and living out in the sticks, I save all kinds of stuff to possibly avoid having to go into town to get a couple this or that type things. We have received an unofficial quote of over $6,000 but the estimator has not yet seen our place, only knows this is a three bdrm, 2 bath house., wait until they see two sheds crammed with "stuff". I believe their estimate for our move from Colorado to Illinois will be a whole LOT more than their sight unseen estimate. Like a new 21-ft fiberglass ladder that is heavy and will take up a lot of room. Have about six or eight CB radios, larger number of rolls of coax, many CB antennas that am going to get rid of since almost nobody uses CB's anymore with cell phones had by everyone. This going to be one VERY expensive move but I have to bite the bullet and keep the wife happy to back with our kids in HOT/HUMID Illinois - which is a very unfriendly State for gun owners (almost as bad as Colorado).[blaster]

I'm not actually using movers. Just saying it would be worth it. The logistics of our move are really challenging.

I'm leaving at the end of July for Idaho. Wife most likely won't be joining me for a month or two after I leave...or whenever the house sells. Right now we're just packing up stuff and "staging" it in the shop so when the house sells I'll make the trip back and we can just load everything on to a truck.

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Originally Posted by Sixgun

I have a 6x10 utility trailer if you want to borrow it. I live by the super Walmart at Bowles and c470.

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I sincerely appreciate the offer...very kind. We actually have a 7x16 trailer that's almost completely full as it is. Another trailer and I'll need another truck to pull it.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

I'm not actually using movers. Just saying it would be worth it. The logistics of our move are really challenging.

I'm leaving at the end of July for Idaho. Wife most likely won't be joining me for a month or two after I leave...or whenever the house sells. Right now we're just packing up stuff and "staging" it in the shop so when the house sells I'll make the trip back and we can just load everything on to a truck.



I sincerely appreciate the offer...very kind. We actually have a 7x16 trailer that's almost completely full as it is. Another trailer and I'll need another truck to pull it.

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My cousin is back n forth between here & Boise, just saying. Sure some coin for fuel might persuade him. Or i'll beat him till he doesn't know any better.
Not that it matters but we've found a few places about 6.5 hours from you. Waiting to hear back from a few realtors.

Our move from Denver down here to NM took me 6 truckloads, 3 of those with a 16' trailer. I had one truckload of just plants. F'in plants. Had a tree strapped into the passenger seat. (to be fair, 2 loads were tools and one was guns and gun related stuff). My sympathies, but good luck on the transition. Friend just sold his house up near you, had a dozen offers in 48 hours, closed right after that with an offer of 15% over asking. Looks like the market up there is pretty crazy right now.

Dang, I was all set for some whining about prices but Bailey nailed it again. That's the beauty of the free market -- prices usually settle down at what both the seller and buyer are willing to live with. In the mind of everyone but liberals, that's "fair" (liberals apparently use some language other than standard English).

I've had movers drop a case of wine (ouch!) and a 100-year-old dish I'd inherited from my grandmother (double ouch!) but for the most part, my experiences with professional movers have been positive and they are more than deserving of some drinks and sandwiches while they are putting your crud together ...

Wish I had a good story about movers.
In the late 90's, I used a moving company in Tom Martino's group, and they used techniques on us that Tom Martino used to rant and warn people about.
1. Estimator gave one "fixed" price, then the movers upped the price when they had the goods on the truck and arrived at the destination (Moving from Littleton to Elizabeth)
2. No phone or cell service, so I had to drive 2 miles to get a cell signal. Called the company and, gosh oh gee, the estimator was not available. No one else at the company could or would explain the price increase or help with my problem.
3. The driver blocked my driveway with the truck and refused to unload until I paid the extra.
4. And, yes, I provided doughnuts and bagels in the morning, and bought sandwiches and soft drinks for everyone at lunch.
The workers were real interested in my boxes labeled "reloading supplies" and wanted to know where the firearms were. I told them at a friend's house who would help me move them after we were settled in with the alarm system activated.
My complaints to the company president were never answered. I reported the actions to Tom Martino, and he started yelling that everything is in writing and enforceable and I was the one at fault for paying the extra.
Yep, he hung up when I mentioned it was one of his recommended movers.
I don't know the lesson learned here. I just did not have a great experience.

[Dunno]

44' gooseneck enclosed car hauler.

We have moved several times over the years. There are some things I will move myself. I get lots of bins and boxes and my wife packs and labels almost everything. I take stuff to the Goodwill/ARC and the dump. The professionals load the truck, drive the truck, unload the truck. My wife points to the rooms where she wants boxes or furniture put while unloading. I provide pizzas and liquid refreshments to anyone who happens to be in the area while the loading and unloading takes place.

Having some time between settlement and moving in allows for some good house cleaning and even some room painting, or limited renovations. Broom clean after selling means different things to different people.

Moving is expensive, but IMO, worth every penny.

Selling my place leaving everything

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Originally Posted by Mtn.man

Selling my place leaving everything

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Yeah...that's the thing. We're leaving/trashing a bunch of stuff, too. Already made numerous donations (think 3 or 4 full pickup loads) to the local thrift stores.

It'll be great finding the perfect place and getting settled in. Getting there is the hard part. And Lewiston is kinda hard to get to in a roundabout way.

That sounds like us...but substitute quilting crap for plants. And, yeah...my stuff, too. At least the fabric is light and compact. Gun safe, table saw, tools...heavy and not very compact.

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Originally Posted by Mtn.man

Selling my place leaving everything

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We told one party who was interested , For an extra $20K the shop will be sold as they see it. The guy was [Beer] His spouse was [Rant1].

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

Because it's worth it. And probably then some.

We've been in our home 25 years. I'm finding stuff I didn't even know existed. We've had 2 garage sales. We still have enough crap that we'll be lucky to get half of it packed by the time we're ready to go.

I have no idea how I'm gonna get my safe on to a truck...or off. Tool boxes, large tools, small tools, car stuff, ladders...all things I use far too often to sell and have to replace. Good thing I don't have lots of guns...or ammo. I have no idea what I'd do with those things for safe keeping once we arrived at our destination.

The wife literally has tons of fabric and quilting crap...a truckload in itself.

What a PITA.

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TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE FABRIC!!!!

:) Sorry, couldn't resist.

We have done it both ways, but having the movers there always meant that I could concentrate on dealing with the items that I didn't trust the movers to handle.

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Originally Posted by TheGrey

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE FABRIC!!!!

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She has stuff from yesterday all the way back to the 1850s and everything in between. My wife is the Grand Poobah Quilter in these parts...former county and state fair champion for some of her quilts. She did this one (handiest photo I have) for a local animal shelter silent auction. It's called "Forever Homes" and it brought over $1300 at the auction:

Attachment 59154

Their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x_QkGPCL18

I dread my next move. I'm down right scared.

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Originally Posted by BlasterBob

[blaster].

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Not trying to be cruel but aren't your kids close to retirement? Would it be cheaper to move them out here?

I don't look forward to moving. I'm already trying to get rid of crap and it keeps showing up in droves.

We're in between houses (waiting to close on our new home) and we said that if we ever have to move again, we're paying someone. This is our second move in 3 years and it sucks.

Movers charge what they do for the same reason divorce lawyers do: because they're worth it. If I ever have to move again, I'll gladly pay someone to do the heavy lifting.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

Because it's worth it. And probably then some.

We've been in our home 25 years. I'm finding stuff I didn't even know existed. We've had 2 garage sales. We still have enough crap that we'll be lucky to get half of it packed by the time we're ready to go.

I have no idea how I'm gonna get my safe on to a truck...or off. Tool boxes, large tools, small tools, car stuff, ladders...all things I use far too often to sell and have to replace. Good thing I don't have lots of guns...or ammo. I have no idea what I'd do with those things for safe keeping once we arrived at our destination.

The wife literally has tons of fabric and quilting crap...a truckload in itself.

What a PITA.

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If you need help loading anything, let me know; I can swing by if needed.

Anyone have a recommendation for movers? We just closed on a house and will be moving from Aurora, to Westminster around July 10. Mostly we're looking for heavy stuff getting moved and I'll use my SUV and wife's car for guns, ammo and fragile items.

Good luck with your move. Wish we were at a point where we could pick up and move again.

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Originally Posted by Bailey Guns

She has stuff from yesterday all the way back to the 1850s and everything in between. My wife is the Grand Poobah Quilter in these parts...former county and state fair champion for some of her quilts. She did this one (handiest photo I have) for a local animal shelter silent auction. It's called "Forever Homes" and it brought over $1300 at the auction:

Attachment 59154

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That's fantastic! She's got major talent. :)

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Originally Posted by Dave

Anyone have a recommendation for movers? We just closed on a house and will be moving from Aurora, to Westminster around July 10. Mostly we're looking for heavy stuff getting moved and I'll use my SUV and wife's car for guns, ammo and fragile items.

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Congrats on your new home! We used Mayflower when we moved from Aurora to Lone Tree. After several military moves, it was refreshing to have some truly professional movers. We don't have gun safes, but we have some godawful heavy furniture, and many, many, many boxes of books and LPs. They were fast, polite and careful.

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Originally Posted by MED

If you need help loading anything, let me know; I can swing by if needed.

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Thanks. I'll keep that in mind but, at this point, I think we're good.

We moved last Aug. after 16 years in our last house. Hired "Two men and a truck" and dang sure glad we did. Had two garage sales, donated a bunch of stuff to different organizations trying to "down size", gave stuff away, and Still, what a pain in the azz.
We had two trucks and 4 guys working and they busted their butts. One guy, one BIG guy, strapped my safe on a dolly and man handled it up the ramp all by himself. I was impressed. After both trucks were unloaded, we not only had subway sandwiches waiting for them, but I gave each of them a $50., because they did a great job and because they hustled so hard, they got done way quicker than what they had estimated it would take, so in the long run them hustling saved us a few hundred from what it would've cost.