Jennifer
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Jun 25, 2014 21:48:45 GMT
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Post by Jennifer on Nov 13, 2014 14:23:00 GMT
So, the man's job is being transferred and we're moving from Texas to Kentucky in January.  I'm looking for recommendations (or cautions) for moving companies we can use. His employer listed two companies, but they both have absolutely horrible reviews online, and one of them can't even be bothered to keep appointments for estimates.  Give me your good, your bad, your ugly...anything that might help make a decision. I've never used movers other than for a same city move, so I'm completely out of my element at this point. Thanks! Jen
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:52:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 14:37:47 GMT
We moved from SC to TX then TX to NC. Both times the companies used Graebel for our moves. Both times we were very pleased. I don't plan on moving again but if I did, I would be more than happy to work with Graebel.
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Post by bigbundt on Nov 13, 2014 14:56:36 GMT
Are you getting relocation? I used UBF U-Pack for my cross country move a few years ago. I like packing my own things (I have my own system) and my family helped get everything in the truck. They only charge you for the space you use in the trailer, I ended up paying less than my estimate because I didn't use as much as I thought I would. At my destination I hired a couple of day laborers from a local moving company. Everything made it to the destination and nothing was broken. I highly recommend them if you are okay with not having a full-service moving company. They were really nice throughout the process and working with the terminals on both ends was awesome. I moved a (small) three-bedroom house for around $1,700.  Estimates from full-service companies were starting out at $3,500 but I didn't have someone else paying for the move so I went with the cheaper option. I would use them again in a heartbeat.
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Post by khaleesi on Nov 13, 2014 15:03:31 GMT
I have only ever moved myself and I used ABF U-Pack. I used them to move from WA to MI, MI to AL, and AL back to MI. You only pay for the space in the trailer you use. You do load and unload yourself. I did it myself the first time and then hired local movers to load it for me the other times. I would use them again, they were great to work with.
I know a few friends that have had good luck with Mayflower but I have no personal experience.
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Jennifer
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Jun 25, 2014 21:48:45 GMT
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Post by Jennifer on Nov 13, 2014 15:37:32 GMT
We moved from SC to TX then TX to NC. Both times the companies used Graebel for our moves. Both times we were very pleased. I don't plan on moving again but if I did, I would be more than happy to work with Graebel. Interesting that you were happy with Graebel. They're the "preferred" company with his employer, but have absolutely horrible reviews online, and have ditched 3 different appointments with me so far for estimates. Glad you liked them tho!
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Post by whopea on Nov 13, 2014 15:39:12 GMT
We moved from SC to TX then TX to NC. Both times the companies used Graebel for our moves. Both times we were very pleased. I don't plan on moving again but if I did, I would be more than happy to work with Graebel. I used Graebel once for a corporate move and they were excellent.
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Jennifer
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Jun 25, 2014 21:48:45 GMT
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Post by Jennifer on Nov 13, 2014 15:39:13 GMT
Are you getting relocation? I used UBF U-Pack for my cross country move a few years ago. I like packing my own things (I have my own system) and my family helped get everything in the truck. They only charge you for the space you use in the trailer, I ended up paying less than my estimate because I didn't use as much as I thought I would. At my destination I hired a couple of day laborers from a local moving company. Everything made it to the destination and nothing was broken. I highly recommend them if you are okay with not having a full-service moving company. They were really nice throughout the process and working with the terminals on both ends was awesome. I moved a (small) three-bedroom house for around $1,700.  Estimates from full-service companies were starting out at $3,500 but I didn't have someone else paying for the move so I went with the cheaper option. I would use them again in a heartbeat. Yeah, we're getting relocation money. We can't use UBF (I used them myself once, years ago) or any other pod type service. Our current apartment complex won't allow them to park it anywhere on site for us to load it.
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Post by PenandInk on Nov 13, 2014 15:44:47 GMT
Budd Van Lines. Really the best of the best. Also Clark and Reid. Excellent.
I've had terrible experiences with Interstate and Nelson Westerberg which is part of Atlas Van Lines.
Here is what you want to know-- does the mover have employees at your arrival destination to help with unloading the truck or do they hire someone off the street to help? Interstate and Nelson Westerberg both hired unknown people off the street for a daily rate to unload us. With our Interstate move, the man they hired was about 75 years old, and honestly I thought he was going to die carrying the boxes up our hill. But worse than that, he couldn't read, so we ended up with "bedroom" boxes in the basement and vice-versa. We didn't notice until the movers left. When you've just moved, and are exhausted, lugging all your boxes up and down the stairs to the right place is just not a happy thing.
With our Nelson Westerberg move, the man they hired was drunk, and he kept making passes at my 15 year old daughter. Disgusting, lewd comments. I finally asked the driver to keep him away from the house. Ick.
Movers like Budd and Clark and Reid being their own moving crew with them on the truck to help unload. The crew has seen your house, knows your kids, and they work hard to set up your rooms (especially the kids bedrooms) just like they were in the old house. Really stellar work, the movie is SO much easier!
We move a lot, I guess you can tell!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:52:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 15:47:52 GMT
Wow, so sorry they have ditched you. We only had amazing service with them both times. I see whopea did too. I wonder if it has to do with location and the people in that location. We moved to and from Austin using Graebel.
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Jennifer
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Jun 25, 2014 21:48:45 GMT
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Post by Jennifer on Nov 13, 2014 16:29:24 GMT
Wow, so sorry they have ditched you. We only had amazing service with them both times. I see whopea did too. I wonder if it has to do with location and the people in that location. We moved to and from Austin using Graebel. We're in Austin as well. I wonder if they have a different person handling this area now? It's a shame that they can't seem to keep an appointment. I hate moving. 
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:52:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 16:53:26 GMT
Wow, that is terrible! We moved to Austin in 1998 then left in 2012. Could be someone else handling the area. So very sorry. I pray you find a great company soon!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:52:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 17:00:49 GMT
We recently moved from NC to KY. No recommendations from me, since we moved ourselves, but good luck with the move and be prepared for some cold weather here.
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Post by cmpeter on Nov 13, 2014 17:20:15 GMT
We always call three major companies and choose based on their quotes and our comfort level after meeting with them. We have had good luck with Allied, Bekins and United.
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Post by mikewozowski on Nov 13, 2014 18:08:26 GMT
try freeman/north american in houston.
arpin usually has good reviews.
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Post by whopea on Nov 13, 2014 18:18:20 GMT
Penandink's post reminds me of something too. Find a mover that uses it's own employees to load / unload, not day laborers. When a moving company uses it's own employees, they are bonded / insured / background checked. Smaller companies can't afford to keep employees during slow season so they don't have a consistent labor force. I wouldn't want day laborers moving my furniture and belongings!
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Post by kimmie75 on Nov 13, 2014 21:24:09 GMT
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