Moving from Out-of-State

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I know there are several of you (Irvine Renter, Black Vault, etc.) on this forum you moved from the midwest and the east coast and made Irvine their new home. Would anybody here care to share which out-of-state moving company they used and recommend. Please share your moving experience with the Panda?



Please be honest, how stressful was the move to Irvine? Any expensive mistakes to avoid?
 
Thanks CalGal,



You moved from Boston to S. California right? Do you have any advice as to what to do and not to do in a cross-country move? For example i am debating if i should throw away most of the stuff here including furniture and buying all new furniture in OC. I'm sure this move is going to cost a lot of money, but not quite sure exactly how much. Do you remember what the cost was for a full service cross-country move including two cars?
 
[quote author="PANDA" date=1227086358]I know there are several of you (Irvine Renter, Black Vault, etc.) on this forum you moved from the midwest and the east coast and made Irvine their new home. Would anybody here care to share which out-of-state moving company they used and recommend. Please share your moving experience with the Panda?



Please be honest, how stressful was the move to Irvine? Any expensive mistakes to avoid?</blockquote>


I moved from Chicago to Orlando and used U-Haul. I would rather have someone make small incisions with a rusty razor blade all over my body and then dunk me in battery acid before I use U-Haul ever again.

Here is why. It broke down on me two hours into the trip, it wasn't repairable, and it took them 5 hours to bring me a new truck. Then I had to by my lonesome move all the furniture from one truck to the other. I was on my way and thankfull just to be moving again. I made it to Tennessee and was ready to enter the mountain region. I could barely make it up the mountain; but the real trouble began going back downhill. I couldn't stop the truck from going more than 62 miles an hour. I had the brake completely smashed to the ground, smoke from the burning breaks completely engulfed my breathing space, and yes once again the lowest I could bring the truck to was 62 miles an hour. I was more scared for my life and made more promises to God that night then ever before. I had to use the side hills or side ramps whatever they are called each time there was one to slow myself down. The other times I dodged cars on the way down.

Oh and airconditioning also went out, but that was least of my worries then.



I sued U-haul and received 15,000 from the deal. That was the best I could do with the resources I had, but wasn't even close considering I truly put my life at stake. I will never use that company, I hope they go bankrupt, and I will strongly recommend to anybody not to use them.



From Orlando to Cali, I used Penske. Never even heard a bolt sqeak.



So if you want to die; use U-Haul. If you want to ride in an airconditioned unit and live; use Penske.
 
[quote author="blackvault_cm" date=1227098296][quote author="PANDA" date=1227086358]I know there are several of you (Irvine Renter, Black Vault, etc.) on this forum you moved from the midwest and the east coast and made Irvine their new home. Would anybody here care to share which out-of-state moving company they used and recommend. Please share your moving experience with the Panda?



Please be honest, how stressful was the move to Irvine? Any expensive mistakes to avoid?</blockquote>


I moved from Chicago to Orlando and used U-Haul. I would rather have someone make small incisions with a rusty razor blade all over my body and then dunk me in battery acid before I use U-Haul ever again.

Here is why. It broke down on me two hours into the trip, it wasn't repairable, and it took them 5 hours to bring me a new truck. Then I had to by my lonesome move all the furniture from one truck to the other. I was on my way and thankfull just to be moving again. I made it to Tennessee and was ready to enter the mountain region. I could barely make it up the mountain; but the real trouble began going back downhill. I couldn't stop the truck from going more than 62 miles an hour. I had the brake completely smashed to the ground, smoke from the burning breaks completely engulfed my breathing space, and yes once again the lowest I could bring the truck to was 62 miles an hour. I was more scared for my life and made more promises to God that night then ever before. I had to use the side hills or side ramps whatever they are called each time there was one to slow myself down. The other times I dodged cars on the way down.

Oh and airconditioning also went out, but that was least of my worries then.



I sued U-haul and received 15,000 from the deal. That was the best I could do with the resources I had, but wasn't even close considering I truly put my life at stake. I will never use that company, I hope they go bankrupt, and I will strongly recommend to anybody not to use them.



From Orlando to Cali, I used Penske. Never even heard a bolt sqeak.



So if you want to die; use U-Haul. If you want to ride in an airconditioned unit and live; use Penske.</blockquote>


Thanks BV,



Dude I feel for you man! That must of been one scary trip with U-Haul. I would be crapping in my pants if i were in your situation.



BV wrote: I was more scared for my life and made more promises to God that night then ever before. <- God especially protects the PKs.



Is Penske a full service moving company? How much was the cost to move two cars and all your stuff from Orlando to Irvine?



http://www.penske.com/
 
The cost of your stuff will depend on the weight. They will weigh the truck before it gets to you and then weigh it after it's packed up. So, it all depends on what you have.



They can send an agent out to your house for an estimate. They are pretty accurate.



I think it's worth EVERY penny to have someone move your stuff.

If you do the Uhaul thing, you run the risk of nightmare situation like BV (I've heard similar stories).

I've also heard there is a high chance of the moving truck getting broken into when you are at a hotel.

And most of the break-ins are from hotel employees!

The benefit of a moving company is that the driver never leaves his truck unattended. They sleep in their truck.
 
[quote author="PANDA" date=1227101277][quote author="blackvault_cm" date=1227098296][quote author="PANDA" date=1227086358]I know there are several of you (Irvine Renter, Black Vault, etc.) on this forum you moved from the midwest and the east coast and made Irvine their new home. Would anybody here care to share which out-of-state moving company they used and recommend. Please share your moving experience with the Panda?



Please be honest, how stressful was the move to Irvine? Any expensive mistakes to avoid?</blockquote>


I moved from Chicago to Orlando and used U-Haul. I would rather have someone make small incisions with a rusty razor blade all over my body and then dunk me in battery acid before I use U-Haul ever again.

Here is why. It broke down on me two hours into the trip, it wasn't repairable, and it took them 5 hours to bring me a new truck. Then I had to by my lonesome move all the furniture from one truck to the other. I was on my way and thankfull just to be moving again. I made it to Tennessee and was ready to enter the mountain region. I could barely make it up the mountain; but the real trouble began going back downhill. I couldn't stop the truck from going more than 62 miles an hour. I had the brake completely smashed to the ground, smoke from the burning breaks completely engulfed my breathing space, and yes once again the lowest I could bring the truck to was 62 miles an hour. I was more scared for my life and made more promises to God that night then ever before. I had to use the side hills or side ramps whatever they are called each time there was one to slow myself down. The other times I dodged cars on the way down.

Oh and airconditioning also went out, but that was least of my worries then.



I sued U-haul and received 15,000 from the deal. That was the best I could do with the resources I had, but wasn't even close considering I truly put my life at stake. I will never use that company, I hope they go bankrupt, and I will strongly recommend to anybody not to use them.



From Orlando to Cali, I used Penske. Never even heard a bolt sqeak.



So if you want to die; use U-Haul. If you want to ride in an airconditioned unit and live; use Penske.</blockquote>


Thanks BV,



Dude I feel for you man! That must of been one scary trip with U-Haul. I would be crapping in my pants if i were in your situation.



BV wrote: I was more scared for my life and made more promises to God that night then ever before. <- God especially protects the PKs.



Is Penske a full service moving company? How much was the cost to move two cars and all your stuff from Orlando to Irvine?



http://www.penske.com/</blockquote>


Yes. God does protect PK's more than the rest. Hahah.



Not sure about full-service. I think they do. I also never had anybody weigh my truck. They simply measured it by distance not weight. You give them the destination and they will esstimate your cost. Once you arrive, true milage will be computed and the cost. It cost me 980 dollars I believe + 220 for the trailer (car). Then gas of course, but that depends on distance. It really wasn't that expensive. I read an article once that stated that most movers are ex-cons. I had a female friend tell me once that two movers spoke in spanish near her saying all these sexual things about her thinking that she doesn't understand spanish. I heard stories also of people not being careful with things and stealing things. I'll just save me the money and exercise a bit. NOBODY is touching my MADDEN Football.
 
[quote author="PANDA" date=1227097843]Thanks CalGal,



You moved from Boston to S. California right? Do you have any advice as to what to do and not to do in a cross-country move? For example i am debating if i should throw away most of the stuff here including furniture and buying all new furniture in OC. I'm sure this move is going to cost a lot of money, but not quite sure exactly how much. Do you remember what the cost was for a full service cross-country move including two cars?</blockquote>


I bought two Jaguars in Texas and they cost $800 each to ship, prices vary wildly, depends how you want them shipped..depends whether they're Ford Escorts or Lamborghinis..



One of my Jags almost went off a cliff in NM, The Cab of the Trailer went over and unfortunately the Driver was killed and it was Christmas Eve..what a nightmare, the Car was impounded for two weeks then I had to have it shipped from there..to make metters worse, we were in Chicago at the time staying with inlaws...
 
<blockquote>Yes. God does protect PK?s more than the rest. Hahah.



Not sure about full-service. I think they do. I also never had anybody weigh my truck. They simply measured it by distance not weight. You give them the destination and they will esstimate your cost. Once you arrive, true milage will be computed and the cost. It cost me 980 dollars I believe + 220 for the trailer (car). Then gas of course, but that depends on distance. It really wasn?t that expensive. I read an article once that stated that most movers are ex-cons. I had a female friend tell me once that two movers spoke in spanish near her saying all these sexual things about her thinking that she doesn?t understand spanish. I heard stories also of people not being careful with things and stealing things. I?ll just save me the money and exercise a bit. NOBODY is touching my MADDEN Football. </blockquote>


The cost of our cars was a flat figure, not by weight. When I was talking about weight, I was referring to the weight of my furniture and boxes. I believe it goes by weight and cubic feet of space.



I have a friend who worked as a mover for many years. He also said that movers are ex cons. I always pack my own boxes, even when the company is paying. We do everything except drive it cross country. And we would do that if it wasn't risky (such as BV's story). I'm nervous that the truck would get broken into while we were at a hotel as well.



Oh, and I usually Federal Express important items - such as jewelry and financial docs. I have used Federal Express almost every business day for the past 5 years, and all my packages got to their destination on time and in one piece. I can't commend Federal Express enough. Now, UPS and DHL - that's a different story. UPS' box will get there - but all smashed up. But at least it got there. DHL - there's a 50% chance you'll ever see that box again. Thank goodness they don't work in the US any more. They were USELESS!



In any event, moving sucks! Hopefully, Panda, your move goes smoothly.
 
Panda-



My family and I moved from Chicago burbs to Irvine in Nov 2005. We used North American Van Lines. We had professional packers- I highly recommend that and we didn't have one thing damaged in the move. Our move was $11,000. Our home was over 4000 sq feet, but we got rid of a lot of stuff. And I wish I had gotten rid of a lot more stuff. Homes are definitely smaller here, house styles are different, etc. I wish I got rid of the formal living room and dining room furniture. Oh well!



We had our car sent separtely with someplace else and that was around $1000. My husband drove one car to OC and he loved the driving experience.



The move itself wasn't bad (and I had 2 kids under 4 years old at the time). We rented a furnished IAC apartment- thinking we were going to buy. Thank God we didn't. But we were there for 7.5 months while we were paying $800+/month in storing our furniture that was still in Chicago. That was difficult- as we were basically living out of a suitcase for 7.5 months. We finally decided to rent a home in Woodbridge.
 
[quote author="JoonB" date=1227141365]Panda-



My family and I moved from Chicago burbs to Irvine in Nov 2005. We used North American Van Lines. We had professional packers- I highly recommend that and we didn't have one thing damaged in the move. Our move was $11,000. Our home was over 4000 sq feet, but we got rid of a lot of stuff. And I wish I had gotten rid of a lot more stuff. Homes are definitely smaller here, house styles are different, etc. I wish I got rid of the formal living room and dining room furniture. Oh well!



We had our car sent separtely with someplace else and that was around $1000. My husband drove one car to OC and he loved the driving experience.



The move itself wasn't bad (and I had 2 kids under 4 years old at the time). We rented a furnished IAC apartment- thinking we were going to buy. Thank God we didn't. But we were there for 7.5 months while we were paying $800+/month in storing our furniture that was still in Chicago. That was difficult- as we were basically living out of a suitcase for 7.5 months. We finally decided to rent a home in Woodbridge.</blockquote>


Joon B,



Thank you so much for your post. I also live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and am getting ready to put my home on the market again on Jan 1st, 2009 and my plan is also to live in the IAC apartment for one year before my wife and I decide to buy a 2300 - 2500 square feet house sometime in 2010 in either Aliso Viejo or Irvine. It seems that the advice i am getting is to sell and throw away as much as I can. Most of my furniture is from Harlem Furniture and IKEA so i don't have super expensive furniture. What do you mean when you say that wish you would of gotten rid of your formal living and dining room furniture? Do you mean that the cost wasn't worth it or that the homes are much smaller so you don't have room for them. I will be moving from a 2500 square townhome so I am not sure if you would recommend that i put everything in storage in Irvine, while i rent a year. I'm am thinking i can get a IAC two bedroom for $1700 and assume $300 a month for storage would estimate to $2000 a month.



I am also curious to know your thoughts about the lifestyle differences between the burbs of Chicago and Irvine. I know things are little more materialistic over there but i am assuming people are friendlier and happier because of the all-year-round nice weather. I want to thank both you ,CalGal, BV for giving me such invaluable advice when i am ready to make the move.



Panda
 
Panda-



What I meant to sell my stuff is more because of the space requirements. I had a large home in Chicago- had a professional decorater help me with my living room. My furniture is Baker- so it is very high end- but it is worthless over here. Back in Chicago, you could have a living room which I basically called a museum to my kids as it was $$$ furniture and off-limits to them. I barely sat in there, and my dining room is also the same type of situation. I want to be able to use every square inch of the home I eventually buy, because the house I will purchase is most definitely not going to be the size of my old house (5500 sq feet if you include my furnished basement). And also, my furniture was oversized- room sizes aren't what you can get in a Barrington type home. My family room alone was 400 sq feet- that's just not what you get over here, and again, my furniture isn't to scale for what i will eventually buy.



Neighbors- eh- I think they are more friendly in the Midwest. But then again, I live in a practically retirement-coming-of-age community of Woodbridge, where I barely see any kids my kids' age (6 and 4). So, gone are the block parties, etc that I had in Chicago. I might think differently if I lived in Northwood or someplace newer. Most of the Woodbridge people seem to keep to themselves.



In terms of materialism- I am from Hinsdale, so the mentality is somewhat the same as the majority of the people in Hinsdale (lots of wannabes there as you know). (altough I am down to earth!)
 
[quote author="PANDA" date=1227097843]Thanks CalGal,



You moved from Boston to S. California right? Do you have any advice as to what to do and not to do in a cross-country move? For example i am debating if i should throw away most of the stuff here including furniture and buying all new furniture in OC. I'm sure this move is going to cost a lot of money, but not quite sure exactly how much. Do you remember what the cost was for a full service cross-country move including two cars?</blockquote>


Panda,

I moved and gave away a lot of my stuff to salvation army except the baby grand piano. I kept it for sentimental reason. If I had sold it, it would have been cheaper.
 
[quote author="WestparkRenter" date=1227156519][quote author="PANDA" date=1227097843]Thanks CalGal,



You moved from Boston to S. California right? Do you have any advice as to what to do and not to do in a cross-country move? For example i am debating if i should throw away most of the stuff here including furniture and buying all new furniture in OC. I'm sure this move is going to cost a lot of money, but not quite sure exactly how much. Do you remember what the cost was for a full service cross-country move including two cars?</blockquote>


Panda,

I moved and gave away a lot of my stuff to salvation army except the baby grand piano. I kept it for sentimental reason. If I had sold it, it would have been cheaper.</blockquote>


We have this huge heavy Mirror in the living room that my wife is absolutely in love with. She would kill me if i got rid of it. Believe me WestparkRenter, I want to get rid of everything, it is Ms Panda i am worried about :) :)
 
Another thing to consider in the keep or not question is will your current stuff work in a new home? Will the dressers that you have on each side of your bed fit in your new bedroom? Will your new place have a living room where the TV needs to be in a media niche or on a table rather than in the tall cabinet you have it in? Questions like that are good to ask. Of course, if you don't have the house you will move into, you can't really answer those questions. But, you may be able to guess the answers to some. Some pieces of furniture work almost anywhere, some can be changed from one room to another, and some are so specific that they aren't going to work anywhere else. I wouldn't get rid of anything you love or anything versatile. Those can be hard to replace. Personally, though, I don't think it is worth it to keep stuff in storage. It is just more to worry about. It might get damaged while being stored. And you might end up getting rid of it anyway when you finally do buy a place.
 
[.</blockquote>






I am also curious to know your thoughts about the lifestyle differences between the burbs of Chicago and Irvine. I know things are little more materialistic over there but i am assuming people are friendlier and happier because of the all-year-round nice weather. I want to thank both you ,CalGal, BV for giving me such invaluable advice when i am ready to make the move.



Panda</blockquote>


My Wife grew up in Park Ridge, Chicago and we've been there a lot in each of the seasons, you can't beat the SoCal climate..
 
Panda, don't do it. You've got an Irvine right in your neck of the woods, Naperville. I moved here from Naperville 4 years ago. I'm not sure if I would do it again, probably not. The only plus I can really come up with for Irvine is the weather. Naperville is equally good in every other way, and it doesn't feel like a giant strip mall. Irvine is just bland. Sure, the master planning has its advantages but Irvine just does not have a sense of community like Naperville, or any other Chicago area burb for that matter. It's hard to exactly put a finger on it but Chicago is just better. Sure, you've got LA and San Diego nearby but it is a pain in the ass to ever go there and enjoy the culture, which there is none of in Irvine. The allure of Southern California looks great in January and it sure is nice to go for a bike ride in 60+ degree weather in the winter, but there just aren't many other things I can come up with as good reasons to move here from Chicago. You've seen the price of real estate here, if you are willing to pay that for weather then go for it.



As far as the move, I used U-Pack from ABF. Sort of like pods. You load your own belongings into a semi trailer. You pay for the space used. They will bring the trailer to your door or you can load and un-unload at their facility. Paid about $1700 for enough stuff to fill my large one bedroom and small storage spot in my garage. Well worth it but you'll need someone on both ends to help pack and unload the trailer. Drove my own car out in two days.
 
Panda-



I can see Maestro's point of view regarding Irvine and Naperville- I mean- they have H-Mart there as well as in Niles. And it's true- i miss the downtowns around the train lines- Naperville, Hinsdale, La Grange- are all great towns built around the train station. I LOVED taking an express train to downtown Chicago to go to work- and be there in 20 minutes. Now it takes me if I'm lucky 25 minutes to get stuck behind every light going 6 miles from my house to Newport where I work. I miss the restaurants- I think they are all pretty mediocre here. I see Maestro's point of view regarding the culture aspect.



But, I do like Irvine for the other types of culture that you don't find in the burbs in Chicago. For example, being of Iranian descent, I can take my kids to Farsi classes- I can take my daughter to Persian dancing classes, they can go for music lessons where they can take classes in a traditional Persian instrument- I love the fact that my kids can be in a class with other Persian kids and "fit in". I grew up in Hinsdale and I definitely never felt like I fit in. I like that I don't have to drive 30 miles for these activities for my kids, and that Persian restaurants, food shopping, etc is a stone's throw away. In Chicago, I'd have to drive 30+ miles to do that. I can see that someone who is Asian may feel the same.



For those reasons, I love it here. I go back to Hinsdale a couple of times a year to visit my family, and I definitely now call Irvine home.
 
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