Did you use U-haul, U-box, (other) box containers for moving?

[Panina]

Did you use U-haul, U-box, (other) box containers for moving?

Were you happy? Did you hire the load and unload service? Did you store the containers at their facility a few months?

 

[x3 skier]

A friend of mine used the U-Haul system to move from Ohio to Florida. Between a poor estimate of the required number of U-Boxes(?), a mistiming of delivery for packing, lousy packers and finally, delivery to another storage facility that planned, she would never ever recommend that system. After all that, all U-Haul did was basically shrug and say S*** Happens.

Cheers

 

[IngridN]

A neighbor used the U-Haul system a year ago for a move from California to the midwest. They were very pleased.

They did not use U-Haul to store their stuff. The smallish boxes were delivered to their driveway, they hired (don't know if U-Haul or other 3rd party packers) packers and the pods were transported to their destination in the midwest.

Ingrid

 

[Luanne]

After DaveNV's experience with trying to rent a truck from UHaul I wouldn't recommend them either.

When we moved we did a lot of the packing ourselves. I got free used boxes using craigslist and freecycle. We bought some others. Then we had the company that did the moving bring in their boxes for the rest. We didn't need a load/unload service. We kept all of the boxes at our house until everything was picked up for the move.

 

[nerodog]

Did you use U-haul, U-box, (other) box containers for moving?

Were you happy? Did you hire the load and unload service? Did you store the containers at their facility a few months?

Hi Panina,

I used alot of the plastic containers you can buy in Lowe's, Home Depot and I've saved quite a few .Easy to store. Another thing I used was old suitcases to transport clothing and wrapping things that might be a bit more fragile. Loads of bubble wrap.My mover picked up everything from my cellar and he stored .

 

[Old Hickory]

Are you asking about the secure containers like 1-800-Pack-Rat or PODS and the U-Haul offering called U-Box? If so then yes. We used Pack Rat because it fit inside our driveway. The PODS requires three feet of space on either side of the container (6 additional feet than the Pack Rat) so it was a no no. The U-Box offering was smaller and it was not a metal container.

We used U-Haul boxes, plastic wrap, blankets, mattress covers, etc.

 

[Luanne]

One tip I will pass along. My bff recommended we use a company to specifically pack up our art work. Since we needed to strip the walls to show the house we did this early on. They came in, wrapped all of the pictures on the walls and then we stored them in our garage. Everything they packed up came through just great.

 

[Brett]

One tip I will pass along. My bff recommended we use a company to specifically pack up our art work. Since we needed to strip the walls to show the house we did this early on. They came in, wrapped all of the pictures on the walls and then we stored them in our garage. Everything they packed up came through just great.

you can buy special painting /art work boxes from Uhaul

 

[Luanne]

you can buy special painting /art work boxes from Uhaul

I'm sure you can. My bff, who worked as a framer for years, recommended having the professionals do the packing rather than do it yourself. Since I am no expert at wrapping and packing I followed her suggestion.

 

[Brett]

I'm sure you can. My bff, who worked as a framer for years, recommended having the professionals do the packing rather than do it yourself. Since I am no expert at wrapping and packing I followed her suggestion.

we used the special boxes for moving my mother's paintings - but they had more sentimental value than $$$ value

 

[VacationForever]

We do not DIY and instead we use services like Two Men and a Truck for local moves and other services for cross state moves. We think it is worth the cost as they breakdown furniture and put them back together and it saves our backs!

 

[Luanne]

we used the special boxes for moving my mother's paintings - but they had more sentimental value than $$$ value

It all depends on your comfort level.

 

[geekette]

We do not DIY and instead we use services like Two Men and a Truck for local moves and other services for cross state moves. We think it is worth the cost as they breakdown furniture and put them back together and it saves our backs!

I looked at them, have used them A Lot for my in town moves. I'm going 500ish miles and said 1000 sq ft (my home is larger but most rooms have very little in them). estimate was over 5k.

too bad, I was going to be happy to not be the laborer.

 

[geekette]

I looked into indie storage containers, rent or buy, and it makes the most sense for my wallet and situation to buy a 20ft container. Some of those can be rented for 30 days, with their handling transport on all legs included in estimate. If you can get within a zipcode, that should be valid for you in getting quotes.

I really liked the chain boxes, various sizes and services, but, very expensive. the more you don't have to take with you, the cheaper your move. I think the big plus is having the smaller boxes available vs everything being huge. Seems like a good way to categorize your life. um, that was projection; categorize my life ....

I tried to undercount how much stuff I might move and was scared away by prices. I haven't moved more than 10 or 20 miles for 30 years, so I knew it would feel super expensive to me, but it was breath-taking. Miles matter.

I would have liked convenience of hiring movers, but, for me it is too much. However, the rental truck option was very very appealling. Part of that is because I know a lot of out of work concert organizers here willing to labor at most anything, and a half dozen young Amish boys on the other side of it. I would pay all of them, of course, and have a cold cases of water and Gatorade at the ready.

Good luck, there are A Lot of options!! I hope you find a small independent moving company that shows you that they want your business and takes good care of you.

 

[elaine]

I’d like to know the cost of pods or uhaul movIng also.esp with load/unload service but Where I packed myself. Several neighbors used pods but they loaded themselves.

 

[Panina]

Seems some confusion on what I am asking. Not how to pack but how to move. You fill large cube containers each can hold 1 bedroom apartment. After loading they come get these containers and take them to your new location or to a facility that stores them until you are ready for them.

 

[Brett]

I looked into indie storage containers, rent or buy, and it makes the most sense for my wallet and situation to buy a 20ft container. Some of those can be rented for 30 days, with their handling transport on all legs included in estimate. If you can get within a zipcode, that should be valid for you in getting quotes.

I really liked the chain boxes, various sizes and services, but, very expensive. the more you don't have to take with you, the cheaper your move. I think the big plus is having the smaller boxes available vs everything being huge. Seems like a good way to categorize your life. um, that was projection; categorize my life ....

I tried to undercount how much stuff I might move and was scared away by prices. I haven't moved more than 10 or 20 miles for 30 years, so I knew it would feel super expensive to me, but it was breath-taking. Miles matter.

I would have liked convenience of hiring movers, but, for me it is too much. However, the rental truck option was very very appealling. Part of that is because I know a lot of out of work concert organizers here willing to labor at most anything, and a half dozen young Amish boys on the other side of it. I would pay all of them, of course, and have a cold cases of water and Gatorade at the ready.

Good luck, there are A Lot of options!! I hope you find a small independent moving company that shows you that they want your business and takes good care of you.

I thought moving my mother's furniture and stuff would be expensive but it was less than we estimated

3 bedrooms, living room and dining room, kitchen stuff and 40 boxes -- Northern Va. to a town west of Chicago - 4,000 lbs. - $3,100 United Van lines

 

[Luanne]

Seems some confusion on what I am asking. Not how to pack but how to move. You fill large cube containers each can hold 1 bedroom apartment. After loading they come get these containers and take them to your new location or to a facility that stores them until you are ready for them.

I don't know anything about this kind of service. Each time we've moved everything was picked up at the location where we were living (and going to be leaving) and then delivered to where we were going next. No need to have anything stored anywhere.

 

[Pathways]

Did you use U-haul, U-box, (other) box containers for moving?

Were you happy? Did you hire the load and unload service? Did you store the containers at their facility a few months?

I once ordered a complete '3 bedroom package' of boxes from a large packing supplier. Saved a lot of money. But found out a box is not just a box. Even though the move was only 10 miles, the thin walled (cheap) boxes on the bottom did not hold up well. U haul boxes are thicker corrugated cardboard and hold weight when stacked much better.

I have used pods twice. Fantastic!! Only about a 5 inch step into the pod to load everything. They pick it up after you are ready, and haul it wherever, or store it.

 

[Pathways]

Also with Pods, if you are having them store the pod container and you think you may need access to your stuff, they will store it where they don't have to move too many other pods to get access to yours. If I remember, they still charged a little to allow me access, but at least I did have access. You retain the lock, so no one else will be able to mess with your items.

You can rent the moving blankets, or buy them pretty cheap at Harbor Freight is you think you will store for a while. I think the pod people will also rent them and drop them off with the pod

 

[Glynda]

One tip I will pass along. My bff recommended we use a company to specifically pack up our art work. Since we needed to strip the walls to show the house we did this early on. They came in, wrapped all of the pictures on the walls and then we stored them in our garage. Everything they packed up came through just great.

We have a large and intricate, antique, French, gold leaf, overmantel mirror that one mover built a crate for and we saved it in attics and basements and re-used it each time we moved.

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Does a 1000+ mile move change what any of YOU think/factor in?

I work in a Grocery Store, and can get some quite Good Boxes.
(I know some companies want you to use THEIR boxes)

If we end up having 200 of 'my grocery' boxes, plus 30 medium/Large pieces of furniture/things----
Who do I use to bring THAT 1000+ miles?

Thanks

 

[Glynda]

I have a chronically ill friend in Greenville, SC, whose church has helped her in so many ways for which we are very thankful. One was paying to help her move from a two bedroom house to a one bedroom apartment across town. At first she thought she would have to store before unloading and determined to use PODS. The church hired a local mover to estimate how many pods would be needed and what it would cost to load and unload them. The mover determined just one pod and gave them a price. An agreement was struck between the mover and church representatives. I then arrived for two weeks and spent them packing anything that could go in a box. I dumpster dived for many of the boxes, had a couple of stores saving some for me, and purchased some specialty boxes from U-Haul. Towards the end of loading day, it became clear that another pod would be needed but could not be delivered until later in the week. The mover refused to load or unload another pod unless my friend and/or the church paid more. My friend ended up having to pay half of the new pod cost plus loading it. She got family from out of town to unload the second one and she didn't have to store the pods. What really upset me up was that my friend, a frequent mover throughout her life, had told the representatives for the church from the beginning that it would take two and that she would be storing them. I was there when the mover did the estimate and said one. My friend and I both told the mover, and the representatives of the church, that it would take two. No one listened us mere women.

 

[VacationForever]

I looked at them, have used them A Lot for my in town moves. I'm going 500ish miles and said 1000 sq ft (my home is larger but most rooms have very little in them). estimate was over 5k.

too bad, I was going to be happy to not be the laborer.

I see if I can find the name of the company that did our cross state move. We moved from a 4600 sq ft home, only half the furniture as we left the rest for whoever was going to buy our home and some for my son, the estimate was like $8.5K. After the move, we got a $3K refund. They went by weight and apparently they over estimated the weight in the initial quote.

Sort of found it. The connection was through our ex-company and a service offered to retirees and we got a 10% discount. We worked with customer services in MSS (mss1.com) in conjunction with Suddath (Suddath.com).

 

[WinniWoman]

For our two moves- the first locally to the rental house- and our final out of state move- we used traditional moving companies. We packed most of the stuff and they loaded and unloaded the truck. They took apart the furniture and then put it back together and reset it up in our new quarters. They wrapped up the furniture and also packed the paintings we had. We bought a lot of the boxes and packaging materials at UHAUL.

It was expensive but no way could we physically handle it all. We downsized big time but still a lot. We had my husbands 800 lb safe, workbench, snow blower, etc. on top of everything else. Plus my exercise equipment. My heavy solid oak desk.

I was very organized. Bought 3 packages of 3 different large round color stickers on Amazon. The colors designated to the movers where to place the boxes and items in our home. Like red for the basement, green for inside the house and yellow for the garage, etc.

The first move - the local one- was done in one whole day.

The out of state move took a couple of days. One day to load. Then that same day after they loaded the truck we drove part of the way to a hotel to stay overnight. The next morning we then drove to our new home.

The day after that, the moving truck came to our new home with all our belongings and unloaded the truck.

I might as the first move there were 4 guys handling it and it took almost 8 hours total- loading and unloading and setting up.

The second move they only sent 2 guys- not enough help imo and in theirs! Took them all day also just to unload and set up. It was winter and the weather was not good that day either.

Backbreaking work. Big tip well deserved.

Oh- and I watched a few online videos to learn how to properly pack stuff. And I did get 3 quotes for each move before I chose one.