There’s a saying that you’re only truly free if you can carry all your possessions on your back. Thanks to a misguided idea to self-move this weekend, I’ve done that. Sure, it took about 200 trips, but the aphorism isn’t clear on that point. Somehow though, I didn’t think freedom would be this painful.
A little schadenfreude would really soothe my sunburn, sore back, and aching muscles. Please share your moving horror stories here.
We used a moving company for the first time two years ago; I don’t think we’re ever going back to moving ourselves again (and we’re not helping anyone else move in the future, either - we’ve squared those mutual moving debts away and we’re not incurring any more).
I don’t have much of a moving horror story; I cheaped out on the last move and only got two guys, but we should have gotten three, because my husband and I carried as much stuff as the hired movers, and it took all friggin’ day anyway. I’d get the three guys next time. Or give A LOT of stuff to charity first!
Giving a lot to charity sounds good to me. After this weekend, I’d be ready to give away everything if it meant I didn’t have to lift it again. I’ve heard that hired movers charge more for the time they’re driving, and so take and hour and a half to make a 20 minute drive. True?
I got wheedled into helping my mom’s then-husband with his thankfully shortlived moving business even though I had no experience and no muscles. The only time I helped him, we did take 30 minutes to make a 20 minute drive as we stopped for a snack. I don’t think the clients complained as they were probably thankful we were so fast 
So 3 bedrooms, 2 roommates moving from different residences.
My stuff is all in storage, including living room stuff. No big deal.
Roommate #1 is a foreign grad student; her room seems huge because she has such little stuff; it’s like 10 x 12.
Roommate #2 wanted my room, 11 x 16 or so. It’s closer to the bathroom! she said.
Through a series of unfortunate events, we aren’t able to move in as soon as we’d have liked to. While it’s not my fault, I assumed responsibility and offered to pay for roommate #2’s move from her previous residence to our present one. Since she has no living room furniture and the appliances are all the the house already, I assume she’ll have a nominal amount of things.
That could fit into an 11x16 room, you see, since she’d wanted mine.
One queensized bed, a massive double-wide dresser, two desks, two bookshelves, a trunk, rug, TV and a separate vanity later, her walk-in closet for two is overflowing and her 400 square foot room (!) is packed to the gills.
There’s no nice way to ask exactly how she planned to live in the 11 x 16 room, is there?
Also, for three nights I slept on a bare bed with a tiny ripped blanket because I 1) accidentally left all the blankets with my other half on his move out west and 2) couldn’t find the box with my sheets. I woke up at 6am every day (instead of at 8) because I didn’t have curtains.
We moved about 14 blocks straight west, so it didn’t give them a lot of bill padding room.
Two words: Home Depot.
You could have got an immigrant to help you move shit all day long for 50 bucks.
Not every place has immigrants in front of their Home Depots.
But every decent sized city and suburb has Craigslist, where you can find non-immigrant workers willing to work for $20/hour, providing their own truck, furniture pads, dollies, etc. If you have expensive/nice shit of course, pony up for the insured/bonded guys. But if you have cheap shit (or move your nice stuff on your own) go for the cheap movers.
$200 a week ago got me 4 hours, 2 guys, their truck and all accessories to move a 1 bedroom place from storage and a massive 400 sq foot bedroom (packed to the gills) into my house.
Ugh - I had a terrible experience getting movers through Craigslist. Hired a guy who was supposed to show up at 10am. No show, wouldn’t answer his phone. Found another guy who was supposed to show up at 1, also no show. Terribly stressful moving day, I’d only hire a reputable company in the future.
Yikes that sounds horrible Glory 
I had a friend use a company and one of the guys showed up drunk/hungover. I guess my feeling with a big outfit is that they have your $ before it even starts whereas on Craigslist you pay when it’s all over. Moving is the absolute worst of the grunt work out there, so you’re not gonna get great people no matter what is my feeling, unless they work for a huge national outfit. I don’t think there’s a good solution all around, really.
I posted a specific ad and got tons of responses but only responded to the two ads that addressed my needs (furniture pads, blankets, dollies, tie downs) and asked for 2 references. Done this twice, both times it worked out; also worked out for several friends. I’m not moving again for 5 years (hopefully!) but I pass along my guys’ information to other friends so they don’t have to go with an unknown.
So I guess I’d also include meeting them beforehand or asking for (and checking on) references in advance.
Oooh! I had a thread on this recently regarding our disastrous move last month.
To make a long story short: the moving van was in a 9-car pile-up on the way to our new place; we were without any of our stuff for two days in the middle of a sweltering summer, and between the accident and wrapping packing tape all over my wood furniture, the movers caused over $800 worth of damage.
Moving again in a year! Can’t wait!
Years ago my first husband and I moved about four months after we’d moved previously. We were reluctant to ask friends and family to help us again … but we did ask this one guy, and he agreed. We packed up the van, drove to the new city and then, after carrying the couch and bed upstairs and putting most of the boxes on the lawn, my husband returned the truck to the rental place and then LEFT, driving Helper Guy back to his home, 80 miles away. He had a girl who he thought maybe was going to be at this party, see …
Well, I was appreciative of the help, but not of being left alone at 7 pm with all my belongings in the front yard. For hours, I carried boxes up the stairs. By myself. I would rest briefly after each trip and then force myself outside again. This was in January. I think I finally stopped around 1 am.
It wasn’t true for me the last time I moved. I took a cab to my new place and the movers showed up about 5 minutes later.
What’s the average rate to hire movers, say 2 bedroom and within 25 miles? I HATE moving and always figure that next time I’ll hire it out, but honestly have no clue what ballpark I’d be looking at for a price.
I was all “hmm, that sucks” until the end. UP THE STAIRS IN JANUARY!?!?! And you’re still married!?
This varies by where you are. Like where I live you can get a plate of locally raised lamb and fresh, local heirloom veggies for $22. Apparently in Times Square that’ll getcha an Olive Garden entree.
two failed relationships (and two moves in and out) in ten years. thank the gods i was smart enough NOT to sell my condo either time.
the next time i move, the coroner will be present.
Nope.
She did say “first husband”. I’m thinking the divorce proceedings were only delayed because no lawyers were in their offices at 1 AM. It sounds horrible! You didn’t live in one of those places where bits of ice fall from the sky in January, do you?
I’m off to read Miss March’s thread. My sunburn and back pain are already fading away, and a bit more enjoyment of others’ suffering should finally heal the aching muscles!
Ah, yes, that did it. I feel much better now. I think the thing that tore it was the pissed off cat. Cats have a way of looking at you like everything wrong in the world is clearly your fault … it’s a look that teenagers study, but can never quite master. Now 48 hours past the move, I can look back and see the positives. I got a lot a sun and fresh air, tons of exercise sans gym fees, and I have neither a cat nor a teenager to blame me for any deviation from the Platonic ideal. Life is good!
Oh, and I apologize to Mrs. March.