L.A. Dopers: I am moving, need some opinions

In My Humble Opinion
1

I just found out that my landlord is selling the house I live in. I feel both “Ugh!” and “Yay!”. I hate the house and I would love to live somewhere I like better, but I really, really, really hate the process of packing, moving and unpacking. I think this is what they would make me do in Hell to make me suffer for all eternity.

That said, I’m trying to keep a good attitude, and approach this in such a way as to minimize the hassle.

Anyway, I need recommends for the following:

#1 GOOD movers. Trustworthy, efficient, insured to the hilt. (Lotta electronics and heavy stuff.) Reasonably priced. I’m a good tipper.

#2 A good source for rentals. I know we have some ripoff outfits that charge you for stuff they pulled out of the paper, and I don’t want that. There has to be some that are for real. Anyone?

#3) Anyone know of any nice houses for rent up to $2200 per month that have:

pool
big kitchen
family room/den or rather: room for a gym, an office and an extra bedroom.
Covered parking
fenced yard for two great dogs
Areas: Studio city, burbank, hollywood, Glendale, Sherman Oaks, west hollywood, Silverlake, Valley Village, Toluca Lake…etc.

We are looking for a long-term situation. Maybe a lease to own if it’s great.

Thanks!

stoid

Also, when we moved here to Canoga park, a factor was the availability of DSL. Is it now available pretty much everywhere?

2

I just moved half of my stuff up to Washington. I live in a one-bedroom aparment, and half of my stuff took up most of a 10’ x 7-1/2’ storage unit. It pretty much filled a 12-foot Ryder truck, but I did still have room on top.

Moving it into the storage unit was a slow and exhausting process. First I had to pack everything I didn’t immediately need, and that I didn’t absolutely need nearby. (Lots and lots of books! Dad’s sea-chest, my hobby stuff, etc.) I live alone, so I had to do it all myself. Fortunately I got rid of the sports car a couple of years ago and I had a Cherokee to move stuff in! Still, the Cherokee is a small SUV and it took many trips.

If you pack your stuff and put it into a rental truck, I think it would be easier than the way I did it.

When I cleared out the storage unit I hired two day-labourers. They were fast and efficient, loading the Ryder in about an hour. This includes having to go through three electronic-access portals. I offered them $20 each, but when they were done and I went to pay them, the one who spoke English said he thought I said $40 each. Since my budget was limited, I gave them an extra $10. Still more than I make in an hour, and they’re not paying taxes. I think that’s fair. But for a bigger house, as you seem to have, I’d pay them more. Just make sure the agreed-upon amount is clear.

When I got to Washington, a friend and I unloaded. It took about an hour.

I rented the Ryder truck in Santa Monica, and the day labourers were hanging around outside. That made it easy.

No idea where to rent a house. For one thing, they’re too expensive here. My friend in Washington is paying about 60% for his three-bedroom house of what I’m paying for my 1-BR apartment. So I’m not looking around here at all. I want to move to northern Washington.

3

Thanks for the effort, Johnny, but I can’t risk day laborers. No insurance. I have some pretty expensive stuff that I really don’t want to have to replace. My TV was over $2000 and it weighs 350 pounds. (36 " tube HDTV)

4

Yeah, and they might hurt her computer (or wherever she is storing the Spike footage) and then we’d all be fucked.

5

Hehehehehe… The Spikage may be slowed a bit by this development, but rest assured I will guard it all with my life.