How far, in miles, was your last move?
About 1200 miles.
Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?
Mover.
If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?
Nope.
If so, what?
n/a
And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?
n/a
Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.
I was 30 at the time.
[li]How far, in miles, was your last move?[/li]
About 350 miles.
[li]Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?[/li]
We packed all the boxes and hired people to load the truck. I’ve found the pros are much quicker in loading trucks and do a better job than I would.
We drove the truck to our new home and hired people to unpack it. I found as I get older, I can find the money to hire people to do the grunt work for me. Hell, once it is all in the house I have to move it all around again anyway.
It cost about $100 per side to hire the movers. I will never do it fully myself again. $200-300 is a small price to pay to NOT do grunt work.
[li]If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?[/li]
This doesn’'t count for my last move, but I HAVE hired movers in the past. The type that come in and pack everything, put it in a truck, drive to the new location, unload the truck and CAN help put it away. Yes, I helped.
[li]If so, what? [/li]
Very fragile or personal items. I also packed/loaded most of the recording studio myself (anything I didn’t carry myself, like the large expensive equipment, I was there watching).
Small, fragile items went in one of our cars as well as all pets and most plants.
[li]And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?[/li]
The last move was from the USA to Canada. For ease at customs, all items we wanted to take needed to be in one truck while we went though immigration. We left our Steinway piano in the states at my wifes sisters house. It is very possible if we decide to bring it up we might have to pay duty on it.
An added note: We moved into the house sight unseen. We had seen another house in the same neighbourhood and knew basicly what to expect, but we didn’t know for sure. I would have liked to make a few back and forth trips but it was a 10+ hour round-trip drive, so it just wasn’t possible.
[li]Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.[/li]
The last three moves we used as an excuse to purge all our unused items. This involved donating items or garage sales. The last move we wanted to be sure everything fit in one load so we went as far and dumping the bulk of our older funiture.
Boxes still in the box and stored from the last move are considered worthless. I would dig though them looking for heirloom or very personal items, but found most was disposable crap. In each move I would suspect 5 boxes converted to 1. I was very arggessive in the last move and only brought about 3 boxes of “extra stuff”. Mostly funky do-dads and strange nik-naks. I bought a glass display case and anything that won’t fit in the case is purged. 
Always glad to help, twickster!
1. How far, in miles, was your last move?
About a mile.
2. Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?
Hired a mover.
3. If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?
Yes. I walked some breakables (computer, lamp, some glass objects) over myself.
4. If so, what?
See above.
5. And how many trips’ worth?
Just one trip, with a heavily-loaded Little Old Lady cart.
Our last move was from a rented one bedroom to our own three bedroom rowhouse.
How far, in miles, was your last move?
8 miles
Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?
Did it ourselves, with friends. We paid a couple of young guys to move the really big stuff.
And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?
We did it all in a weekend, but since relatives were moving into the house we vacated, they were okay with us leaving some stuff behind. It would have taken longer if we had cleared out the basement and the attic and the garage. We didn’t get to that for several months.
Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.
Gardening related – we moved in February, but if we had moved in the spring, I would have definitely dug up some plants and bulbs and brought them to the new place.
The people moving into the old house weren’t interested in gardening, and I had a big investment in tulips and daffodils and rose bushes, and they would have moved nicely.
How far, in miles, was your last move?
Under 2 miles
Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?
Ourselves.
If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself? If so, what?
If I had, I’d have moved the cats, plants, valuables, fragiles, music, journals, art, and computers myself.
And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?
Multiple trips with a rental truck and cars.
Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.
I dug up some plants and moved them to containers before the move. I also moved (duh) the plkants that were already in containers. I took seeds from some plants (herbs, flowers) and moved them, too.
How far, in miles, was your last move? 2½ miles
Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover? Hired a mover
If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?
Yes
If so, what? Computers, aquarium, dog, cats, plants, & suitcase of clothing & personal care items as if traveling
And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move? Made at least four trips. I remember separate trips for the cats, the dog, and the aquarium, then going back to clean the old place once all the stuff was out.
Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.
40 at the time of this move. I hate moving.
From West Hollywood, CA to Las Vegas.
Got the biggest U-Haul we could get and paid two friends a return trip flight to LA to come to Las Vegas with us and help us move in.
See above.
One big move - the U-Haul and our car filled with stuff.
Would I do it that way again? Probably not - we moved from a small apartment to here - now, moving from a house, it would be impossible to do that. We have far too many heavy things, and unless we were only moving a couple of miles and made several trips over the course of a week or more, it would be impractical to try to do that again.
Our movers said that we could not move our plants. (As it turned out, the moving van barely fit all our other stuff.)
We could not fit any plants in our car, we had two mastiffs and a cat riding with us.
It broke my heart to leave my plants; one I had was the first present my then-boyfriend now-husband ever gave me–I made sure it went to a good home.
We’re 50-somethings and that last move was in fall '05. We’re moving again in the spring, about a 5 hour drive from here. I only have one large rosemary plant now, but I am not giving it up.
** 1. How far, in miles, was your last move?**
About 11 miles.
** 2. Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?**
Hired a mover – same company we used for our two previous moves (very happy with them). Had some help from my in-laws with packing, etc.
** 3. If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?**
Yeah.
** 4. If so, what?**
Clothes, particularly fragile/valuable items, food.
** 5. And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?**
Well, the plan was to have the movers get most stuff out in one trip (two trucks), and shuttle the rest over in a series of car trips spread among my car, my wife’s and my in-laws. However, circumstances intervened to prevent us from being able to move into the new place until after we had to vacate the first. So I ended up having to rent another truck myself and load all that stuff into it, mainly so it’d have some place to live over the weekend until we could take possession of the new house.
** 6. Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.**
Was about 41 at the time of the move. Hadn’t moved for 9 years before that. My mother-in-law always insists on doing yard work and gardening when she’s here, and the move was no exception – she had to dig up some of her favorite stuff from our old place and move it over here. I wouldn’t have wanted to mess with it, but she likes that sort of thing — the less convenient it is for everyone else involved, the better.
How far, in miles, was your last move? 10
Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?
This time, 95% by myself, in dozens of trips with a Frod Focus Wagon. 5% with a mover-see next item.
If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?
The last time (9 months ago) I hired 'Two Men and a Truck" for the last 5% a few heavy items including a sideboard, a media rack, a legal file cabinet, wood office desk, oversize door (used as a storage area throwtable top) $300 for about 4 hours work at $65/hr plus mileage from/to THEIR base.
**If so, what? **
The last time I moved, I first dollied a lot of boxed stuff and furniture into a rented storage unit (garage) (or two) at my old place. Then I would carry full wagon loads from the units and from the pad the 10 miles to my new digs which was very near my job location. Some of it I put into another rented unit nearer to my new place, temporarily (8 months ago). Filled dumpsters every move.
Moved a dozen 6’ x 30" bookcases and their boxed contents and all my furniture smaller than a sofa or sideboard myself but I could stretch it out over weeks or more. The bookcases hung out the end of the wagon’s tailgate so could do that only on non-rainy days.
I saved the heavy stufl till last as it had to be emptied and some was behind/under other things. I chose to do it in numerous small loads as I was commuting daily anyway. In the previous move (125 miles) I still filled rented storage unit(s) first, then rented Enterprise vans and small U-Haul trucks with paid or volunterr help from friends/co-workers (after hours) for several weekends or vacation days. I took some Greyhound bus trips for some return trips when I rented one-way trucks and when I needed to pick up a second POV and couldn’t bum a ride.
I’m still storing/sorting stuff as the new place is too small and/or I’ve got “too much stuff”. LOTS of books, other entertainment media. I’m an older Doper and have stuff from years ago and stuff my Mom’s house that I had to clean out when she went into a nursing home. (TMI?)
And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?
The numerous trips for the short move was easy but that was a special case as I was purposely moving from what had become a druggy-infested place where I could not breathe to a place 2 miles from work, while still commuting from the old place. Next time, if ever, I would rent larger trucks fewer times and pay helpers if I couldn’t get friends, etc., to meet my schedule. If I felt I could afford it, I would consider hiring such as "2 Men or 3 Men and a Truck for some (or all) of it. I have an aversion to just hiring a big mover to pack and ship everything. I did that once from GA to MA (at company expense) but never got reimbursed for some minor damage to furniture and I don’t like the idea of strangers packing my “stuff”.
My next move may be up to my next of kin, anyway. (TMI?)
Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.
You could ask, ?What insurance, if any, will cover your stuff during the move?", Usually your homeowners’/renters’ policy, and/or a professional moving company’s.
Hope I’ve helped. Good luck.
[li]How far, in miles, was your last move?5.2 Miles (I looked on Mappoint :D). [/li][li]Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover? This time, I hired a mover, SO nice! Prior to that I’d moved myself about 3 times in about 2 years. UGH. If I have to work 200 hours overtime a week for 2 months, I’d do that just to be able to afford the movers.[/li][li]If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself? Yes, a few things I didn’t trust them with.[/li][li]If so, what? ** My computer monitor for one, it’s old, one of those 90 pound ones, but is an awesome 21" screen that still works perfectly. I have since given it to my sister since I finally splurged on a flat screen. But after all these years it still works very well. And other household items like the Cuckoo clock my sister brought me from Germany, plants, my cockatiel and her cage. Delicate stuff.[/li][li]And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?[/li]**Hmmmmmm…If I remember right, it was just the one.
[li]Any other info I should have remembered to ask about.[/li][/list] Prior to that, I moved to Texas in 03 for about 9 months, that was 4,157.4 miles. HATED it, and moved back home. I sold all of my furniture, and shipped (by the USPS) my belongings to TX, and then back to AK (after paring down and selling even more before I moved back home).
THAT was a huge mistake. If I ever move to the lower 48 again, I’ll not sell any of my things, instead I’ll do the UHaul thing.
[QUOTE=twickster]
[li]How far, in miles, was your last move?[/li]
About 10 miles.
[li]Did you “do-it-yourself” (with friends, obviously) or hire a mover?[/li]
Hired a mover.
[li]If you hired a mover, did you move any stuff yourself?[/li]
I moved all of my clothing, shoes and jewelry myself. I didn’t want it to get all stinky and dusty in the truck.
[li]If so, what? [/li]
See above.
[li]And how many trips’ worth? Were you going back and forth between the two places, or just take some stuff with you in a single move?[/li]
The moving truck was a single move. I would have needed to make multiple trips for the clothing, but I had a couple of friends with vehicles help me. I have those nifty bars that hang accross a backseat for just such an occasion.
[/list]
Wow. That was some masterful coding on my part. :rolleyes:
bump in case anyone else wants to weigh in – I’m currently trying to persuade my coauthor that people do move a certain amount of precious-to-them stuff themselves.
Our move was at the far edge of what we considered local, so we kind of took our time deliberately.
I have a new question for your Q&A column that is sort of related to your poll. I know how to find out if a particular item will grow in my climate and soil type, but is there a way to find a listing of everything I could grow where I am, sort of like a reverse lookup?
Like: I live in Zone 7, what can I grow? The Time-Life Complete Garden Guide has a bunch of charts (annuals, perennials, etc.) with columns for zones. I’ve got the huge honking one-volume version of this(and it’s a book I keep on my desk because I look at it often), but believe the individual sections have been published as separate volumes; it’s pp. 590-607 in my edition, “Plant Selection Guide.”