Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1990 21:30-EST From: Hans.Tallis@ML.RI.CMU.EDU To: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU Subject: moving advice Message-Id: <632457029/tallis@LATEEN.PC.CS.CMU.EDU> 15-Jan-90 20:45 GEVINS@ASTER.PSY.CMU.EDU RE: Moving to California -< Summary >- Thanks for all the responses so far. If there are any more, I'd be GLAD to read them. I'm posting the responses I got because I noticed another request for moving and storage info. Of course, names have been omitted. -Jody ---------------------------- I used Guardian Self-Storage last summer with ALL of my belongings except summer clothes. The place is clean, dry and bug-free (as far as I could tell) and the people over their are even nice. ---------------------------- We moved to LA about 4 years ago and used Allied Van Lines. They seemed to do a reasonable job. But in more general terms, try to avoid putting your stuff in storage. Everytime you stuff gets handled there is some risk of something getting broken or scratched. Putting stuff in storage means one more round of handling, namely moving the stuff from the van to storage containers. The storage company should be able to move the containers to your new home and unpack them there, though. Another general point: Federal regulations essentially put a lower bound on a price of moving, although companies can now give you "binding" estimates that allow them to be competitive by underestimating the weight of your goods. However, if the estimate is more than 10% under the driver can complain and insist on a weighing. So don't go with a company than way underbids all the others. Besides the drivers may then be inclined to move faster, putting your stuff in jeopardy. The federal government also regulates the price of storage for cross country moves. However, a storage company may be willing to let you use the state regulated price structure, I guess by claiming your stuff is now in California, once it arrives. Anyway, the pricing structure is so different it is very difficult to compare. The Federal structure is by weight and the State by volume. Allied refused to give us any indication which would be to our benefit. We went by the Federal structure. But the State structure would have saved us a bundle, now we know how many containers we used. However, we did have a lot of heavy, relatively compact woodworking equipment that we put into storage. Still, if you are giving a choice, I suggest that you go with the state rate structure. Good luck! -------------------------- I just moved from LA to Pittsburgh. Don't use North American! They promised us a 9 day period between pickup and delivery. When the truck arrived for pickup, the driver informed us he would be delivering in Pgh 5 days later - which severely inconvenienced us. Moreover, he did not have enough space on his truck to take all our belongings - so some stayed in a warehouse in LA for three weeks before North American could get it together to organize another truck. The driver was great, nothing was damaged, I think we lost at least on box but we are still checking. Here is what I learned: 1) Get definite pickup and delivery dates - don't let an agent snow you with vague assurances. 2) Check off everything that goes out the door on pickup and everything that comes in the door on delivery - everything should be tagged so it is quite easy. 3) If you want delivery on or by a certain date, get the optional guaranteed delivery service. Otherwise they can deliver months later and only have to pay you expenses. 4) Get a not-to-exceed price. We did and would have paid extra if we hadn't because the agent underestimated the weight. 5) Make sure the stuff you want immediately at the other end is easily availible, so you don't have to go through every box to find something. Good luck! --------------------------- when my sister moved from san francisco to pittsburgh last year, she had to pay the people who picked up her stuff (i.e., the actual movers) $500 in cash. they were really reluctant to give her a receipt but she managed to talk them into giving her one anyway. anyway, about a week after she got here, the moving company called to say that the people who had picked up her stuff had "lost" her $500. she didn't owe them any money or anything, but she might have had a lot of problems without that receipt. so, moving is a nasty and hectic thing. but for what it's worth, be sure to get receipts. have a good move! ---------------------- STAY AWAY FROM NORTH AMERICAN! Based on my experience with them (they moved me from NC to Pgh last summer), I think they're a bunch of crooks. Call me if you want to know the specific reasons. -------------------------