Moving X-Country Forum

[cactuarX3]

I was wondering if the people who had to move across the country to attend law school could talk a little about their experience of moving. Specifically, how you guys did it, how much it costs, if it makes sense to ship things (e.g. TVs, furniture, etc.) and any other advice that would be helpful. Thanks!

[franklyscarlet]

Tagging for future tips.

[kakaa001]

I did a lot of searching on the forums about this, but some of the websites/companies mentioned in those earlier topics have since jacked up their prices. Thanks for making a new thread.

Consensus among the old threads is if possible: sell your furniture, move with just your clothes and knickknacks, and buy new furniture in your new place from IKEA.

[annet]

I moved for grad school and then to escape grad school a few years ago. My favorite tip is to make good use of USPS' media mail and parcel post rates. Also, if you want your mail carrier to like you and will have a car, have all of the boxes be held at the post office for pick up. I put most of my clothes in suitcases, UPSed my computer in a nice box with insurance and bubble wrap (too broke to buy a laptop, had to make the desktop last), and mailed everything else. Try to rent a furnished apartment and then buy the rest as cheaply as possible at your final destination.

No suggestions if you plan to live like a grown-up and have nice things.

[vpintz]

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[echooo23]

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[der_saeufer]

I did a lot of searching on the forums about this, but some of the websites/companies mentioned in those earlier topics have since jacked up their prices. Thanks for making a new thread.

Consensus among the old threads is if possible: sell your furniture, move with just your clothes and knickknacks, and buy new furniture in your new place from IKEA.

I moved cross-country (Boston to Seattle) for a job a few years ago (after I moved from Denver to Boston for the job I left!) and this is spot-on. I brought my clothes, computer, tools and some kitchen stuff. Books got mailed (media mail FTW). Anything else that didn't fit in or on the car wasn't invited.

When I got to Seattle, I bought stuff for my new place off craigslist and at IKEA. I kept records; it cost considerably less to buy new stuff than it would have to rent a U-Haul trailer (let alone a truck!) to move it even had I not gotten anything for the furniture I left in Boston.

[bk1]

As I've mentioned in other threads, I highly recommend freight shipping if you can box everything and you don't bring furniture. I used http://www.freightcenter.com and it worked out smoothly.

[Kikero]

As I've mentioned in other threads, I highly recommend freight shipping if you can box everything and you don't bring furniture. I used http://www.freightcenter.com and it worked out smoothly.

I also recommend freight shipping. Also if you know anybody that runs a small business (store, factory, anywhere that receives/sends shipments regularly) see if they will let you ship with one of their freight accounts (obviously you'd have to pay). You can save big time that way, and your shipment might actually help them meet a higher volume discount level.

[MG88]

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[franklyscarlet]

This thread is relevant to my interests.

No suggestions if you plan to live like a grown-up and have nice things.

This is my problem.

So far, my plan for my grown-up stuff ( art, my nice bed frame, etc) is to get the smallest u-haul trailer and tow it cross country. Counting the. Cost of the trailer and the cost of installing a tow bar, it's going to be somewhere between 200-300.

[vpintz]

This thread is relevant to my interests.

No suggestions if you plan to live like a grown-up and have nice things.

This is my problem.

So far, my plan for my grown-up stuff ( art, my nice bed frame, etc) is to get the smallest u-haul trailer and tow it cross country. Counting the. Cost of the trailer and the cost of installing a tow bar, it's going to be somewhere between 200-300.

This is probably what I'll be doing. There's no Ikea in Iowa, so I wouldn't really have an opportunity to sell my current stuff and buy cheap-but-still-good-quality furniture there. Luckily, most of my family lives in the area I'll be moving to, so I'll have plenty of help moving and unpacking/assembling furniture/etc. My parents even offered to pay the cost of the u-haul, gas, etc. to move, so I'm obviously not complaining.

[Lvaughn714]

I did a lot of searching on the forums about this, but some of the websites/companies mentioned in those earlier topics have since jacked up their prices. Thanks for making a new thread.

Consensus among the old threads is if possible: sell your furniture, move with just your clothes and knickknacks, and buy new furniture in your new place from IKEA.

My problem is the place I am moving (South Bend) doesn't have an ikea anywhere close to it, my best bet for furniture would be either salvation army/craigs list or department stores like Macy's or Sears. I'm also competing with the 10,000 other students crammed in that tiny town.

This thread is making me kinda sad considering I have been out of college for about 2.5 years and was so happy to finally have real furniture and now it feels like I'm just going to have to give it all up

[LockBox]

I did a lot of searching on the forums about this, but some of the websites/companies mentioned in those earlier topics have since jacked up their prices. Thanks for making a new thread.

Consensus among the old threads is if possible: sell your furniture, move with just your clothes and knickknacks, and buy new furniture in your new place from IKEA.

My problem is the place I am moving (South Bend) doesn't have an ikea anywhere close to it, my best bet for furniture would be either salvation army/craigs list or department stores like Macy's or Sears. I'm also competing with the 10,000 other students crammed in that tiny town.

This thread is making me kinda sad considering I have been out of college for about 2.5 years and was so happy to finally have real furniture and now it feels like I'm just going to have to give it all up

+1

[vissidarte27]

Tagging.