r/moving • • Jul 17 '26

Advice Needed I have 45minutes to pack from arrival time

15 Upvotes

Hello, this is my first post here, and I have a pretty important question that requires some background info:

I filed a restraining order against my husband, but he still lives in our shared apartment. Since he has no transportation and no job currently, it was easier for me to leave when I was scared to death of him. I am at the point where I need to get some of my belongings back, and how much I can get largely hinges on the abilities of a moving company.

I have talked with law enforcement about the possibility of this happening, and they basically said I would have a good 30, maybe 45 minutes that they're willing to be on standby on the premises to keep him away from me to not break the restraining order, but not much more than that. My bulkiest and heaviest items are my boss, which I've collected for most of my adult life, but there are electronics like gaming systems and a TV I'd like to take, too. Also clothing, but much of that can be replaced.

First of all, is this even a thing? I know some companies can pack your place up for you, but I'm not packing up my place, per se, even though I own like 90%of the stuff in the apartment.

I would need a company that's willing to work very flexibly with both me and law enforcement, given the severe time constraints, and I really have no idea of the state of the apartment, seeing as it's been left to the devices of a seriously unhappy human.

Comments would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

*ETA: I was officially able to hire a company! šŸŽ‰ I was able to hire an officer to basically "keep the peace", got an official time slot set up, and got some movers hired for the same time! I didn't even know they were able to schedule with led than 48 hours notice. They were VERY understanding about my situation, and basically said that they've dealt with all walks in life and as long as they had warning, they were cool with it. I'm actually excited for the first time in months and not filed with dread!!


r/moving • • Apr 26 '26

Discussion Broker vs Non-Broker, what's the difference?

9 Upvotes

hi, i hope i'm posting in the right place mods feel free to remove if this isnt the right place.

TLDR; i'm getting ready to move in few months and when i'm reading about moving companies i'm getting confliciting information about moving companies that are brokers vs not brokers. i'd like to understand from people who work as professional movers what's the difference? is one better than the other?

so i’m moving my 1 bedroom apartment in like 3 months and i thought i was being a responsible adult by starting early but literally every search is a nightmare. i keep seeing people talk about brokers vs not brokers and i literally cannot tell the difference when i’m on these websites. they all look the same!! theres lots of info on this sub, and from googling and asking ChatGPT about moving companies but some stuff says brokers are normal companies but other stuff says they are nothing but thieves looking to take advantage and steal all my stuff and take all my money. i dont have a lot of stuff or money and would really like to keep as much of it as possible.

i have a million questions im hoping you can help me figure this out...

  • how am i supposed to know if i’m talking to a broker or not broker when they both say "nationwide moving services" in big bold letters?
  • is there a name for the not broker people or all they all just types of brokers?
  • all these places ive talked to want lots of money right now (they call it a deposit?? is that right??) but then i read on a thread that if they ask for a big amount of money, they’re probably a broker just taking their cut before they even find a truck?
  • im seeing people on here say they paid the deposit and after their stuff was picked up they demanded a ton more money and said the amount they gave was just an estimate.... ike, i have a normal amount of stuff?? it’s a 1 bed not a warehouse!! is this normal?? is there anything i can do to avoid this??? like i dsaid i dont have a lot of stuff and really dont want to lose it or my money

what am i not understanding? am i stupid adn this is something most people know? help me out chat!


r/moving • • 20h ago

Hiring Movers Company comparisons

5 Upvotes

Allied van lines quoted $11000 for a love from Minnesota to Florida. Mostly household items - only furniture being 2 50ā€ tv’s, 2 queen mattresses, 1 queen frame with headboard, 1 queen box spring with frame, 1 night stand, 1 small ~7cubic foot freezer.
American van lines quoted $5400 for the same thing…? Is this normal?
Allied did an in-home walk, American did a virtual.


r/moving • • 12h ago

Where Should I Move? What to do on weekend trips that are intended to explore where we relocate to?

1 Upvotes

Husband retires in 3 years. We will purchase property in about 2 years and are starting to research now. We are looking at PA, VA & West VA. We are in NJ now and have our first weekend trip to explore a town in PA this upcoming weekend.

These aren't normal weekend trips to just have fun, so what the heck should we do exactly? Drive around residential neighborhoods? Looks for things to do? Talk to people? What are some things we should ask people if we strike up a conversation?

If you moved, what are some things you would have asked locals beforehand? What are some things you wish you knew about your neighborhood / area that you could have asked beforehand?

Thanks...


r/moving • • 15h ago

Where Should I Move? Leaving OK

0 Upvotes

Me and my husband (25M) are wanting to leave our home state of OK. It's so hard deciding where!! We love nature, hiking, socializing. Would love mountains/hills, prettier landscape. Would love to be somewhere with all 4 seasons. We've thought about CO since it isn't a bad drive from family, but we're worried it's too expensive and overpopulated. I'm a hairstylist and would have to start my clientele over completely. My husband is a musician who has recently decided to stop touring and find a different career. We have 2 dogs. More left leaning. Give us all of your favorite recs!! TIA!!


r/moving • • 1d ago

International Move Shipping luggages from France to Norway

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m going to move from Bordeaux to Bergen and want to ship my stuffes in advanced. Do you guys know how to ship luggages and moving boxes in a safest and cheapest way?


r/moving • • 1d ago

Costs & Money High value items questions!

5 Upvotes

I need some advice. I’m hiring movers a long distance move and I have a very expensive handbag collection. I’m trying to decide the best way to get my bags to the destination. Of course, when I went to UPS to inquire, they told me not to put them on a moving truck. But the guy I talked to at the moving company said putting them on the truck would be safest. He said you can buy extra insurance for the items, it makes me nervous because I’ve heard of just regular items going missing from moving trucks. I am asking for advice and or recommendations from anyone who has ever moved with high-value items. Thanks!


r/moving • • 1d ago

DIY, Pods & Truck Rental Ubox question

1 Upvotes

Im moving from az to wi. Step 1 of my move is, or was, to put most of my stuff in a uhaul box and have them drop it off at my place in wi.

But apparently they wont just drop it off, I have to pay an extra $400 to have someone unload it on site?

Wtaf? Has anyone experienced this before? Is this something I can negotiate?

Not only do I not want strangers touching my stuff, I wont be there to watch.

Is my only option to store the box at their place until I get there?

Thanks


r/moving • • 1d ago

Costs & Money Need help with Shipping

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I want my boxes to be shipped from Buffalo to LR. I have 3 large boxes and none of them are labelled, I need someone to label and do a pickup and a delivery. Any suggestions?


r/moving • • 1d ago

Costs & Money How do you afford to go to the coast from the Midwest?

2 Upvotes

I would love to move somewhere coastal with my family preferably west coast, but I worry about affording the cost of living with it being so much higher than the Midwest.


r/moving • • 1d ago

DIY, Pods & Truck Rental Renting a Haul or Hiring a Company?

4 Upvotes

We are moving from White Plains, NY to St Petersburg Florida and we don’t know what the best and cheapest method would be to move. We originally thought renting a Uhaul and driving it there would be the cheapest but we just looked and for the truck alone NOT including gas, tolls and factoring hotel stays and food would be $3,000. We are coming from a 1 bed / Bath 760 sq ft apartment. We have a couch, a queen bed and a computer tower and tons of boxes. But our major furniture is the couch and bed

We thought it would be significantly cheaper to rent a U-haul and drive it. But we are now considering maybe using moving company? I don’t know. There is also U haul Boxes or something. Can someone share what worked for them or what they did?


r/moving • • 1d ago

Packing & Supplies 15 hour trip with 2 cars to a temporary home, then a permanent one

1 Upvotes

I will be moving to a temporary place 15 hours away in a few weeks. I have 2 small cars and no truck or anything with the ability to tow one, and I will be the only driver. I’ll end up in a temporary home with someone else for a few weeks and then move to a permanent one so there won’t be any unpacking due to the short stay. Any tips I should know for the drive and making sure everything fits in the cars?


r/moving • • 1d ago

Where Should I Move? New grad recommendations

1 Upvotes

Hi there, I am currently in nursing school in Iowa and am looking to move out east, thinking sc or nc, I don’t have ties to either, but I am just hoping to gain some information on what cities and areas would be a best fit (also other states if you think it’s a good fit). I am hoping to work at a larger/level I hospital, and my boyfriend will be working in turf management. A city with job opportunities for both of us, as we are a young couple in our 20s… I am not opposed to anything, but do not really want to commute over an hour to work. Likely looking to rent a townhome or something similar as we also have a dog. Thank you for your advice and help!!


r/moving • • 1d ago

Where Should I Move? Should We Stay in OR?

0 Upvotes

My (44f) Husband (46M) have an opportunity to move to MI to be closer to my family. We have 3 daughters: 17F, 15F and 10F. We're currently in OR and we have a good life here.

We've been living by my husband's family (both in CA and OR) for over 20 years. I never thought I'd want to move back to MI, but as I'm getting older, I am realizing that I miss them and would love to make the most of the time I have left with my parents.

My husband reluctantly agreed to move, but he still doesn't want to go (not really), but he is excited for a new position in his company and a slight pay raise plus bigger bonuses. He hates his current position.

My daughters are crying all the time and don't want to move next summer. I'm torn. Do I wait 3 more years for my now freshman daughter to finish high school? My youngest would be starting high school in MI if we move to MI in 2030.

I don't want to precipitate a major crisis in our little family. They're all telling me that I'm selfish.

I'm really torn about this! Please advise!


r/moving • • 1d ago

Hiring Movers Was this on purpose?

0 Upvotes

We paid extra to have movers pack our house up before moving us to another state. We asked the movers to put some of our small appliances into the boxes we had saved when we purchased the appliances. Even though we totally gave them our coffee maker box, I'm finding that parts of the coffee maker have been distributed among at least three other regular moving boxes, with only the main part of the coffee maker in its original box.

Did they do this on purpose? Out of spite? Do packers hate using original small appliance boxes?


r/moving • • 1d ago

Costs & Money Indianapolis to Providence, maybe 2 rooms of stuff, looking for recommendations

1 Upvotes

I had a sudden change in life and need to move. I'm looking for the most cost effective way to make this move.

I am inclined to just rent a truck and do it myself but is there a better way?


r/moving • • 2d ago

Real Estate, Rentals & Utilities I can't make a decision

1 Upvotes

hi reddit please help me :)

my lease is up at the end of the year (I have currently lived in this studio for 2 years) and I don't have a huge budget for a new place, but I am ready/need to move. Things on my "needs" list that I do not currently have are only an oven and a closet. it would be awesome to also have a bathtub and a balcony! Ideally I would love to have a 1 bed, but it's not of the upmost importance to me at this time.

Most 1 beds in my area are $1300 and most studios run $1100. The listings I see include w/s/g but not electricity or wifi. My current studio is $1150 and doesn't have any of the aforementioned wants/needs, but it does include all utilities including electricity and wifi. I hate the area I am currently in and am extremely depressed and ready for a change. I feel like it's worth it to pay the extra ~$100 + electricity to have more space and get exactly what I want so I can feel at ease, but my anxious brain is really worried about my budget and keeps telling me that it is a mistake.

I have toured and gotten approved for 2 different apartments. The first one gave me the wrong unit on the application so I didn't sign the lease, and the second one's deposit was WAY out of budget (im talking $2k+). I feel like I can't make a decision on where to live because roadblocks just keep popping up and I am hoping that the "perfect place" will fall into my lap.

What do you think reddit? Do you think I have high standards or I just can't make a decision?


r/moving • • 2d ago

DIY, Pods & Truck Rental Shipping Companies FL to WI

1 Upvotes

Hi all!! Looking for some insight moving from FL to WI at the beginning of January 2027 to close the gap of my LDR and be with my fiancƩ. I have to ship my stuff though and I think I have more than would make sense to go through local UPS/postal?

I have a walking pad, lamp that I can disassemble that's about 5 feet tall, clothes probably four or five boxes worth shoes etc, and some picture frames, knickknacks and photographs.

No furniture, no beds, dressers, desks, etc. I called Mayflower movers and I have to get a quote from them, but I'm wondering if anybody has some advice i've already done the hard stuff like leasing an apartment and I'm in the process of finding a job gonna sell my car in FL get a new car up there so now I have to worry about shipping my stuff woo hoo!

Thanks! šŸ¤—


r/moving • • 2d ago

Hiring Movers How many quotes did you get before booking a mover?

5 Upvotes

Curious how people decide. Did you get 2 quotes? 5? Just go with the first one that felt right?

And did the cheapest one end up being the best deal?


r/moving • • 3d ago

Help! Move Went Wrong Company didn’t confirm pickup time

6 Upvotes

I hired a moving company and paid the security deposit through Zelle rather than by credit card. My scheduled pickup is in less than 36 hours, and the company has stopped responding to my calls and messages. What should I do in this situation, and what options do I have to recover my deposit? I already booked my flights and can't cancel


r/moving • • 3d ago

International Move Looking for companies from NYC to London

4 Upvotes

Hi all - doing my first international move from NYC to London and I asked for a few quotes already, but would like to know if there are any other recommendations.

I am only shipping one bedroom. Will probably be only 20 boxes, if that. I do have a large 47x59in mirror that I am debating just selling instead of spending a lot of money to protect it and risk it breaking on the move.

TL;DR - What's a good company for an international move for less than 20 boxes?


r/moving • • 3d ago

Where Should I Move? Big city living to Minnesota/Iowa area, best options?

4 Upvotes

Hi! I'm from Phoenix, AZ, and I'm looking for a big change in the next few years.

I'm tired of the heat, busy city, and would love to be closer to family. I visit yearly for a few weeks (Yes, I am aware visiting and living here is a big difference) and I yearn for the state as soon as I leave.

I'm looking for smaller towns, Albert Lea or smaller. Iowa is also a contender, Lake Mills, Northwood, or Scarville. I know a good number of people in the general area, old family friends and family spread out.

My only concern would be the job market. My dream is to work at an antique store, but I doubt many make enough to have numerous employees. Other than that, I'm into hospitality and serving and I'm real popular with older folks.

Wouldn't move right away, need to save some money, but the houses I've peeked at around Northwood are significantly cheaper than anything I could get in the city.

*Not planning on having children so schools aren't a problem.


r/moving • • 3d ago

DIY, Pods & Truck Rental From Tucson to Eugene, OR

5 Upvotes

As the title states, my partner and I are moving from Tucson to Eugene. We’re planning on moving in March, but we’re having a hard time planning out the best way to do it. So far thinking that I drive my car with some items, and he drives his, but his pulls a small, u-haul trailer to fit things like the bedframe, mattress, tv, etc. The big things we’d prefer not to replace. Would that be cost effective? How have some of you moved? It’s a little over 1,300 miles so two trips aren’t ideal.

Also, what is the best timeline to do things? Set up a job first? a home first? how soon should these things be set up?

sorry for all the questions, I (21F) have only moved within state and nothing exceeding a 2hr drive, and my partner has never moved.


r/moving • • 3d ago

Hiring Movers what happens if a mover ignores you binding estimate at delivery?

2 Upvotes

Threads about delivery day price changes always end with "should have gotten a binding estimate." What actually happens if you have one and they try to charge more anyway. Legal recourse, or is the document just paper.


r/moving • • 4d ago

Packing & Supplies Accidentally Packed Lighters

3 Upvotes

Hey all! So to preface, I am moving due to my partner getting a new job, and this new job comes with a moving package that sent us movers to our house. The movers packed up a jar that had lighters inside of it without my knowledge & I cannot find the box it’s in for the life of me. I know lighters are not legally allowed to be moved but is this a safety issue? Are the lighters going to be fine or will there be a disaster?