Big Move

[MordBlack]

Hello to all of Our XI Family Members, We have some big news. We are going to be moving at the end of next month. We are moving from NC to MI at the end of May. This is a Huge move for us as It will be like a 14hr drive cause of bring a Dog, Three cats and a Guinea Pig. Please wish us luck with this move.

[Smeggie]

52 minutes ago, MordBlack said:

Hello to all of Our XI Family Members, We have some big news. We are going to be moving at the end of next month. We are moving from NC to MI at the end of May. This is a Huge move for us as It will be like a 14hr drive cause of bring a Dog, Three cats and a Guinea Pig. Please wish us luck with this move.

Wow @MordBlack this is really big!

What is prompting your move?

Ready for colder weather?

Wishing you all the best and hope that you're not away from the game too long!

[MordBlack]

42 minutes ago, Smeggie said:

Wow @MordBlack this is really big!

What is prompting your move?

Ready for colder weather?

Wishing you all the best and hope that you're not away from the game too long!

Ready to move out also we have Friends and Family up there. It will be in the middle of Michigan. Yes I do miss actual Winter.

[Lovyan]

Just now, MordBlack said:

Ready to move out also we have Friends and Family up there. It will be in the middle of Michigan. Yes I do miss actual Winter.

Our Neighborhood rough, and want a better change for our Family.

[Timmah!]

Safe travels!

[KaptCrunch]

how are you moving self with U-haul or trailer and vechicle, have checked with pods  this i found  info last year to compare  your choice.

I just moved 2300 miles using PODs, here is what I learned.
Experience & Tips
I moved from Cincinnati to Seattle about a month ago and figured I would share my experience/what worked or didn’t work here.

After researching a lot of moving companies I decided to use a POD shipping container. Overall I’m happy with how things went, but here is the breakdown of pros and cons:

PRO: Cheap - total cost including 1 month of storage was just under $3,000. I got the largest size pod (16 feet) for a 1200 sqft apartment. This was more than enough, I could have gone smaller and saved money.

Reliable - I was not at all worried about some sketchy moving company “having their truck break down” or handling my stuff poorly. That being said, YOU are responsible for making sure your stuff arrives safely. I spent a long time packaging all my breakables and used a ton bungee cords and ratchet straps to fully secure my things in the pods. Everything arrived in good shape, sans one broken dresser leg (pack you dresser upside down!)

Storage - I was not comfortable finding a rental sight unseen, so I stored my pod for a month ($200) and lived in a furnished apartment I found on furnishedfinder while looking for a place. This allowed me to see 10+ apartments in person and I ended up with a place I’m really happy with.

CONs

Delivery - if you’re moving to a dense city it is very possible you will not be able to get your pod delivered. To deliver it they need a space 12ft wide, 40ft long, and 15 (really 16) feet of vertical clearance. I found a rental with a driveway, and was thinking “sweet this will be easy!”. I scheduled my delivery but when the guy showed up he couldn’t drop off the pod due to some low hanging telephone wires. In some places you can get permits to put it in street parking spots, they also offer a street delivery where they will park it on a road for 4 hours while you unload it, which costs $599. I ended up hiring a moving company to go to the pod storage facility, unload my pod and deliver my things to me. This added $730 to my total cost, bringing it to about $3500

Labor - you will be loading and unloading everything yourself. It’s going to be hard if you have a lot of furniture and you will likely need help so just remember to include that while comparing costs. Task rabbit is great for this.

TIPS Use moisture removers, especially if you are planning to store your pod. I bought 5 hanging ones for closets and they were all completely full when it arrived.

Use moving blankets to protect furniture

Pack all of your boxes fully so you can stack them to the top of the pod. While packing write heavy/bottom or light/top so you know how to layer them in the pod.

Place wooden furniture with their legs pointing up. *someone in the comments said this isn’t a good idea. The movers I hired told me it would have prevented the damage for my specific dresser, YMMV

However many straps you think you need… use more.

Hope this is helpful to someone, happy moving!

Edit to add more info from the comments: Uhaul Ubox is another good option that may be even cheaper

The 16ft pods have a weight limit of 4,200 lbs, the smaller pods have higher weight limits

Get as many of the same size boxes as you can for the best stacking

Note : packing books use liquier boxes  go to locale  hopstial and ask for the medicial carboard boxes for dishes  with white packing so not to wash the ink off news print or use news paper an wash dishes, can use it  for filler  on bottom and each layer of dishes  with cups  around plates  bunch paper in crinkle balls.  2300Mi  you  724 Mi

i see is less distance above,  and person is correct turn over furnature or use  a saw and 2x4 (stacked making 4x4) to support legs and nail to floor only like a pedisile with wood in T form is way and heavy piceses and more  to even the load bearing on bottom. correct brace with rachet straps for pod is 50°  angle loading so pack it tight to the door  make a plywood wall and fill the space infront of plywood with blankets old sheets.

Note barn doors for a roll-up need to use 4x4 in X pattern on the plywood so not to jam the roll-up door with 4x4 fit tight against door frame 

happy moving  day,  make sure nothing move inside pod like vacuum pack. 

Edited April 17 by KaptCrunch

[Timmah!]

Nice advice  

[basil_2]

I actually like moving from state to state, etc.  Improving houses, buying and selling and making profit and moving on is fun for me and my hubby.  I love the whole remodel/change things for the better process.  As for NC, we lived there 1 year Durham and 2 years North of Raleigh (Wake Forest), and I do know what you mean.  All the confederate flags flying everywhere around Raleigh really bummed me out, and having to worry about crime is no fun, NC was not my dream state after all, who knew?  Honestly, of Durham and Raleigh, I liked Durham better, who know about that as well? Durham has character.  That said, for the colleges there - DUKE, UNC omg awesome!  Would def. recommend those colleges to kids wanting a great education and great environment to learn in.  As for MI, congrats!  WOW what fun for you all!    All that water, lakes, nature, beauty and four full seasons.  VERY VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!   

[KaptCrunch]

EXPERIENCE  of working with mover over summer break learned how to move households 

other  thing can use  wardrobes  and fill the bottom of them with shoes and brooms and anything that hard to pack like garden tools, shovels. other thing winter time for un heated cargo take with you in own car and those moister collectors a must if storing your stuff for some time, same day moving  ok.  if leaving a cockroach rental use Cockroach bombs, also known as roach foggers  when ready to close the door on van, container and pod set  and place inside.

 

Edited April 17 by KaptCrunch
extra tips

[Lovyan]

On 4/17/2025 at 8:24 AM, basil_2 said:

I actually like moving from state to state, etc.  Improving houses, buying and selling and making profit and moving on is fun for me and my hubby.  I love the whole remodel/change things for the better process.  As for NC, we lived there 1 year Durham and 2 years North of Raleigh (Wake Forest), and I do know what you mean.  All the confederate flags flying everywhere around Raleigh really bummed me out, and having to worry about crime is no fun, NC was not my dream state after all, who knew?  Honestly, of Durham and Raleigh, I liked Durham better, who know about that as well? Durham has character.  That said, for the colleges there - DUKE, UNC omg awesome!  Would def. recommend those colleges to kids wanting a great education and great environment to learn in.  As for MI, congrats!  WOW what fun for you all!    All that water, lakes, nature, beauty and four full seasons.  VERY VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!   

I know.. 30 minutes from Wake forest, 1 hr from durham which i tried to stay away from lol... I have moved from California To Texas, To Florida Back to North Carolina then Now Michigan. State to State Moves can be Hectic but it should Be good

[KaptCrunch]

On 4/17/2025 at 12:42 PM, KaptCrunch said:

EXPERIENCE  of working with mover over summer break learned how to move households 

other  thing can use  wardrobes  and fill the bottom of them with shoes and brooms and anything that hard to pack like garden tools, shovels. other thing winter time for un heated cargo take with you in own car and those moister collectors a must if storing your stuff for some time, same day moving  ok.  if leaving a cockroach rental use Cockroach bombs, also known as roach foggers  when ready to close the door on van, container and pod set  and place inside.

 

correction  the roach bomb do not use in van driving for you will breath the chemical and not see clear through windshelid 

[major-mark63]

On 4/16/2025 at 7:53 PM, MordBlack said:

Ready to move out also we have Friends and Family up there. It will be in the middle of Michigan. Yes I do miss actual Winter.

winter is coslless than Hurricanes

[GhostfaceJim]

Good luck.  I've hopefully made my last move into my new home in Kansas.

[Hoth]

Good luck! Should be a great move for the family. Be careful though you are moving close to @Crack  :0 

[rexbowan]

Good luck and stay safe! Remember this is an adventure.