For the move from Massachusetts to Florida we decided that it would make the most sense to use at least two containers and a dumpster. Container A for the apartment we’re moving into. Container B to a storage facility near the apartment for eventual delivery to a house when we become stupid enough to purchase one. Dumpster for everything else.
We looked at the market leader, PODS, first. They wanted $4,770 per container (16x8x8′) for the move and $265/month per container for rental or storage. The container is wood, steel, and fiberglass and can hold up to 4,200 lbs.
PACK-RAT does not have as large a service area, but they cover West Palm Beach and Boston. The container is the same size, but all steel, like a standard container for a container ship (suitable for jamming into the Suez Canal!). The price for the container/storage is about the same, but they’ll move three containers to Florida (all fit on one truck) for what PODS charges to move two.
A typical cluttered house will require three containers. We’re hoping to trash a lot of stuff, but we also have some aviation gear currently stored in hangars.
Related:
A true aviation nerd would just live in his Gulfstream, like this guy:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/homeless-billionaire-nicolas-berggruen-curious-783353
Thanks. I hadn’t heard of this guy! Check out all of the young females surrounding him. He is as attractive to women as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jho_Low was!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Berggruen says that he’s settled down now with two kids. He skipped out being sued under http://www.realworlddivorce.com/California by producing these children via egg donors and surrogates.
Your patience level for dealing with people may be low but the Buy Nothing groups on FB is an option for shedding unwanted items. The caveat is you have to deal with people picking up things which may be more trouble than the dumpster. Good luck with the move and hopefully we’ll meet up at Sun and Fun sometime!
https://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group/#MA
Thanks, Hattie. What about at Oshkosh! That’s close enough to you that you’ve no excuse not to attend. We will be there the whole week.
I’d say don’t underestimate how much crap you have (and will wind up taking with you). We used PODS to move from Michigan to Texas about 18 months ago. Had a 2000sqft house with finished basement (so, really 4Ksqft). Needed 4 PODS, with hired “experts” doing the loading. We also filled at least one dumpster, though we probably could have eliminated more. Moving price was significantly lower than you’ve quoted, monthly storage price about the same.
Good luck!
I recently moved, and have found that I should have thrown away a lot more bric a brac beforehand than I did. I mean a lot. Those sparse white apartments shown in house magazines have some definite advantages when it’s time to leave.
My last move (5 years ago, short local move) I looked into PODS and ended up using a couple U-Box Containers from U-Haul. The U-Box is something like 1/4 the size (8x7x4.5) but for me was 1/5th the price. I think prices were roughly $250 / $50 per POD/U-Box per month. We did 2 U-Boxes instead of 1 POD. U-Box is wood with a plastic roof pan and tarp shell around the outside. They are stored in stacks indoors at my local U-Haul so long term weatherproofing they can get away with the cheaper materials.
I ended up liking the U-Box. They are much easier to maneuver around. For moving out I was able to tow the box myself and get it down the alley and into my driveway. A POD would definitely not fit. For moving in at the new place there was a small fee and a driver with a forklift brought them on a truck (capacity 4) and was able to place them in the driveway. Another call and they picked them up a couple days later. I imagine at an apartment complex a U-Box would fit in a single parking space. Smaller containers mean you can buy volume in smaller increments.
Large furniture might not work as well, but you’re probably better off buying a new couch than spending $1k moving your old couch across country.
I used pack rat when I fled California with my family three years ago. I got three units but the third ended up empty. I was happy. I hired (separately) local movers to load in CA and unload in AL.
Buy a 20 container from any reputable seller (every container port has them); have them deliver it to your house. Load it (no cars with gas; no flamible liquids. Have a shipper put it on a ship, rail car, or truck (use the container port near Ft. Lauderdale if by ship but truck or rail is easiest from Boston to FL because most of the traffic is heading north. Have the container picked up in FL by any company recomended by the reputable seller and put in your driveway. Offer to give it to him for free when you are done- he’ll take it.
My most recent experience: I looked at all the resellers in Houston and visited the port area (a real education on Superfund sites). It turned out there were only two companies handling the “no longer suitable for commercial trade” containers. Purchased a 40 ft high cube for $1,900 (ask the office girls which companies have the best built containers and wait for one). Ask for no roof leaks. Since I was using if as a shop I had it delivered with the toxic floor plywood removed (a carpenter replaced with 10 4 ft x 8 ft plywood sections after arrival). Let the seller select the delivery driver and the time (saved money; $400 Houston > Austin was the cost). Make sure it fits and there is room to back it in. Tip the driver; thank the office girl;; your friends may need a referral. Offer to give it for free to the driver when you are done. He’ll take it.
Dave: Thanks for the “out of the box” idea. PACK-RAT has a storage facility down in West Palm Beach that will be an essential part of our plan, however. As noted in the original post, we’re not doing a simple house-to-house move. We need a shaded place in which to visit two of our beloved containers for a year or so.
Shipping by marine vessel is problematic. The Jones Act is a relic from the 1920’s that basically protects truck and rail shippers from what I understand. It says that in order to ship anything between US ports, the vessel needs to be “built, owned and operated by US citizens, or permanent residents.” https://tinyurl.com/4vj3sjdp
Unfortunately I can’t attend this year due to work commitments. Say hi to my partner in 66F, Mark Boguski, if you see him – he’s part of the Pirates of the North 40 group. Guaranteed he’ll be the very last one to leave Oshkosh…