Oh hey LISTEN. It looks as if we are going to be inheriting a 12-person dining room table and a huh-YOOG sideboard. If we are not going to decline to inherit it, we would need to transport these items about 1500 miles. Have you ever shipped just a couple of pieces of furniture? How did you do it? How much did it cost? It seems like I HAVE heard of people doing this kind of thing.
Look for you pack we ship places and you can buy space (or a pallet) on a tractor trailor for a reasonable amount of dough. We moved a large amount of stuff (about a one bedroom apt. worth) across country for $1200 but they have much cheaper options.
Brown Transfer is a company we have used. But Froggylady is right, there are quite a few companies who will ship big stuff cross country for relatively cheap.
We like ABF shipping…you load it yourself and they drop it off at your house. Easy peasy.
I did the exact same thing after my Grami died. I used uship.com and it worked really well. I shipped a Queen bed frame, mattress and box spring from South Carolina to Florida for less than $100. Good luck!
Also, http://www.freightcenter.com has a nice “get a quote” online tool.
Could Paul rent a UHaul and drive it back? He could tow his car…
I have to say that I would love to inherit something like that- we need a bigger table, and the storage of a sideboard? It’s kinda my current favorite wet dream.
However, if I were to need to ship it, I’d be all Wha? ERM, Uhaul? What do you mean I need a driver for that?
Good luck. I’ll be curious to see what you figure out.
Yo Swistle!
Another option would be to call several moving companies in that area and find out their schedule for moving other folks out to your neck of the woods. For example, when my Grandmother died, we inherited her Baby Grand. What we did was find a mover leaving the GA area that was heading up the East Coast (I think they were going to Connecticut or something like that) and they packed the piano on LAST and then dropped it off on the way up there. We paid a reasonable amount since it was one their way anyhow.
Cool about the DR set! Can’t wait to see it!
You can also call regular moving companies, because if they are moving something your way and have space on the truck, you can often get a good deal.
When we emptied out DH’s grandparents’ place for the estate sale, we decided to keep a bunch of furniture. We just called Mayflower and they sent somebody out for a quote. Nutshell, they put it on a truck with somebody else’s stuff and just bring it to you when they drop the other load. The nice thing about going with a professional company is they wrap things up really well; we shipped a grandfather clock and those are easy to damage in transit but ours was fine.
Wow, people sure have great ideas. I was thinking, um, USPS? Hahahahaha. . .
I just had a friend do this in Canada to ship a bedroom set from coast to coast. First he got a quote on line – $600 then the company wouldn’t honour it instead they said it would cost $1400. So he had his brother arrange for shipping with the same company and arrange for COD – in the end he was charged only $400. Apparently the trick was to make them think they were not dealing with a one-time customer.
P.S. Price for a mover is going to depend on size, weight, distance, and packing required. Another option you have is to have it put into indoor climate controlled storage this week and figure out how to get it moved later, when things settle down. I did this with my own stuff once; they send a team out and pack things up so it’s ready to go on a truck when you decide. Food for thought.
I just used Transit Systems for a very similar situation and they were awesome but yeah around 1k, I KNOW.
The key is usually being really flexible about time… if you can get on someone else’s truck, it helps. I’d call around for several estimates.
I am so glad that things seem to be a tad better. Also, I am wishing that I was closer so that I can stuff your bulky things in my washer of King Size Comforter Huge-o Washer Of Uselessness. Because our only king comforter is dry clean only. Explain that shit to me, plz.
I’ve used ABF a couple of times – entire apartments for less than a grand.
We shipped some stuff from PA to MO once, and we did it on Roadway. I have no idea what it cost, sorry. Brett arranged it all via his Dad (who works for Roadway). But I think they have some large cargo service for individuals.
I’m just catching up here and wanted to say OH SWISTLE. I am so sorry about all the sickness and ICK going on for you right now. I have no idea how you are doing it, but somehow you’re surviving. I am thinking of you!
I too have used ABF and had a great experience. I have also shipped a bed frame from one coast to another via UPS and it was at a cpetitive
price. The table might be too big but they will come and pick up packages so if there is other stuff or your SIL is shipping stuff it’s something to think about. But yes, ABF is a good idea to check out.
Another vote for ABF. I think they do have a minimum space requirement that you have to pay for that a sideboard and dining room set won’t totally take up, so you’ll be paying for space you won’t use. We moved some stuff from Boston to CA when my husband’s parents’ divorced and sold their house ten years ago, and we had to pay for about ten linear feet, as I recall, and we were only moving bedroom furniture and a kitchen table set and some pots and pans.
I’m glad things are looking better for you now!
Good luck!
I just checked my reader after taking the weekend off, and holy carp, I’m sorry for what you guys are going through right now.
You could look into Greyhound Bus – they do shipping. We used this to ship dining room chairs from PA to TX….pretty reasonable.
I know this is stressful, but Aw! Your beautiful family sitting around a huge, family heirloom dining table! That will be happy.
oh my swistle, so much stressiness recently! please pass on my condolences to paul..
also, sorry i have ZERO useful info on moving things. my parents shipped a car across the country to my sister once, but.. um.. they have special car carriers for that. i don’t think strapping a DR set onto one of those trucks would be ideal :-)
Try uship.com – you basically ask if anyone who is already transporting something has room on their truck and ask for bids. Sometimes, you can get it SUPER cheap. My dad had a motorcycle shipped this way, the trucker brought it from Texas all the way to Washington State and drove it to my dad’s front door for about $125.
When my grandfather died, my folks did what someone else mentioned: got some room on a Mayflower truck headed in our direction. Coincidentally, I was just about to move into my first apartment in a neighboring town, and several of the pieces on the truck, as well as in my folks’ house, were to be moved there.
Since we had to wait for the Mayflower truck to get a full load, there was only a day or so’s notice before it arrived. I was at work when my mom called: Since we turned out to be the last stop on its route, they were willing to go ahead and move me that day.
By the time I got to my new apartment that afternoon, all I had to do was buy the beer and pizza. Of course, I think one of them stole my copy of *Look Homeward, Angel* because I’ve never seen it again, but the whole move was about as easy as possible, and the guys were super-nice.
More information than you need, but felt the need to share.
No idea about moving, but I’ve been absent and just wanted to share my condolences/quaff for you and Paul.
Do you even have room for the furniture? I am dreading some of the inheriting we’re sure to do in the future, because where am I going to put all that crap? I mean, uh, “those lovely heirlooms?”
Sorry I can’t be of help here, but all I’ve ever heard is that it’s very expensive to ship furniture like that…
Really sorry about the mil, and the kids being sick and you being trapped… It’s all so hard, isn’t it?