Moving Companies

[Sylea 30]

With thanks - **This post is for Canadians moving to the US only**

We are going to be hiring a moving company to move my personal effects after my (assumed!) VISA approval.

Is there a thread with moving company recommendations on the Canadian portal, or does any one have personal experiences they could share??

I plan on getting a couple of quotes, but so far Atlas has given me an estimate of approx $2700 before taxes.

Please bear in mind, I am nearly 4000 KM away from where I'm moving to, so UHaul is not an option, especially since I expect it'll be into winter before I can move.

Appreciate the help!

Peace all.

[Ryan H 3,813]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Canada regional forum; topic is not a case status update.

[ricky and elaine 8]

Hi! I have been getting many quotes and it is so expensive. I am moving in 2 weeks and I am at the point of "what fits in the car comes". My quotes have been around $4000-4700 for 2500 lbs. Most of the big companies have minimums which seems to be 2000lbs. Seems to be $1.25 per pound per mile. Your favourite recliner worth little doesn't look so good any more! lol. Now I have also called UHAUL which the quote was $2600 + $1200 gas. (my move is 2850 miles) I also called and got a quote from UPACK.+ PODS, Both of those two were approx $4500-$5500 It just doesn't seem to be worth it. I am now going to contact FEDEX and UPS to see how much some boxes would be. Have one heck of a garage sale next week and then donate give away things to friends.. I have a treadmill that was very expensive but it would be more to move it than I can get for it.

The paperwork does seem quite easy with the big companies. They take care of your belongings/paperwork crossing. You have to cross BEFORE your goods. Then they give your 3299 when they cross with your "unaccompanied goods". If you are a CR1 there is no 1-94.

You can could send used household goods in boxes to your spouse by mail, fedex,what ever ahead of time as long as the value is below $60 I believe without documentation.

It is a very hard decision to make and there are SO many additional fees on top of the base price.with the big companies.

There is also a company Navis Pack that will ship smaller amounts, make custom crates etc.

[Sylea 30]

Hi! I have been getting many quotes and it is so expensive. I am moving in 2 weeks and I am at the point of "what fits in the car comes". My quotes have been around $4000-4700 for 2500 lbs. Most of the big companies have minimums which seems to be 2000lbs. Seems to be $1.25 per pound per mile. Your favourite recliner worth little doesn't look so good any more! lol. Now I have also called UHAUL which the quote was $2600 + $1200 gas. (my move is 2850 miles) I also called and got a quote from UPACK.+ PODS, Both of those two were approx $4500-$5500 It just doesn't seem to be worth it. I am now going to contact FEDEX and UPS to see how much some boxes would be. Have one heck of a garage sale next week and then donate give away things to friends.. I have a treadmill that was very expensive but it would be more to move it than I can get for it.

The paperwork does seem quite easy with the big companies. They take care of your belongings/paperwork crossing. You have to cross BEFORE your goods. Then they give your 3299 when they cross with your "unaccompanied goods". If you are a CR1 there is no 1-94.

You can could send used household goods in boxes to your spouse by mail, fedex,what ever ahead of time as long as the value is below $60 I believe without documentation.

It is a very hard decision to make and there are SO many additional fees on top of the base price.with the big companies.

There is also a company Navis Pack that will ship smaller amounts, make custom crates etc.

Thanks Elaine!

I'm pretty much only bringing clothes, books, artwork and 3 small pieces of furniture (small antique bookcase and 2 small occasional tables) and some very minor kitchen implements. I expect it likely that I will have under 2500 lbs of stuff, but can't be sure. This is the downside to being a book lover. LOL

Everything else I'm giving away and donating. The one quote I have so far from Allied Van Lines (prior to free in home estimate) is around $2700 before taxes. Hubby and I looked into the UHaul idea, but once we added on gas, hotels, food, and time, it was far more expensive (though would have been a fun road trip).

I'm hoping some VJ'ers can comment on which moving companies they used successfully. I was also going to look into Ship Smart, but I'm not in an urban area so many of the UPack type companies don't service my town. I'm mostly interested in keeping the whole move as simple and stress free as possible.

Good luck with your move!

Peace.

[Sylea 30]

Hi! I have been getting many quotes and it is so expensive. I am moving in 2 weeks and I am at the point of "what fits in the car comes". My quotes have been around $4000-4700 for 2500 lbs. Most of the big companies have minimums which seems to be 2000lbs. Seems to be $1.25 per pound per mile. Your favourite recliner worth little doesn't look so good any more! lol. Now I have also called UHAUL which the quote was $2600 + $1200 gas. (my move is 2850 miles) I also called and got a quote from UPACK.+ PODS, Both of those two were approx $4500-$5500 It just doesn't seem to be worth it. I am now going to contact FEDEX and UPS to see how much some boxes would be. Have one heck of a garage sale next week and then donate give away things to friends.. I have a treadmill that was very expensive but it would be more to move it than I can get for it.

The paperwork does seem quite easy with the big companies. They take care of your belongings/paperwork crossing. You have to cross BEFORE your goods. Then they give your 3299 when they cross with your "unaccompanied goods". If you are a CR1 there is no 1-94.

You can could send used household goods in boxes to your spouse by mail, fedex,what ever ahead of time as long as the value is below $60 I believe without documentation.

It is a very hard decision to make and there are SO many additional fees on top of the base price.with the big companies.

There is also a company Navis Pack that will ship smaller amounts, make custom crates etc.

Also thanks for the reference to Navis Pack - I've just sent them a request for an estimate, I'll let you know what I hear back.

I CAN say I will not use North American Van Lines - Their email request form wanted my phone number, which I provided, and I've had 2 very aggressive phone calls (one of them yesterday at 7:55AM BC time!) and I was not impressed!

[ricky and elaine 8]

Also thanks for the reference to Navis Pack - I've just sent them a request for an estimate, I'll let you know what I hear back.

I CAN say I will not use North American Van Lines - Their email request form wanted my phone number, which I provided, and I've had 2 very aggressive phone calls (one of them yesterday at 7:55AM BC time!) and I was not impressed!

The most pressure I've gotten is from UPACK. Unbelievable! Mayflower was rude. I have to say Atlas was really nice and very knowledgable. I thought if I have to tell the other companies that an immigrant visa doesn't have an 1-94 I was in trouble! lol

Keep me posted. I have 2 weeks today to get this done. Many thanks

[Sweetmelissa 82]

I am going with United Van Lines - they are loading my things this Friday, so I'll let you know how it all turns out.

I am moving from Saskatoon SK to Chicago IL (load size estimated at approx 2100 lb which is about 1-2 bedroom apartment size) and the cost will end up being around 3000$. They seemed pretty knowledgeable about all the immigration stuff- helped me fill out the forms needed / what I should expect at POE, etc. Here's hoping everything goes well!!

Well time to continue packing .... *grumble* ...

[ricky and elaine 8]

I am going with United Van Lines - they are loading my things this Friday, so I'll let you know how it all turns out.

I am moving from Saskatoon SK to Chicago IL (load size estimated at approx 2100 lb which is about 1-2 bedroom apartment size) and the cost will end up being around 3000$. They seemed pretty knowledgeable about all the immigration stuff- helped me fill out the forms needed / what I should expect at POE, etc. Here's hoping everything goes well!!

Well time to continue packing .... *grumble* ...

Good luck to you. Don't know who United Van line rep is here in Peterborough. I used them once across country (canada) and they were great. My minimum has been $3950..but my move is farther.

All the best and please keep us posted..

Edited August 4, 2014 by ricky and elaine

[Sylea 30]

I am going with United Van Lines - they are loading my things this Friday, so I'll let you know how it all turns out.

I am moving from Saskatoon SK to Chicago IL (load size estimated at approx 2100 lb which is about 1-2 bedroom apartment size) and the cost will end up being around 3000$. They seemed pretty knowledgeable about all the immigration stuff- helped me fill out the forms needed / what I should expect at POE, etc. Here's hoping everything goes well!!

Well time to continue packing .... *grumble* ...

Yes please do update, if they're any good I'll get a quote from them as well.

Hope it all goes smoothly for you!!

Peace.

[Sweetmelissa 82]

Just an update:

Got all my belongings yesterday (the day after my POE) - no issues at customs and my things arrived in perfect condition. Overall good experience and I would recommend united to others making a cross border move.

[mrs thb 331]

Just an update:

Got all my belongings yesterday (the day after my POE) - no issues at customs and my things arrived in perfect condition. Overall good experience and I would recommend united to others making a cross border move.

thanks Sweetmelissa, great to know.....

what was the final price? over or under the 3k?

hopefully, one day soon, I'll be in the same boat as Sylea and ricky and elaine, and be packing!!!!

still waiting for my noa2!!!!

Edited August 17, 2014 by mrs thb

[Sweetmelissa 82]

thanks Sweetmelissa, great to know.....

what was the final price? over or under the 3k?

hopefully, one day soon, I'll be in the same boat as Sylea and ricky and elaine, and be packing!!!!

still waiting for my noa2!!!!

Yeah it ended up being exactly what the original estimate was - 3k (like $3046 or something to be exact). Good luck and I hope your NOA2 comes soon!!