I Can Has Moving?

[AdminAssistant]

:cry:

I really hate moving. I REAAALLLLYYY hate moving. For the past week or so, I've been taking car loads of stuff over to the new apartment (about 45 minutes away), finding temporary/permanent homes for all of my crap. Today was my last day at the business school, so the rest of this week is taking more carloads over, and trying to get everything that can possibly fit in my car over there by Friday. Then, my plan is to move the furniture on Saturday, maybe Sunday. Herein lies the problem.

My Camry has a lot of interior space, it's true, but it can hardly contain a full-sized bedroom suite. So, I'm going to have to get a truck. That's fine. The MAIN problem is getting people to help move the furniture. I have puny puny muscles, and I can't physically do it by myself. My parents may be coming up to help (and fetch the washer/dryer and bring me a spare recliner they have), but I can't be 100% on that. Mainly because of gas prices and Mom's ever-changing work schedule (she's a temp). And even then, neither one of them is in good physical shape to be hoisting around furniture.

So I turn to my friends. Everyone so far is out of town, too busy, or just being flaky. I'm really upset by this, because back when I had the Truck I was constantly being asked to help people move. Which I did. And now...who's here to help me? And it's just my furniture - a bedroom suite, a desk, two bookcases, coffee table, end table, regular table, two office chairs, and the washer and dryer. That's IT. If I could just get two people, I'd be okay. But no go so far. And there's really no way on Dog's green earth I can afford to pay for movers.

I'm getting so stressed about this. I need to get moved as quickly and cheaply as possible, so I can go about the business of earning my Ph.D. :cry:

Sorry for the rantiness, I just needed to expell all that bad mojo somewhere.

[blas]

Moving always sucks. The last time I moved, I only had to travel about 3 miles....but it was such a pain in the ass. Only a few people would help me. I had to make several trips with my smaller stuff because my Neon is as small as a Hungry Man dinner and you can barely fit anything in there.

My parents refused to help because the last time I moved, I'd done overtime the night before (11-7 overnight) and I was trying to sleep instead of not sleeping and getting RIGHT TO moving bright and early.

So my friend and her boyfriend had to drive 15 miles to my parents' house to pick up the furniture my parents were going to let me have, and my little brother and his friend helped me get the furniture in.

[Sarlon]

I feel your pain....and believe me, if I had my way...I'd be there helping you....Iwork REALLY cheap ^_^ I can has foods?

sadly I have to work all this week since someone is being fired, and I get her hours ^_^ (yays for a 50 hour paycheck!)

[RetailWorkhorse]

If ya didn't live in Missouri, and I lived closer, I'd help. I'm in the midst of packing myself and have been picking up my boxes for my books from work. I work fast and I actually like packing and know how to do it properly (after all those moves, I ought to know how to pack by now!).

Sorry.

[Evil Queen]

I like moving.

[protege]

Moving sucks. Done it twice, don't want to do it again. At least I was able to borrow my neighbor's truck plus my mother's Saturn Vue. At the time, I still had things at my grandmother's house (most of my hobby stuff, plus the model railroad, and several pieces of furniture.)

Moving my trains was something I *do not* want to do again. The trains themselves were pretty easy--I still had all the car and locomotive boxes, plus several large boxes to store buildings, tools, etc. Taking the table apart was a bitch. Even though I'd designed it to come apart, it just didn't want to! I had to cut through track, roadbed, some of the wiring, etc. At least it all fit in the car...

The furniture was the hard part--even with 2 SUVs, the truck, and two cars...it still took a few trips to get me moved.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I toyed with the idea of asking if there were any 2-bedroom apartments opening up that were on the inside of the complex for when we renew our lease in December (our place faces the highway and there's lots of traffic noise), but I don't even want to move my crap that far.

I'd help, but my telekinesis powers don't reach all the way to Missouri. Sorry.

[AdminAssistant]

Things are better tonight, as I (kind of) have a plan. And plans help.

If Dad is able to come on Saturday, we can rent a U-Haul trailer and hook it up to his truck, and take everything that way. I have ONE friend who has stepped up to say she can help. But, between the three of us, we should be able to handle it.

If Dad is not able to come, I have found a moving company that charges by the piece that should be within my price range. That does pose the question of what to do with the washer/dryer, but I feel that using this particular moving company might be cheaper than renting a truck (I calculated, and it would be well over $100 to rent a U-Haul truck, due to the mileage).

The real b*tch has been my books, and they're all over there now. I've actually got calluses on my fingers from carrying boxes. I'm taking another load tomorrow, and then pretty much all of my kitchen will be over there. Friday I'm taking everything else that I can manage.

As long as I'm moved and relatively settled by Tuesday, I'm in good shape. My first orientation is Thursday, and classes don't start until two weeks from tomorrow. *sigh*

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. :D Let's hope this apartment works out and I don't have to move again for a while! :lol:

[edible_hat]

If you can afford it, call professional removalists. They're much faster and less likely to get hurt moving stuff than you are and they have insurance so if they break anything you'll be able to replace it.

[Jester]

The MAIN problem is getting people to help move the furniture.

So I turn to my friends. Everyone so far is out of town, too busy, or just being flaky.

...who's here to help me?

And there's really no way on Dog's green earth I can afford to pay for movers.

I'm getting so stressed about this. I need to get moved as quickly and cheaply as possible...

I have a solution! :wave:

No, seriously, I do. You don't need your (flaky) friends, and you don't need professional movers. You just need a couple of guys who you know, they don't have to be friends.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing Saturday? If you could help me move my furniture from A to B, I would really appreciate it, and I'll buy you lunch. And beer."

Sounds too good to be true, but trust me, it works. I've seen it. Just so long as you know the guys slightly, so you know they aren't idiots, if you can find a couple of guys that have the day off and wouldn't mind a free lunch and some brewskis....in other words, a couple of guys that have the day off...you should be fine!

:cheers:

I like moving.

I knew you were sick, but I had no idea it reached THESE heights.

I have relocated more than the Jews in the Old Testament, and while I am fantastic at it (I really am), I really, REALLY hate it.

The furniture was the hard part--even with 2 SUVs, the truck, and two cars...it still took a few trips to get me moved.

How much freakin' furniture do you HAVE?!?!?!? :eek:

I feel that using this particular moving company might be cheaper than renting a truck.

My above plan is predicated on you (or one of the guys) having a truck. If that doesn't come to fruition, and dad can't help, then go with the pros. I mean, if they are cheaper than the rental truck, AND they'll move the stuff for you? Hell, go for it!

[Evil Queen]

I knew you were sick, but I had no idea it reached THESE heights.

I have relocated more than the Jews in the Old Testament, and while I am fantastic at it (I really am), I really, REALLY hate it.

I'm special. :D

If I didn't like moving, would I move cross country TWICE within a year of each move? Granted I am moving cross country AGAIN this fall/winter because I miss my friends. But, hey, you get into the groove of things and when ALL your STUFF fits in a single car? Dude, you'd do it too. :D

[Jester]

I don't know that I would.

That being said, I DID spend the better part of 18 month living out of my truck while I traveled around the country, which could be construed as moving. :lol:

[AdminAssistant]

I have a solution! :wave:

No, seriously, I do. You don't need your (flaky) friends, and you don't need professional movers. You just need a couple of guys who you know, they don't have to be friends.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing Saturday? If you could help me move my furniture from A to B, I would really appreciate it, and I'll buy you lunch. And beer."

Sounds too good to be true, but trust me, it works. I've seen it.

I've TRIED, believe me.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I have a solution! :wave:

No, seriously, I do. You don't need your (flaky) friends, and you don't need professional movers. You just need a couple of guys who you know, they don't have to be friends.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing Saturday? If you could help me move my furniture from A to B, I would really appreciate it, and I'll buy you lunch. And beer."

Sounds too good to be true, but trust me, it works. I've seen it. Just so long as you know the guys slightly, so you know they aren't idiots, if you can find a couple of guys that have the day off and wouldn't mind a free lunch and some brewskis....in other words, a couple of guys that have the day off...you should be fine!

:cheers:


Excuse me while I vouch for that one. Free beer always works.

Last time I moved - a major move- was 18 years ago (I don't count two summers ago, as I didn't take all my stuff then.)

Another tip: Don't move in the winter. We moved into our home during the first weekend of February and it was a real pain. We ran back and forth for at least a week before running boxloads of small stuff to the current home from the former one. Luckily for us, it wasn't but just a few minutes away but still we had to rent a large Ryder truck for the furniture and appliances.

Even more "fun" was when the truck's wheels got mired down in the mud in the front yard (it was still muddy from recent wet weather) and my then stepdad and his brother were both trying to get that truck unstuck.

Our help consisted of the four of us (Mom, then-Stepdad, me and my brother) his younger brother and his mother (who had come in from out of state to help with the packing and moving, as she had done 6 months earlier when we had to move prior) and a couple of then-stepdad's friends.

Food and free beer always works like a charm.:D

[BookstoreEscapee]

When I moved I recruited my brother and 2 of his friends. Plus my parents (mom can't lift much, though) and my roommate. We moved my stuff, unloaded the truck, then she and my dad went to her parents' house where her family helped load her stuff. Then they came back, we unloaded again, and then we ordered pizza.

[Evil Queen]

I don't know that I would.

That being said, I DID spend the better part of 18 month living out of my truck while I traveled around the country, which could be construed as moving. :lol:

I did that with a 1980 Apache Pop-up camper. For 18 months, too, oddly enough. That put me off camping for a long time.

[AdminAssistant]

Well, it looks like Dad's gonna come up tomorrow and we're gonna move Saturday morning. Yay? I sense pain in my future. Ah well....

[Der Cute]

Just finished moving myself, and for the 4th time in 2 years. It is NOT fun.

Get a dolly. it will help you move more boxes at once. Go to the local job center and ask if anyone wants to help move for $50 bux each and free pizza.

But yeah...it's not fun. And get rid of things! This is the best time to pare down your belongings. It's amazing how much crap I have...and I mean CRAP.

Cutenoob

[Jester]

Free beer always works.

True, but remember, don't give them too MUCH beer until AFTER all the fragile shit is moved! :lol:

Food and free beer always works like a charm.:D
...and then we ordered pizza.

I always tell my friends that want my help moving that I'll help for "the standard rate." The standard rate, of course, is pizza and beer.

I did that with a 1980 Apache Pop-up camper. For 18 months, too, oddly enough. That put me off camping for a long time.

I would have welcomed said camper. I had my 1989 Chevy Blazer (the small one, not the big one), stuffed with tons of my stuff, and very little room for me. To make a sleeping space, I had to basically move stuff and pile it on top of other stuff (which I didn't do while I was driving so I could SEE!), and I usually managed to sleep in a 2' wide by 3' long area in the rear, with my legs sticking into the cabin.

Yes. I CAN sleep just about anywhere, thank you!

Go to the local job center and ask if anyone wants to help move for $50 bux each and free pizza.

Better than that, go to the local college and offer free beer and pizza for help moving. Cheaper than $50, and students tend to be a bit more reliable than some of the people hanging out at the job center. (Note: Key word here is "tend.") Plus, free food to a student is freakin' gold. You'll get more out of sthe average student with free food and beer than you will out of the average day laborer for fifty bucks.

Anyone care to bet on this one? :lol:

[AdminAssistant]

Better than that, go to the local college and offer free beer and pizza for help moving. Cheaper than $50, and students tend to be a bit more reliable than some of the people hanging out at the job center. (Note: Key word here is "tend.") Plus, free food to a student is freakin' gold. You'll get more out of sthe average student with free food and beer than you will out of the average day laborer for fifty bucks.

Anyone care to bet on this one? :lol:

My friends? College students. The reason why I couldn't get any to help is because they are either still out of town at various summer stock jobs, just getting back and moving in themselves, in tech*, or crazy busy building sets.

Dad has a furniture dolly, which will make things considerably easier. After today, pretty much everything but the furniture and a very small handful of stuff will still be here. I'll be completely moved in 48 hours. Yay!

* Tech - when theatre people work 12 hour days in order to get all the pretty lights and music to work

[protege]

How much freakin' furniture do you HAVE?!?!?!? :eek:

Hehe not much, actually. Keep in mind that I was going from one bedroom to an entire house. Problem was, most of it was at my grandmother's house 60 miles away. Nearly all of it...was a bit large, heavy, and in some cases...bulky. Gotta love older stuff. Most of it is made better than what's available now.

From Grandma, I got her dining room suite (complete with buffet), her kitchen set, recliner (aka the kitty chair), older console TV, lots of artwork, plus most of the porch furniture. Still at my parents, was my desk, bookcase, model cabinets, bed, chairs, work tables. The TV and dining room suite, even with the table taken apart...still filled most of the pickup :eek:

At least the Swedish insanity (IKEA) items were more easily transported. With the exception of one cabinet, most of that fit into the (gone) Mazda quite easily.

[Jester]

My friends? College students. The reason why I couldn't get any to help is because they are either still out of town at various summer stock jobs, just getting back and moving in themselves, in tech*, or crazy busy building sets.

Ah, but that doesn't mean ALL college students would be too busy to help you!

[AdminAssistant]

I got moved on Saturday. Dad came up Friday night, and we decided to just take loads over in his truck. It took us three trips in his truck, then we had to load up the washer/dryer for him to take home and we loaded up my car. It rained for most of Saturday (mattress did get wet :( ) and Dad broke some of my furniture in the process. So we went to the hardware store and he fixed everything and really got it in better shape than it was before he broke it.

Dad went home Sunday morning, I went to the old apartment to clean/drop off keys on Monday, and I was officially, finally MOVED.

Everything is pretty much unpacked and put away now, and I've got most of my pictures and decoratives up. I've done most of the required "back to college (pt. 3)" stuff - parking pass, student ID, FAFSA, blahdy blah. I share a tiny office on campus with another GTA, which I have the key to. I'm still working on getting my books. Maybe buying them in installments will make the process less painful (I'm probably going to spend around $400). That may not sound like a lot to medical/science majors - BUT remember, I'm liberal arts. I've never had to spend this much on books.

Today the technician from the local cable/internet place came by, took one look at the cable jack (which was in the water heater/furnace closet :wtf:) and said, "This wiring is too old, it won't work". He double checked it with his little machine thingy and said, "No, you won't get internet from this". I must have looked like a little girl who had her puppy taken from her or something, because he said, "Hang on" And came back with a drill, drilled a hole, then went outside, and fixed me a new shiny cable jack with a splitter. :D He said the old wiring had been retrofitted about 6 times and that he removed 30 feet of old cable. I went to Best Buy and got a wireless router and I am again connected to the world. (Going 4 days without constant internet was much harder than it should've been.)

I'm still catching up on everything.... My first (of three) orientation is tomorrow morning at 8. I'm finally getting scared. Am I ready for this? This is a Ph.D., I'm going to be working with some serious scholars. *sigh*