Relocating for Opportunity

A New Chapter for Our Family

My wife got offered a job, and although it was very stressful, we were able to handle it. Luckily, I can work remotely doing audio work, so it seemed like a good decision for us.

The experience was incredibly stressful, and we had a lot of loose ends to tie up and things to get ready for. But we certainly did our best, and we think this is the best choice for us moving forward.

We’ll be renting our home out to potential renters using a property management firm — a new experience for us too, and a lot of work on top of everything else.

Choosing a Mover That Fit Our Budget

We did lots of research, and this mover was very accommodating for low-cost pallet moving via boat. We were already spending so much money on getting our house ready for renters and selling things we couldn’t take with us.

Other moving companies we contacted didn’t respond quickly, and when they did, they weren’t very clear about what we needed to do to prepare our shipment. Because the whole experience was so stressful, we were very glad to finally be finished with it.

Pickup Day and Final Steps Before Departure

The truck driver was late by a day, and that added even more stress. But he came the next day, and we were able to put the rest of our stuff in storage before getting on the airplane. The shipping company was pretty good about getting back to us in a timely manner. It was difficult to understand them on the phone, but over email it was fine.

After we landed, we had to rent a car to drive from the airport to Manheim, and then go back to the airport the next day to pick up our dog, who was shipped via another pet shipping company.

Advice for Future Movers

• Plan way, way ahead — it will take longer than you think, and there will be unexpected obstacles.
• Compare companies, not only by price but also reviews and hidden fees.
• Prioritize companies that offer good customer service and real human contact.
  • Talking to an automated service or robot is irritating, and for us, it’s a dealbreaker.
• Be prepared for stress — but know that in the end, it’s worth it.