<p>I am moving my family (of four) from Dallas to upstate New York in a few weeks. We will live there for at least 13 months with future destination undecided at this point. </p>
<p>Right now, our economical plan to move most of our belongings to a local self-storage and drive across the country with a trailer of essential items. We also looking at using those portable containers (e.g. PODS) - keep some in local warehouse and ship another professionally. Another option is leaving our house as it is but we rather vacant and lease it (~$20K a year). </p>
<p>Since my relocation budget is limited, I appreciate any cost-saving tips, personal experience and ideas from CC parents. </p>
<p>I have found it much easier to rent my house furnished and rent furnished on the other end if it’s only for a year. Clean out your closets and such and put those things in storage. Pack clothes and family pictures and get a move in ready rental. A year flies by.</p>
<p>Well…I have had several friends use PODS for long-distance moves, and they all had wonderful experiences, and some of them have used PODS over and over again…</p>
<p>Not cost-saving, but sanity saving – buy storage boxes. Don’t spend time scrouging at the grocery store (and they aren’t as good about giving away boxes anymore, anyway). Purchased boxes are clean and all the same size. Buy a good tape gun and a supply of tape, and assemble away. We bought from a box company, and I think they even delivered – we needed a huge number, because we have lots of books! Don’t buy from UHaul, they are outrageously expensive.</p>
<p>Number your boxes, and on a sheet of paper make a small listing of things inside each box. It makes finding stuff sooooo much easier (take it from someone who’s moved around the world…twice).</p>
<p>I think we are going with the storage pods route which provides the most flexibility and convenience. Much to my surprise, the storage cost of two providers is actually fairly competitive. Wonder if anyone has personal experience or heard from others about Door-to-Door, MI-Box, Relocube (U-PACK), SAM (United Van Lines) and other PODS-like services?</p>
<p>kirmum, great idea about furnished rental! I am going to talk my leasing agent about this tomorrow! Did you store away some pieces of fine furniture and replace with “rental-grade” ones?</p>
<p>I only took a couple of special antiques, family pictures, clothes etc. out. I rented to some very respectable folks who put down a hefty sevurity deposit. There are agencies who handle this. I did this twice for about a year each time. I had no problems.</p>
<p>Harder was finding a nice furnished rental but they are certainly out there. I also put down a hefty security deposit. If you’re going to work for a company, they may help you find the rental.</p>
<p>Our second home is in a college town and we were recently contacted by the realtor who sold it to see if we would rent to visiting professors, so it appears colleges help too.</p>