apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I just moved from NYC to LA -- I had a really hard time picking movers and finally settled on OZ Moving (who only charged us $1900 for a 1bedroom/1office long haul - FAR less than everyone else). We had a decent experience but not a great one (though I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "great long haul move"). I wrote a post about it on my own blog here: http://henryandmae.blogspot.com/2007/08/movers.html
As part of the move we flew with two cats ... that was an experience in itself! So happy to be here!

For local LA moving, we used Phil's Transfer & Storage in Silverlake on Glendale Blvd. The movers were very nice, respectful of our belongings and efficient. They also willingly accommodated our requests to move both a tricky armoire and couch to several different rooms to help us decide where to put them. (decisions, decisions!).

They also let me drop off at their location all the carboard boxes to recycle, instead of me having to stuff them in our bin for months afterward..We were very satisfied with their service.

I used Starving Students for a 6 mile move from Hollywood to Culver City and it cost me just under $800. Had a few pieces of heavy furniture but it still came out to about $300 more than they quoted me over the phone. Apparently each set of movers has a limit on how heavy you can pack boxes, so they ended up "re-packing" some of my things and charging me $20 per extra cardboard box and kind of just threw things in to new containers.

They were less than careful with my furniture, scraping up my bed frame and side tables trying to get them up and around a staircase that clearly wouldn't fit and then huffed and puffed about the building not being easily accessable.

They then took off with my credit card after I signed the bill, and when I called 30 minutes later to ask if they had it, they claimed they gave it back and that I must have dropped it somewhere in the alley behind my loft.

Overall, it could have been worse, but the two guys I got stuck with just seemed super shady the whole way through. I'd try somoene else next time.

I've used Remington Movers when I was moving from Silverlake to Pasadena. The company is owned and operated by a smaller group based in San Jose, CA, so if you call with questions, you'll definitely reach someone. The movers were very quick--no dawdling around like I've experienced before--and they were VERY respectful of not only my stuff, but also my house (ie putting down mover's pads to prevent hardwood floor scratching). The rates were also extremely reasonable.

I really have to step up here and mention the movers i've used twice in the last month, Artists Movers ( artistsmovers@yahoo.com ).

They were recommended by my mother, who has been managing multiple 60 unit apartment and loft buildings in the valley over the past 20 years and has experienced firsthand a huge number of moves both good and bad, and the job done by these guys was fast, smooth and ridiculously affordable.

The first was an evacuation from a packed single into a much larger space downtown, less than 3h end to end.

The second move was much closer to catastrophic failure, as I needed to empty a storage unit asap, had just stumbled upon a perfect bookcase on craigslist, and received an emergency work email nearly simultaneously. Sean (head honcho) actually volunteered to front the cash for the bookcase, pick it up in hollywood, store the contents of the unit while doing the rest of his schedule and plan a move in later that evening to help me get to the office on time -- and for half the cost that it took me to move into the storage unit initially. I can't necessarily say that this is a regular sort of thing for them to do, but I found them to be really accommodating towards what would normally have been a dealbreaker situation.

I can't help but recommend them for the fastidious and personable service.

Best contact would be to ask for Sean at artistsmovers@yahoo.com


-Daniel

I moved a couple of weeks ago and used the Delancey Street movers. They were AMAZING. They come a few days before the move and give you a quote, then they bust ass during the move to beat the price (they will never go above their initial quote). These guys were running with heavy book boxes to do the move quickly. They're conscientious, professional, and the nicest guys ever. And all the money goes to the very amazing Delancey Street Foundation (http://www.eisenhowerfoundation.org/grassroots/delancey/). Seriously, use them.

ps - our initial quote for moving a large (and heavily furnished) 2 bedroom apartment was $560, they ended up charging us $475. I'm never renting a UHaul again.

We LOVE Stratton & Sons. We've used them many times for moving and once for long-term storage. They can move anything and have never damaged any of our belongings. They even moved an IKEA wardrobe and put it back together no problem. We were convinced that it was going to disintegrate as soon as anyone tried to pick it up. I can't recommend them enough if you want a high-quality move. They aren't the cheapest but are well worth it.

Stratton & Sons Moving & Storage
(818) 365-4393

I used "A Better Way to Move". They were great, fairly quick, and I think we paid about 300$ total.

After doing a bit of Internet research, I used Northstar moving because of their consistent high ratings. The crew moved my 1270 sq. ft. townhouse in about 2 1/2 hrs. It would have been less, but my refrigerator had some problems in the new house. Nothing was damaged and everything was securely wrapped. The guys packed my closets much quicker than I ever could have! They were fast, efficient, and professional. I'd highly recommend them. The total cost came out to ~$650. In addition to that, I gave the guys a tip.

www.northstarmoving.com

I just moved from NYC to LA using Broadway Express - you pay for space on a truck by the linear foot, so if you have heavy furniture and books you needn't fear. They can even accommodate cars. The only hitch is that they just do the driving - you have to do the loading (and the packing). But you can also hire their drivers to help with this, which makes eminent sense since they are well-versed in loading/packing their trucks. Would highly recommend.

And speaking of renting u-hauls, never rent from them. They have a TRULY TERRIBLE record of poorly maintained equipment etc.

I made a move from NYC to LA last summer. Finding affordable and reliable movers was a daunting task. I put my information into an online mover's website for a callback and got like 50 calls from different companies. Everyone wants you to talk them through what you have and quote you. I got quotes from $1000 - $5000, each trying to discredit the other. I forgot how much space I paid for but basically I had 1 bedroom, 1/2 living room, and a kitchen to ship.

Finally I found a number for Ben Hur moving who offered to send someone to my apartment for a quote. I accepted. We went through everything and he quoted me $1200 for everything, including packing anything I wanted packed.

The people on both ends did a really, really super job. I was really impressed. Everyone was curteous and went the extra distance to make sure nothing was broken or scratched.

Ben Hur Moving
They were located in Queens, I don't have the number but you should be able to find them easily.

I've used "Two Men and a Truck" both in moving from house to house and having a few pieces of furniture moved. I don't know if they are only local in the midwest (no time to google right now) but they have always been prompt, careful, courteous, and the price seemed very reasonable.

I heard great things about A Better Way to Move, and booked them over Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, they contracted the job out and we had a really costly and bad experience.

I had moved all of the small boxes, so it was just the larger pieces of furniture for a 1-bedroom apt moving about 5 miles across town. I was quoted 4-5 hours total.

When the movers got there (30 minutes late), they were both older guys and not very enthusiastic to say the least. They took forever, and after 4 hours I asked about the quote. They said it was more like an 8-hour job! We jumped in and did a lot of the moving ourselves, and got them out of there in 6.5. They offered to take some time off for a big tip, and I was so tired I didn't double-check their numbers. Sure enough, they overcharged us for the hourly rate.

A Better Way to Move never called me back when I called to report what happened.

We'll be moving again within a couple of years, and even though they contracted this job out, I will never use them again.

Prodigy Moving & Storage 18659 Parthenia Street
Northridge, CA 91324

I've used them twice for local moves. Excellent, conscientious service, fast, reasonable. A 2-bedroom from storage to new apartment was $300-$400. And completed in a morning.