Moving Company Suggestions - From Upstate New York to TV
 

I am moving down to TV in October and staying with my sister until I find my village model home. Anyone have suggestions for a reliable, reasonably priced moving company, who will also store my things for a few months. Don't have much, sold pretty much all of my furniture, maybe one room full of items. Will need company to pick up items at my house in Albany, NY area, then unload in a storage unit near/or in the Villages?

The Villages offers a relocation service that is worth checking into.

Your Sales Rep can make the connection.

Something like Pods is another option to look at.

A "moving" company charges for the quantity of space it takes on a truck, the distance it travels, and the number of load/unload jobs, plus for any storage.
That extra unload and reload for storage will drive up the total cost.
There are places like Pods that drop of a container, you load it, and they take it away. When you want the stuff, they bring it to you. Storage is usually less expensive, and no second pair of load/unload fees. You can hire people to load it, and unload it for you if you want.

A few things to be aware of with a moving company.
Anything they load could go in the truck in any orientation. Including upside down. Liquids leak. Box lids could open up or fall off, dumping your stuff all over (loss not covered for that happening). Fragile items packed securely in a box may not be secure when on the side or flipped over, and break.
If you by insurance, it usually doesn't cover things that break inside your boxes.
When you shake a box, nothing should be heard moving around. Use clothing as filler and padding.
Number every box. Don't repeat numbers. Make a list of what is in them. Photograph inside of every box.
When they finally deliver your stuff, do not sign anything until you verify every box/item has actually been delivered. If you sign, and something is missing, too bad for you.
Inspect everything as it comes into the house for damage. Photograph it. Note it on the delivery paperwork before you sign. Consider adding the words "pressured to sign, but only acknowledge that a delivery happened. inspection not complete. inventory not completed. possible missing or damaged items TBD. no liability released."
Find some unique pattern/color/marked sealing tape to use. Something that will show if it has been cut open. Inspect for boxes opened and re-taped.
Any furniture, speakers, tables, chairs, etc (if you have any) should get wrapped in moving blankets, secured with packing tape.
Movers have a long list of taboo items like batteries, aerosols, flammables, weapons, etc. If an aerosol pops off and damages someone else's stuff, you pay for damages.
Do not ship anything of value.
They could split your shipment into two trucks. They may not arrive together. One crew might blame the other crew for missing or damaged things.

Get several estimates. In many markets, several different named companies are owned by the same main company. Those estimates will be almost the same. Get others.
Pick up and delivery dates can change.
If you can use identical size boxes, they ship better and tighter. Mention that for a discount.
Don't make boxes too heavy.

Sounds like you have much less than a full load. When we tried to move a similar sized load from Corning NY, we got a lot of promises - all broken. When the guy called to say that he was going to be two hours late because of heavy traffic, I told him there wasn’t any heavy traffic within two hours of Corning. After that , I got a UHaul and moved myself. If driving a small truck isn’t up your alley, would suggest getting a Pod.

I am assuming that the items that you are moving have a strong sentimental value. If not, then I doubt the cost and hassle will be worth it. In any case, good luck. Welcome to The Villages!

If able to I would just rent pod. You load it you got the key and they store it close to where you moving. I was in military and moved several times, I hav lots of horror stories with contracted moving companies.

Beware of movers. My sister used to work in the office for one of them. What happens they send over a SALESMAN. He looks at what you have and punches it into his laptop. One couch. His program knows what an average couch weighs. They will not tell you this but they charge by weight. The price is called the tariff rate and it is filed with the FTC. You compare quotes. As you drive down a highway you will see something called a weigh station. The truck is put on a scale. A long distance move. You will share that huge truck with other people. Stuff will get off and on over the trip. HOW DO THEY GET YOU. If, they understate your weight you will get a lower quote. When, they deliver they will say you owe us $$$$$$ more and they can and will hold your stuff ransom. If, you refuse to pay they will charge you for storage. Several quotes. We got quotes from Mayflower and United Van lines among others. At least when we moved Mayflower and United Van Lines were the same company. Where they got me. I had a lot of machinery. The SALESMAN told me he would overstate the weight and I would be credited back later. I did not read the fine print. I figured the tariff rate to be .57 a hundred pounds. It says in the contract credit is .13 per hundred pounds. They overcharged me by as I recall $600 after the credit. INSURANCE. you are covered but it is like .10 per hundred pounds.
Replacement of anything you own is more than .10 for 100 pounds. Reminder if you have anything worth .10 per hundred pounds you are paying .57 per hundred to move it.
The mover we hired said they use company people only. Truth? The people were nice but had no idea what they were doing. I was packing the last of it when the truck arrived. We had a two story home. I have an armoir. Like a typical china closet
it is actually two pieces held together with screws. It comes apart. His people didn't ask and I didn't think to tell them. They got half way down the stairs and couldn't figure how to get it around the bend. I had painted. They not only damaged the furniture but the walls and the stair rail. On this end-Florida, different crew. Same piece of furniture. They dropped it into the wall poking a 6 inch hole in the sheet rock.
It is funny now BUT.....................
POINT-consider paying for replacement insurance. On arrival be sure to inspect everything carefully. They will likely try to rush you. DO NOT ALLOW IT. Once you sign the receipt-THE BILL OF LADING-you are signing it is all there and in good condition.

As I read through other replies, you will see it was not just me. I should add. Package sealing tape. Everyone, including the mover have the same tape. If, they cut a box open say on the bottom and steal stuff you will not know when you sign the bill of lading. I not only taped the boxes shut but I glued them as well. You can buy a gallon of woodglue, the white or yellow stuff for about 8.00. I did not but perhaps wise, photograph each item as you pack it and how it is packed. You do not have receipts for most of your stuff and it is perhaps proof that it was not broken. For us, they lost one box, when where, I do not know. I did have photos of that and it was worth several hundred dollars. As stated I had some heavy stuff.
My stuff or perhaps someone else's crushed my desk. It was a better quality desk.
Having paid for replacement insurance, of course they try to get out of paying. I got a NEW replacement desk and a check ALMOST covering replacement cost for the lost box

We dealt with a national company. They listed the job and one of their drivers took it. He arrived with two people he hired for the day. That went well.

In the villages he showed up with two different people. Broke some stuff and they hid the damage so we would not find it until after they left.

Watch them they are sneaky.

We used JK Movers for two moves and we recommend them. Both moves were well organized, on time and no breakage. On the second move, they unpacked the glass top for an occasional table but left the table on the truck. They were very cooperative and we got the table delivered in good shape on a later Villages move by JK. They are national.

AGS in Kingston, Ny is great. We are also from Kingston. Tony does runs back and forth to Florida all the time. They have a website.

Re: Moving from NY to FL
 

We too, moved from upstate NY. We used hireahelper.com to load our PODS in NY. PODS moved our 3 PODS down to FL and stored them in their Ocala facility while we rented a home here for a month while they finished building our home. We then called PODS and they delivered the PODS to our home. We again used hireahelper.com to unload the PODS. This option worked very well for us.

We are also moving down from the Poughkeepsie area in September. We are having a POD delivered on August 25 we have a week to load. POD will pick it up on September 1st and move it down the POD facility in Ocala till we call and arrange delivery to our home in the Villages. Around $2500.00 for the Move and the first 30 days. They will store it as long as you need for a smaller monthly fee.

Yay, Poughkeepsie!

Maker....a moving company charges by weight. that is why you have the truck weighed BEFORE your belongings are loaded and AFTER your belongings are loaded. That way you pay the EXACT amount for your stuff, not an ESTIMATE that the moving company gives you when you sign.

unpopular opinion:

Pods, minimize heavy wooden northern furniture. . minimize winter clothing, be ruthless about sentimental items, remember, if your heirs don't want it, its just future junk. . . to be disposed of by them. .

We used a local mover in NY that made weekly runs to FL. We had them deliver our stuff to a storage room. When we found our new home and closed we had a local mover bring things from the storage unit. Pods, Packrat, Uhaul box etc work well if it is mostly boxes - but anything shifting or breaking is on you as you pack it yourself. I seal all edges of the boxes which I would recommend if they will be sitting a while to keep bugs out. It also keeps humans out if sealed that well - label with numbers - not rooms. room #1 1/3 that way you can be sure you got everything. It was impossible to count the 100+ boxes that I shipped and so far I don't think I lost anything. The workers move so fast bringing things in.

Pods
 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!!! Looks like PODS is the way to go. Can anyone give me the POD service/company they used, one that will store my items down near The Villages? Thanks so much!!!

I used The Villages Relocation Services -- Not one item was broken or damaged -- all furniture arrived without any scrathches. Highly recommend the service!

I used a guy from Syracuse he moved about a room of stuff from there to here very reasonable and i know other people from up north has used him to move here you can call him 315-450-7864 good luck with your move

Think 2x about bringing furniture, most people have found it doesn't work or look good in your Fl home. The resale stores are full of northern furniture.

Moving to Villages
 

Just buyer beware - there is an online "moving" company called Belmont Moving and storage that quotes very good prices - it is a scam. Belmont is a booking agency and farms out the orders to people who rent trucks to move you and triple the price you were quoted. BE VERY CAREFUL about choosing a moving company on line.

Great experience with PODS
 

We just moved from Arizona and used PODS. Just call the 1-800 number to get started with them. We had Local movers help packing the pod, and handed the movers lots of garbage bag-wrapped pillows, towels, quilts etc to stuff between the boxes and furniture to ensure a tight fit so things don't shift. Supervise them carefully to ensure they use every bit of space. Make sure you buy some ratchet straps to secure each "wall" you make to the D rings that are on the walls of the pod. See their moving and packing videos for good information. Buy your own locks ( we used a disc lock and a padlock) and once its locked you know if it has been opened. The PODS were picked up on time, traveled across country within promised timeframe, were stored in Ocala while we found our house, and then delivered to us on time as promised. Nothing was broken or lost. I should mention that if your new home has a painted or decorated driveway, get 4 plywood squares
( about 6x6) so the 4 corners of the POD can sit on your driveway without leaving damage or rust stains. We had purchased 2x4s but our driver brought the plywood. Very happy with them-- it was the easiest part of the move! We moved from Arizona but used to live in Elmira. Welcome neighbor!

House
 

We will be moving into assist living end of Aug. and our home will be up for sale then. It is a 3 / 2 ranch, all redone, new baths, new kitchen, new flowing, painted drive way , hot tub in the lanai, comes with a golf cart. Top line leather living room, lots of extras, it is truly a great deal and on the best street on the Villages. asking $340,K will go up if given to a realtor. 352-430-2260. Frank

Pods
 

They'll store your PODS in Ocala until you need them.

As outlined in my lengthy post. They all charge by weight. They all weigh the truck at weigh stations. Comparing costs, a proper estimate shows the estimated weight. You take the quote and divide it into the weight and get the cost per hundred pounds called the tariff rate. Perhaps like every other business there are honest companies and crooks. You may well be dealing with an honest company but get a crooked salesman.

Used Uship and move went fine. Get bids on your move. be sure to check vendors ratings

Never heard of them. Seems based on your experience they are honest. Your experience with the table base. Typically people do not take the time to check every item and sign the receipt properly called a bill of lading. You sign it was all there and in good condition. A later discovered missing item box 10 out of 200 or a table base you signed it was there.

I second Villages Relocation. They gave referrals to several reputable national companies. We ended up picking United/Suddath and were extremely pleased.