Figured I should probably make a thread at this point as it's getting closer.

I am in the process of moving from Washington State to North Carolina. Does anyone have any experience with moves like that?

I'm having a couple of issues at current:
1. How do I transport my belongings? I don't own much but I have a couple pieces of furniture. My car has to be sold as I don't expect it would survive the trip. But I have a China set and a few other very fragile items.
2. How does one usually get a place to stay?
3. How do normal people make friends in a new area? (Or in general lets face it I don't really have any)

Getting a job isn't a concern but the first month or two of getting enough paychecks to be able to either get a loan for a house or for an apartment leaves me in a bind.

We moved from Minnesota to Arizona in April. Your situation is probably different from ours, but here's the advice that I have!

1. Find a *reputable* moving company. It might be good to request estimates from several different companies and compare them. Also, be sure to check their online reviews! We made the mistake of choosing a company that was not BBB accredited and our belongings arrived about a week late :(

2. Family members helped us out with this one, but I would try finding a couple of apartment complexes that have good pictures of the apartment, grounds etc. and calling the offices to see if you can start the application process online.

3. Good question!! xD Ever since graduating from college, I haven't really made friends outside of work. I guess, depending on your budget and interests, local events/festivals or community center classes (like dance, art, or cooking) might be good places to meet new people!

Heya! I moved from Nevada to Idaho about 2 years ago and didn't know a soul in my new city.

1. I agree 100% with Viveka on this one. I rented a uhaul truck and drove it up here, but I did pay movers on both ends to load and unload my stuff. I don't have a ton either, but if you can afford it, seriously its the best way to go. Made it so smooth and easy and only cost about 120 for each end. So about 300 total cost for movers.

2. I scoped out places to rent online for about a month beforehand. Even though I had one place lined up that looked perfect, when I got to Idaho and looked at the place it turned out that pictures were obviously 5+ years old and the place was a dump! Don't sign anything until you actually see what you are getting into. We had to live in a motel for 3 weeks while I scoured craigslist, trulia, and zillow like a maniac. If you see a place you like jump on it because if you dilly dally then chances are that someone else will beat you to it.

3. I have natural hermit tenancies, so I made a point to change my attitude a little when I moved here and its made a world of difference. I signed up for a bunch of groups on meetup.com and even though I was really nervous I went solo to a few and really enjoyed it and made some friends. I also just made a point to try new things and join groups and be an active part of the community. It took me a few months, but I fell in with a bunch of really cool people that play D&D on weekends and it was all because I just jumped in with both feet (even though I had no idea what I was doing.)

Not sure if any of this helps, but moving has been a great experience for me. Getting a chance to start completely new was like a breath of fresh air because I could get rid of some of my old bad habits and toxic friends that were holding me back. Now I only know good people and I'm really happy.

Good luck!

1. Movers from one side of the country is really expensive. Plus my partner has specifically asked me not to drive, as it's extremely dangerous. I was going to drive but apparently people in the middle area like to try and run you off the road?

2. Don't you usually have to be employed before an apartment will allow you to rent? A lot of my reading is saying I need to be working there for a month first.

3. Meetup.com? Is that like a friend making site?

Wrap your breakables in newspaper and either in a clearly marked box, bubble wrap bottom is a good idea or if you've got one to take suit case and pack clothing round.
Is it furniture tha you can take apart and be able to put back together ?

Not ideal but a motel would be an option. It would at least give you somewhere to sleep and rent a storage locker and Post Office Box. Or if you're lucky you might be able to rent an out of season holiday house for a month or so.

I no longer have any friends in the area.... Not that I know how to make friends anyway

My furniture that I'm keeping does split into 2 pieces. But it's not important furniture so I can deal with leaving it with a family member for a while.

How much do motels typically cost? If it's low enough I might be able to do that route.

Is paper better than bubble wrap for protecting fragile things?

On a recent road trip, our motels (including in North Carolina) cost $60 to $100+ per night (room for four people; might be cheaper for just one person). You can also try airbnb to see if anyone can offer a cheaper place to stay.

---------- Post added 09-25-2017 at 06:08 PM ----------

also, congratulations on getting ready to move :D you will be closer to me (and everyone else in the EST timezone) now lol

1. Movers from one side of the country is really expensive. Plus my partner has specifically asked me not to drive, as it's extremely dangerous. I was going to drive but apparently people in the middle area like to try and run you off the road?

2. Don't you usually have to be employed before an apartment will allow you to rent? A lot of my reading is saying I need to be working there for a month first.

3. Meetup.com? Is that like a friend making site?

1. Ya movers are expensive if you have them do the driving too, especially over long distances. My experience has been that the middle of the country is fine, its the people on the coasts that run you off the road. lol! Anyways, sounds like the movers are the way to go for you.

2. I lined up a job before I moved and interviewed for it over the phone. They sent me a letter offering me the job and listing how much I would make. I used that in place of a pay stub when looking for apartments and had no issues.

3. Yea, sorta. Basically someone starts a group in an area and posts it on meetup.com. Then anyone who wants to can attend. I've seen them for everything from line dancing to writing groups or even a 'New to the area' group that found local events to do. I just searched for my interests and as long as your in a decently populated area, there is usually a group for it. There are also just basic wine night or going to restaurant groups too.

Salvete - I started looking a bit during my lunch at work and found the price averaged at about $50 per day or $1,500 a month. I would need a job pretty much immediately upon arrival to pull that off.

How much closer Salvete? Would be cool if I could just make irl friends with a bunch of Menewshans.

Fishy -
1. I see. Are there any national movers that you know of that will drive the truck as well?

2. What kind of job was it? I'm not sure if a pharmacy would be willing to go out of their way for an employee.

3. Ooh... that sounds interesting. How many people usually show up to those sorts of things? I get anxiety in too big of a group o.o

My first thought was to rent a U-Haul and drive to your new location...planning to spend a night or 2 in a motel along the way...but you say you have been instructed to not drive there.
(Personally, I would love to drive across the country!)
So...the question would be, where would you have movers deliver your items to if you don't have a residence at the new location?
(If you bought a small motorhome and drove there, you could move your own stuff and could stay at a campground or state park in the motorhome until you found a more permanent residence and place of employment.)
I'm probably not much help to you as far as suggestions since all my suggestions involve you driving there...
You might browse the jobs and rentals on Craigslist for the city you plan to move to.

Driving would be my ideal way to do it, but my partner had concerns due to her own move where they almost got run off the road by a truck.

That is another issue I have. Maintaining a place to stay until i can get a job.

Sadly a motorhome would count for driving, which my partner wont allow. =/
I would love to drive... it'd save me so much money.

Is craigslist safe?

It's really hard to say with craigslist...there are legit listings but also sketchy ones.

---------- Post added 09-26-2017 at 02:04 PM ----------

I found you a place on airbnb that is $35 per weeknight and $40 per weekend night, plus a few fees:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8007583...tes&s=gPgAqPY9
says it is 10-20 minutes away from Charlotte (I wasn't sure what city in North Carolina you wanted to stay in exactly?) and has a lot of good reviews from people who have stayed there

---------- Post added 09-26-2017 at 02:05 PM ----------

here are other listings that are $35 and under in North Carolina:

https://www.airbnb.com/s/North-Carol...s_tag=gPgAqPY9

---------- Post added 09-26-2017 at 02:06 PM ----------

airbnb is more legit and safer than craigslist (i.e. people are held accountable and your payment transactions are recorded and kept safe on airbnb, versus craigslist has a lot of non-vetted randos) so I would definitely recommend you book through them instead

Its really sad that your partner was run off the road...and I can understand her fear of you driving there...but, seriously, the chances of that happening to you are minimal.Now, if you were planning to ride a motorcycle there, I would advise against it! ...but there are a lot of U-hauls and motorhomes on the road and they aren't constantly being run off the road!
But I understand you wanting to honor your partner's wishes.
Craigslist is kinda hit and miss...but we did rent a house advertised on Craigslist and I have aquired some furniture and other items...some for free...from there. It wouldn't hurt just to look there.
Also, you could browse the classified ads from the local newspapers there online.

I will definitely look at airbnb salvete. The area is Raleigh.
$35 isn't too bad. I was finding 50 elsewhere.

Inzane - I think the biggest part is that I'm an inexperienced freeway driver. So she worries.

I haven't moved yet, but we are moving from Minnesota to California.

We will be using a company called "PODS" to move our stuff, while we, ourselves fly to California.

PODS is really cool because you just buy one "pod" and stuff it with all of your things, then they take it to your state via train. :) Once you arrive, you just unload the pod and they take it back.

I had a friend who moved from Minnesota to California do the same thing. She liked it a lot.

Originally Posted by The Wandering Poet

My furniture that I'm keeping does split into 2 pieces. But it's not important furniture so I can deal with leaving it with a family member for a while.

How much do motels typically cost? If it's low enough I might be able to do that route.

Is paper better than bubble wrap for protecting fragile things?

It does depend on what places offer but if it's purely somewhere to sleep and have a wash budget places tend to be alright. That and if you don't like the place you're not tied into it escpeicially if you book a room a couple of nights.

Airbnb is an option as long as you don't mind possibly having the home owner in.

Paper tends to be better as you can squish it round your items better, espcially if you have odd shaped items to wrap and you can build up more layers without it being bulky. For vases and cups you can roll it up and tuck excess paper inside at the top.

So I was looking into the whole motorhome type thing, and I found that they are much too bulky. For one, it gives you a massive blind spot. For two, given I drive a smaller car, it seems like it would be dangerous to drive it across the country. When I do arrive, I wouldn't have a car or the money to get a car in order to drive to work, as these things don't fit that well in parking spots.

Ava - I know another person who did the pods. Though I don't know if I own enough to warrant a pod. How small can they get? I have enough stuff to maybe fill a small walk-in closet.

HIM - Having a home owner in? So do you rent out a room of someone's house?

I found a site that compares them a bit (as they sell both) and they did mention the same as you did, and gave me some ideas on how I could pack everything.

wow sounds like you have very little stuff the wandering poet. So it is just the furniture that is bulky?

I have a very small bookshelf that takes up maybe the size of a medium box and goes up 2/3 of a doorway.
That pretty much sums up the furniture I'm keeping.

The hardest thing to move is a full set of Japanese China I own... which to me is very valuable.

Originally Posted by The Wandering Poet

So I was looking into the whole motorhome type thing, and I found that they are much too bulky. For one, it gives you a massive blind spot. For two, given I drive a smaller car, it seems like it would be dangerous to drive it across the country. When I do arrive, I wouldn't have a car or the money to get a car in order to drive to work, as these things don't fit that well in parking spots.

Ava - I know another person who did the pods. Though I don't know if I own enough to warrant a pod. How small can they get? I have enough stuff to maybe fill a small walk-in closet.

HIM - Having a home owner in? So do you rent out a room of someone's house?

I found a site that compares them a bit (as they sell both) and they did mention the same as you did, and gave me some ideas on how I could pack everything.

You might consider a camper van...a van with a bed inside...some have toilets and stoves inside. You would only need something big enough to haul your stuff and you.
Even a station wagon would suit your needs.
I could see, if you are used to driving a small car that driving a high profile vehicle would be very intimidating. We had a 20 foot motorhome and I would only drive it on the freeway for fear of hitting something on city streets.
How large is your China set? If you pack it properly you could ship it via UPS...but I would suggest paying for insurance on it. You could speak to someone where they sell boxes for packing and ask what they suggest.

Those are pretty big. But I'll keep it in mind. I'm concerned about it for the same reason really... I don't want to hit anything.
Do they fit in normal parking spots? They look pretty long.

Well the issue with the China set is that it's not the money I'm concerned about. It's being able to find a complete set again.
The set itself is I think a full 12 plate/bowl/tea cup/saucer/etc set. It's basically everything but silverware, which I have but isn't fragile.

With AirBnB it can be a whole house/flat or a room to rent, it does depend on if it's the host's own home or if it's their second or holiday home.

I see. I'll definitely keep that idea in mind.

I saw, in another thread, that you plan to drive to North Carolina...so I looked up your likely route and it doesn't even come close to Colorado...which may be a good thing considering the time of year you plan to travel.
I hope the weather stays mild throughout your trip.
It looks like a 40+ hour drive...make sure to take frequent breaks and get out and stretch your legs. Physical fatigue from sitting for long periods of time, especially if you aren't used to it, can take quite a toll...and it's amazing how refreshed one feels after a short walk. I hope you get to see some neat stuff along the way!

Me and my partner have a very good friend in Colorado, so we are making a detour

I'm planning to spend 10 days or so on the top, so about 6 hours of driving per day give or take how I feel on any given day.