I Moved from Michigan to Kansas Using Labor-Only Movers: Here’s What I Learned
Fact Checked by: - Tessa moved from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Manhattan, Kansas in spring 2022 to start a specialty veterinary internship, a 749-mile move.
- She drove her father’s truck and trailer and hired labor-only movers at each end. Her Michigan to Kansas move totaled $631 ($250 for College Hunks in Michigan and $381 for Flint Hills Moving in Kansas).
- This is Tessa’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on our conversation with Tessa, about her move from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Manhattan, Kansas, in spring 2022, using College Hunks and Flint Hills Moving. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Moving across the country for a last-minute veterinary internship is stressful enough on its own. I also had multiple pets to manage, a tight budget to stick to, and a 749-mile drive ahead of me.
My younger sister had a terrible moving experience just a few weeks before my move. Her crew was so inefficient that she ended up paying three times her original quote, and I was determined not to let that happen to me. I decided to use my dad’s truck and trailer and drive myself, then hire movers at each end for loading and unloading only. I found both companies through moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator.
My experience at a glance
Here’s how both companies performed throughout my move in the areas that mattered most.
- Communication: Both companies communicated adequately overall, but I ran into some unprofessional interactions with the staff at Flint Hills Moving.
- Punctuality: The College Hunks crew arrived right on time, and the Flint Hills Moving crew showed up ten minutes early.
- Move day performance: Both crews were professional, efficient, and finished ahead of schedule.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: College Hunks hit the quote exactly. Flint Hills Moving came in about $35 over because taxes hadn’t been factored into the estimate.
- Delays: None. I did the driving myself, so there were no transit delays on my end.
- Would I use them again? I’d use College Hunks again without hesitation. I’d think twice before hiring Flint Hills Moving again, given the communication issues and the surprise charges at the end.
Why I chose these companies
Keeping costs low was important, but skimping on service wasn’t an option. Of the companies I contacted, two didn’t service my area, several never returned my calls, and one full-service mover quoted over $6,000. My initial Google searches weren’t particularly helpful, so I built a list of candidates using U-Pack and U-Haul’s websites, then cross-referenced each company with Yelp reviews in both Kalamazoo and Manhattan.
Throughout the screening process, I was generally happy with the quotes and communication from both College Hunks and Flint Hills Moving. I was already familiar with College Hunks from local advertising, and their representatives came across as friendlier and more professional than anyone else I spoke with.
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My move at a glance
| Moving From | Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 |
|---|---|
| Moving to | Manhattan, Kansas 66506 |
| Distance | 749 miles |
| Moving Companies | College Hunks and Flint Hills Moving |
| Moving quote | $596 ($250 for College Hunks + $346 for Flint Hills Moving) |
| Actual cost* | $631 ($250 for College Hunks + $381 for Flint Hills Moving) |
Because Flint Hills Moving’s estimate didn’t include taxes, my total came in about $35 over what I’d been quoted. On top of the mover costs, I spent $452.20 on gas and $115.44 on lodging for the drive.
Pickup day
I’m not one to procrastinate. In the weeks before my move, I stayed on top of organizing, decluttering, and packing at least one box per day. I also put together a move day checklist that included draining and packing my fish tank and disassembling my Ikea bed frame.
The College Hunks crew showed up right on time at 8:45 AM and got straight to work. They were personable and efficient from the start, immediately shrinkwrapping loose items and loading everything into the truck and trailer.
The only thing that caught me off guard was finding out that shrinkwrapping had been included in the quote the whole time. If I’d known upfront, I could have saved myself the time and expense of doing so much of the wrapping myself. Still, I was glad to have the extra protection. College Hunks originally estimated loading would take two hours, but the crew finished 30 minutes early. While they worked, I took care of the fish tank and attended to my pets.
When I arrived in Kansas, I noticed that some of the wheels on my desk had broken in transit. I’m not convinced College Hunks was at fault. They did everything they could to protect my things, and I may have been at least partly responsible. If you’re packing furniture with wheels or casters, remove them before loading if you can. It’s a simple step that can prevent this kind of damage.
Delivery day
The Flint Hills Moving crew arrived ten minutes early on delivery day. A few of the crew members were young and a bit forgetful, but the unloading went quickly and efficiently. The 6-man crew wrapped up in just 15 minutes and put everything where I needed it in my new place. As far as I could tell, nothing was mishandled or damaged.
My biggest frustration with Flint Hills Moving was the lack of transparency around pricing. I’d been told that unloading would cost approximately $350 and that a $300 deposit was required. What I was never told was how many people were coming, how long unloading would take, or exactly how my final charges would be calculated.
Not knowing made it hard to budget or plan the rest of my day. If you’re booking labor-only movers, ask upfront how charges are broken down and confirm that taxes are included in any estimate you receive. Getting written estimates that spell all of this out is the best way to avoid surprises on move day.
Final thoughts
A few things didn’t go as smoothly as I would have liked. Some of the companies I contacted never responded. I also had no idea moving insurance (valuation) was something worth asking about until I filled out moveBuddha’s questionnaire. Since I hired movers for labor only, valuation coverage probably wasn’t available to me regardless, but I would have appreciated the chance to at least bring it up.
Overall, though, my move went better than I expected. College Hunks was excellent from start to finish. The customer service reps were friendly and professional, the crew was efficient and courteous, and they finished ahead of schedule. I’d use them again in a heartbeat.
Flint Hills Moving got the job done, but I came away with some reservations. The pricing transparency was lacking, the taxes weren’t included in my estimate, and a few of the staff interactions felt unprofessional. If I had a less expensive and more transparent option the next time I needed movers in Kansas, I’d probably take it.
Comparing quotes is one of the best ways to keep your move on budget. Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to get quotes from vetted movers in your area.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Tessa’s experience:
- Ask about moving insurance even on labor-only moves: Neither College Hunks nor Flint Hills Moving brought up moving insurance (valuation) during the booking process. When hiring labor only, valuation typically isn’t available, but it’s still worth asking directly. On full-service moves, always discuss coverage options before signing anything.
- Get written estimates that include every charge: Get written moving estimates from every company you consider, even if you’re only hiring for loading or unloading labor. Make sure each one includes the rate per crew member, any travel time charge, fuel surcharge, charges for extra materials like boxes, tape, and shrinkwrap, and confirmation that taxes are factored in.
- Confirm what’s included before packing day: College Hunks included shrinkwrapping in their quote, but Tessa didn’t find out until move day. Ask upfront what materials are covered and what will cost extra. Quilted furniture pads are generally provided only on full-service moves, not labor-only jobs, so plan accordingly.
- Remove wheels and casters before loading: Desk wheels and furniture casters are easy to damage in transit and are often not covered on labor-only moves. Take them off before loading whenever possible and pack them separately to avoid this kind of loss.
To share your moving experience and qualify for a $500 moving stipend, check out our Better Moves Project.
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