What My Move from Illinois to Massachusetts Really Cost Me
Fact Checked by: 
Chicago, IL → Brighton, MA
$3,663
Fixed quote, 3,101 pounds
$3,663
Exactly what I was quoted
980 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared four quotes before I hired Mayzlin Relocation for my Chicago to Boston move, and they ranged from $2,411 to $7,147.
- My final bill was $3,663, exactly what I was quoted, because I took a fixed quote rather than a non-binding estimate.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
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This account is based on a conversation with Sally B., who moved from Chicago, Illinois, to Brighton, Massachusetts, in August 2022 using Mayzlin Relocation. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from Illinois to Massachusetts
I had a new job waiting for me nearly 1,000 miles away and needed to work out how to get a one-bedroom apartment’s worth of things from Chicago to Brighton without spending a fortune.
I looked at full-service movers, moving containers, and truck rentals through U-Haul. My husband and I decided to save money by packing ourselves and letting the movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading. I wasn’t moving valuables or specialty items, so I skipped moving insurance through the company and didn’t buy a third-party policy either.
I started with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to get a sense of what I’d be spending, then pulled quotes from companies on the best interstate movers and best moving container companies lists. According to moveBuddha, users who compare movers this way save more than 30% versus taking the first quote they get.
My Mayzlin Relocation experience at a glance
Here’s what stood out most about moving with Mayzlin Relocation, good and bad.
- Communication: Consistent by phone and email before the move, and they could have done far better keeping me informed while my things were in transit.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: I paid $3,663, exactly what I was quoted, because Mayzlin gave me a fixed quote rather than a non-binding estimate.
- Customer service: Getting a quote, scheduling a virtual tour, and asking questions was easy and straightforward throughout the booking process.
- Timeliness: Pickup and delivery both landed inside the agreed windows, and my delivery came earlier than I expected, six days after loading.
- Loss and damage: Most things arrived in good shape. The movers were rougher with my boxes and furniture than I’d have liked and a few things got scuffed. I didn’t file a claim.
- Would I use Mayzlin Relocation again? I’d consider it, and I’d explore other options before committing.
over my original Mayzlin quote
Find out what a move from Illinois → Massachusetts actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose Mayzlin Relocation
I liked that Mayzlin is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, has strong online reviews, and specializes in long-distance moves. They came through with the services I needed at a price I could afford, and their attention to detail is what sold me.
Two things mattered more than I expected. They offered a virtual tour instead of an in-home survey, which suited me, and they gave me a fixed quote rather than a non-binding estimate, which is why my final bill matched my quote to the dollar. Once I decided, I booked quickly and paid a deposit to lock in my date. The one thing I’d handle differently is asking more questions upfront about how proactively they’d communicate during the move itself.
rating
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
My move at a glance
Here are the basics of my relocation, including what I was quoted and what I actually paid for my Chicago to Boston move.
| Moved from | Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Moved to | Brighton, Massachusetts |
| Distance | 980 miles |
| Move date | August 1, 2022 |
| Move size | 1 bedroom apartment (680 square feet) |
| Moving company | Mayzlin Relocation |
| Moving quote | $3,663 |
| Actual cost | $3,663 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
Here’s how my four quotes stacked up, cheapest to most expensive. The spread on essentially the same move was almost $4,800, which is the argument for gathering more than two.
| Company/move type | Estimated weight | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| U-Pack (moving container) | N/A | $2,411 |
| Mayzlin Relocation (full-service) | 3,101 pounds | $3,663 |
| Safeway Moving (full-service) | 4,550 pounds | $5,000 |
| New City Moving (full-service) | 3,920 pounds | $7,147 |
Notice how differently each company estimated the same apartment, from 3,101 pounds to 4,550. That variation is most of why the prices diverged so widely.
Pickup day
Mayzlin communicated consistently in the run-up. They called a few days before to go over the inventory list, again two days out to confirm the schedule, and the movers phoned a few hours ahead to make sure I was home.
The crew had trouble finding my apartment, because the area is full of parking restrictions and one-way streets, and they still arrived on time. They handled my furniture and boxes more roughly than I’d have liked and a few things got scuffed. On the positive side, my husband and I got to relax on the front steps while they worked, and everything was on the truck in two hours.
Delivery day
This is where the communication fell short. Mayzlin could have been far more proactive while my things were in transit, and it caused real stress, because I needed a date-specific parking permit for the truck in Brighton.
They told me on the Monday that the truck would arrive Wednesday, which gave me just enough time to sort the permit. My goods came on the second day of the delivery window, six days after loading in Chicago.
After a quick look around, the movers got to work and I checked each item off the inventory list as it came in. Everything was accounted for. My frustration was the minor damage from the rough handling back on pickup day.
Final thoughts
Overall this was a positive experience. I made it to Brighton in six days and hit the ground running in the new job. The customer service, the consistent pre-move communication, and a competitive price made it manageable, even with the rough handling and the gaps in transit updates.
Two things I’d change. I wish the loaders had been gentler with my boxes and furniture, and I wish I’d had more advance notice on the pickup and delivery dates. The customer service during the quote process was noticeably stronger than during the move itself. When it was all said and done, Mayzlin got my things nearly 1,000 miles for a reasonable price and charged exactly what they quoted, so I’d consider them again without ruling out other options.
Ready to compare quotes for your own move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to see what long-distance movers are charging for routes like yours.
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Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Sally B.’s experience:
- Compare at least three or four quotes: Prices for the same move vary enormously. Sally B.’s ranged from $2,411 to $7,147. Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to set a baseline, then gather quotes from several of the best interstate movers.
- Ask for a fixed quote rather than a non-binding estimate: Sally B. paid her quote to the dollar, and the quote type is the reason. Ask which you’re being offered before you put down a deposit.
- Ask about delivery notice before you book: Sally B. needed a date-specific parking permit in Brighton and got two days’ warning. If your destination has permit rules or street parking restrictions, find out upfront how much notice you’ll get.
- Compare the weight estimates, not just the prices: Four companies sized Sally B.’s one-bedroom at anywhere from 3,101 to 4,550 pounds. A high quote often means a high guess, which is worth questioning.
- Watch the loading if you can: Sally B. and her husband relaxed on the front steps while the crew worked, and the scuffs happened during that two-hour load. Staying close is the cheapest damage prevention available.
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