Here’s How I Moved My 3-Bedroom Home from New York to Texas
As told to moveBuddha
- Amy T. moved from Rochester, New York, to Mineral Wells, Texas, in September 2022 for work, a 1,500-mile move covering a three-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot home.
- After comparing quotes from seven full-service movers, she hired United Van Lines, and her New York to Texas move cost $8,425.74, the exact amount she was quoted.
- This is Amy’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on a conversation with Amy T., who moved from Rochester, New York to Mineral Wells, Texas in September 2022 using United Van Lines. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I was moving for work, and I’d never coordinated a long-distance relocation before. Between the horror stories I’d read about moving scams and shady movers, I wanted to get this one right.
I gave myself about two weeks to research and budget for the move. I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to get a sense of what I should expect to pay before I started calling companies.
My United Van Lines experience at a glance
Here’s the short version of how my move went.
- Communication: Corrigan Moving Systems, my United agent, communicated proactively at every stage of my move.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My quote was accurate down to the last penny.
- Timeliness: Corrigan delivered my household goods earlier than I expected.
- Professionalism: I gave United and Corrigan top marks for professionalism across the board.
- Loss and damage: Nothing got lost, but a few items were damaged. Corrigan handled the claim quickly and professionally.
- Would I use them again? Yes, my move was a success by nearly every measure.
Why I chose United Van Lines
I only got quotes from full-service movers because I wanted an experienced company that communicated well and could pick up and deliver my things on time without loss or damage. Cost mattered, but it wasn’t my top priority.
I actually planned to go with another company that gave me a lower quote first, but they called me nearly a dozen times to pressure me into signing a contract. That was a huge red flag, so I switched to United Van Lines, my second choice, because I liked their reputation and got a good vibe from Corrigan’s representatives.
My move at a glance
| Move Date | September 20, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Rochester, New York |
| Moved to | Mineral Wells, Texas |
| Distance | 1,500 miles |
| Move size | 3-bedroom home, 2,000 square feet |
| Moving company | United Van Lines (Corrigan Moving Systems) |
| Moving quote | $8,425.74 |
| Actual cost | $8,425.74 |
If you want to see how your own move might shake out, moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator is a good place to start.
Quotes I compared
I knew about my move three months out, but it only took me two weeks to vet movers. Corrigan sent a representative to my home in Rochester for an in-home survey, and after the walkthrough, they gave me a quote and left me information on moving insurance, how to get rid of items movers won’t take, and how to inspect outdoor items for gypsy moths before the move.
rating
4.23 / 5
- Specialty packing services
- White-glove reputation
- 80+ years' experience
My shipment came in at around 5,100 pounds, about 60 boxes plus standard household furniture, a vintage arcade game that needed special handling, and a vehicle I ended up shipping separately. Here’s how the quotes I got compared, all based on estimated weights between 4,100 and 4,800 pounds:
| Company | Estimate amount | Move Size |
|---|---|---|
| Mayzlin Relocation | $4,500 | 4100-4800 lbs |
| National Van Lines | $4,600 | 4100-4800 lbs |
| Allied Van Lines | $4,600 | 4100-4800 lbs |
| Colonial Van Lines | $5,200 | 4100-4800 lbs |
| American Van Lines | $7,500 | 4100-4800 lbs |
| United Van Lines | $8,425 | 4100-4800 lbs |
| JK Moving Services | $9,500 | 4100-4800 lbs |
United’s quote wasn’t the lowest, but it covered packing and unpacking, loading and unloading labor, transportation between New York and Texas, all applicable fees and a fuel surcharge, and full-value replacement coverage. I opted to pay extra for that coverage instead of taking the free sixty cents per pound per item option.
Pickup day
My Corrigan driver arrived at 8:30 AM on moving day, and his two helpers showed up half an hour later. After a quick meet-and-greet, they got to work inventorying, padding, and loading everything onto the truck.
The crew was professional and kept reassuring me that everything was going according to plan. They carefully wrapped my full-size arcade game and packed it in a custom box, and Corrigan called me twice during the day just to check that I was happy with how things were going.
While they worked, I answered their questions, tidied up, and packed the last of my personal items. Loading took about seven hours, and looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing about how the day went.
If you’re booking a full-service move, ask your mover in advance how they plan to handle any oversized or fragile items, so there are no surprises on moving day.
Delivery day
Corrigan’s driver called me the day before delivery to let me know he’d arrive between 8:00 and 9:00 the next morning, and he did. That was a pleasant surprise, since it came just nine days after pickup in Rochester, a quick turnaround for a 1,500-mile move at the tail end of peak moving season.
The driver and crew took a quick look around to see where everything went, then got to work. They were just as careful, professional, and respectful of my home and belongings as the pickup crew had been. I checked items off the inventory as they came in, and everything was accounted for.
A few items did have minor damage, so I took photos and submitted them with an online claim. The next day I got an email saying a check had been issued and that I should receive it within ten days.
If you’re expecting a long-distance delivery, ask for a call the day before so you can plan your schedule around the actual arrival window instead of a broad estimate.
Final thoughts
My move with United Van Lines and Corrigan Moving Systems went about as smoothly as I could have hoped. Aside from the minor damage, which Corrigan resolved quickly, everything else went according to plan, with an on-time pickup, early delivery, and a final bill that matched my quote to the penny.
If you’re planning a move of your own, moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator can help you budget and compare quotes before you book.
My ratings
- Communication: I gave United and Corrigan five out of five stars. They had different representatives for each step of the process, and I could reach my driver directly by phone.
- Timeliness: Five out of five. My things arrived early, nine days after pickup.
- Pricing accuracy: Five out of five. My final cost matched my quote exactly.
- Overall experience: Five out of five. Other than the minor damage, which was handled quickly and professionally, nothing could have gone much better.
- Would I use them again? Yes. I’ve already recommended United and Corrigan to friends planning moves like mine.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Amy’s experience:
- Ship your vehicle with your household goods carrier if you can. Amy wishes she’d shipped her car with United instead of a separate company. It would have meant coordinating with one company instead of two.
- Pack an extra box of essentials. Amy recommends packing more personal items than you think you’ll need to get through the days between pickup and delivery.
- Watch for high-pressure sales tactics. If a mover is calling repeatedly to push you into signing before you’re ready, treat it as a red flag and keep comparing options.
- Get an in-home survey for long-distance moves. An accurate weight estimate up front helps avoid pricing surprises later.
Before signing off, check out these helpful posts:
- Moving Cost Calculator
- Best Long-Distance Movers
- Best Moving Container Companies
- How to Negotiate a Relocation Package When Moving for Work
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