I Moved from Georgia to North Carolina with Bellhop

Better Moves Project · as told to moveBuddha

Atlanta, GA → Charlotte, NC

Sam S.May 2024Bellhop

I was quoted
$2,495
Five-bedroom home

I actually paid
$2,495
Exactly matched my quote

Distance
242 mi
Long-distance, interstate

• I compared three quotes before I hired Bellhop for my Georgia to North Carolina move.
• My final bill matched my $2,495 quote exactly, which put it $1,205 under Safeway Moving and $1,705 under American Van Lines.
• I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.

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My move from Georgia to North Carolina

When I had to relocate from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina, for an exciting career opportunity, I literally had to get to work immediately. I worried that moving on a time crunch would raise the cost of my move, and I didn’t want to start a new chapter of my life in a financial hole.

I chose Bellhop because, as a no-frills pro mover, it gave me the lowest price, and its online instant quote calculator made the process easier than any competitor’s. In exchange for a $500 relocation stipend, I joined moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project to document my experience before, during, and after moving day.

My Bellhop experience at a glance

Here’s the short version of how my move with Bellhop went, from the first quote to the final bill.

Why I chose Bellhop

My move at a glance

Here’s how my Georgia to North Carolina move broke down, from the date I moved to what I actually paid.

Quotes I compared

I only had a few weeks to plan my move, which left me just a few days to pick my movers. I started with a quick Google search for “affordable movers,” found moveBuddha, and narrowed my options to Bellhop, Safeway Moving, and American Van Lines.

After I used Bellhop’s online quote calculator, I spoke to a customer service representative. That conversation assured me the estimate would be close to my final price, even though it was much lower than the Safeway Moving and American Van Lines quotes. Bellhop also made the quote process easier than its competitors did.

After several more calls and emails, I compiled these quotes to help me make the best decision.

If it weren’t for my tight work schedule, I would have preferred the control and affordability of a DIY move. Feeling forced into hiring professional movers, I was baffled by how much it cost to move even after downsizing, so Bellhop’s quote was a shock in the best way.

I’ve since learned that Bellhop works as a broker to find the best local movers in the 27 states it serves, plus Washington, D.C. That incentivizes local movers to give customers the lowest possible price in order to compete, which is great news for someone like me who didn’t have time to negotiate.

Bellhop’s quote included loading and unloading labor, door-to-door transportation, and basic liability insurance. Bellhop also offered furniture disassembly, packing, and additional insurance coverage, but I stuck with the basic service package to protect my budget.

Pickup day

Bellhop gave me the option to pay by credit card a day before the move, which made things easier. It also texted me that my movers would arrive at 8 a.m. the following day, and they showed up at 8:02 a.m.

Because I’d disassembled my furniture ahead of time and moved many of my smaller items myself, my move was more streamlined than most. That left the movers free to focus on the heavy lifting and driving.

It took the Bellhop team two hours to load my furniture and belongings. While they worked, I kept packing my car with clothing and smaller items, and I stayed available in case the movers had questions. Before they left, Bellhop gave me direct contact information so I could check on my delivery in transit.

Delivery day

Bellhop’s delivery was so efficient that my belongings arrived ahead of schedule. Even though this was a move across state lines, everything was delivered four hours later that same day.

Before the crew unloaded the truck at my new home, I showed them where I wanted my furniture and how to position it. The Bellhop movers set up everything according to my preferences.

Final thoughts

Overall, my interstate move was more seamless than most. Communication problems and hidden fees are common complaints about the moving industry, but Bellhop’s communication was top-notch from start to finish.

Even though I was pressed for time, I followed moveBuddha’s moving checklist, which helped me avoid other problems. Disassembling my furniture and moving smaller items myself let the professional movers focus on wrapping and moving the heavier pieces I’d been worried about.

That initiative paid off. Everything arrived in perfect condition, ahead of schedule, and without any extra fees.

Bellhop loaded my belongings and delivered them across state lines the same day without any damage. I was impressed because Bellhop’s quote was significantly lower than the full-service movers’ quotes, and I’d worried that the lower price might mean inferior service. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. It was the easiest move of my life.

If I could do one thing differently, I’d trust Bellhop with all of my belongings and skip moving the smaller items myself. I also wish I’d found Bellhop sooner, because I could have avoided a lot of stress.

My advice to anyone planning a move is not to be afraid of using a professional mover. It may seem more cost-effective to rent a truck and do everything yourself, but I learned that the price of a full-service mover can be comparable. You don’t have to compromise on service to hire affordable professional movers, you just have to know where to look.

My ratings

More moving resources

Tips for future movers

These are the practical steps we recommend based on Sam S.’s experience:

• Compare at least three quotes: Sam’s quotes for the same 5,000 pounds ranged from $2,495 to $4,200. Use the moving cost calculator to see what your own move should cost before you start collecting estimates.
• Ask what your quote includes: Bellhop’s quote covered loading and unloading labor, door-to-door transportation, and basic liability insurance, while furniture disassembly, packing, and additional insurance cost extra.
• Disassemble furniture ahead of time: Sam broke down his furniture before moving day to avoid additional fees, which also let the movers focus on the heavy lifting and driving.
• Stay available on moving day: Customers often leave to run errands or take a nap, which can significantly slow the move down if the movers have questions. Sam loaded his own car and stayed reachable instead.
• Trust your movers with the extras: Sam wishes he hadn’t moved his smaller items himself, because the truck had plenty of room for the extra boxes.
• Start your search early: Sam had only a few days to choose a mover and wishes he had found Bellhop sooner so he could have avoided the stress.
• Check that your mover serves your state: Bellhop operates in 27 states plus Washington, D.C.: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Ryan Carrigan

Ryan Carrigan is the co-founder of moveBuddha and a leading voice in the moving industry, helping hundreds of thousands of Americans make smarter, safer relocation decisions each year. With more than a decade of experience analyzing moving companies, pricing trends, and industry regulations, Ryan brings hands-on industry knowledge and data-driven insight to every guide and review. His research has been featured in Forbes, Consumer Reports, The New York Times, and NBC News.