I Paid $4,500 for My Move from North Carolina to Texas
Fact Checked by: 
As told to moveBuddha
- Kallie moved from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Houston, Texas, in late June 2022 for work, a 1,100-mile move covering a 2-bedroom apartment of about 850 square feet.
- After comparing quotes, she hired Colonial Van Lines. Her North Carolina to Texas move was quoted at $3,898.02 and came in at about $4,500 after an unexpected long carry charge at delivery.
- This is Kallie’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on our team’s conversation with Kallie, who moved from North Carolina to Texas in late June 2022 using Colonial Van Lines. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I needed to move 1,100 miles from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Houston, Texas, for work. My two-bedroom apartment was only about 850 square feet, but hiring a full-service mover made more sense than a DIY move. I wanted someone I could trust to handle my things efficiently, keep costs reasonable, and work around my schedule.
About a month before my move, I started doing Google searches, checking online review sites, and comparing movers. I’d used Colonial Van Lines before, so I was already leaning toward them, but I still used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes and make sure I was getting a fair price.
My Colonial Van Lines experience at a glance
Here’s a quick summary of how the move went from start to finish:
- Communication: I wasn’t thrilled with how Colonial Van Lines handled communication throughout the process. I ended up relaying information between the driver and the office when they should have been coordinating directly.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: Colonial’s original quote was accurate, but I paid nearly $500 extra for an unexpected long carry in Houston. The driver had to park the truck about 500 feet from my new apartment, which added significant time to the unload. The charge was reasonable given the circumstances, but I wasn’t prepared for it.
- Timeliness: Colonial delivered my household goods within the agreed-upon delivery window, arriving two days before the deadline on my original quote.
- Professionalism: Both the pickup and delivery crews were hardworking and professional. Their attitude and efficiency put me at ease as soon as they arrived.
- Loss and damage: Nothing was lost or damaged during my move. Every item, including the ones I was most concerned about, arrived in the same condition it left in.
- Would I use Colonial Van Lines again? Probably not. The persistent communication issues throughout the process would push me to start fresh and compare options on my next move rather than going straight back to Colonial.
My move at a glance
| Moved from | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Moved to | Houston, Texas |
| Distance | 1,100 miles |
| Move size | 2 bedrooms, ~850 sqft |
| Moving company | Colonial Van Lines |
| Moving quote | $3,898.02 |
| Actual cost | About $4,500 |
Why I chose Colonial Van Lines
My priorities going into this move were keeping costs low, avoiding loss and damage, and finding a company that could work around my schedule. My shipment included about 35 boxes and standard household furniture weighing approximately 3,700 pounds. I wasn’t moving any high-value items, but I was concerned about my television, a Papasan chair, and a few large pictures and mirrors.
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After a phone survey with a few companies, my Colonial representative emailed a $3,898.02 estimate that came in lower than my other quote. The estimate covered loading and unloading labor, transportation, a fuel surcharge, packing material and labor for a mirror and a few large paintings, and basic released-value moving insurance.
I’d used Colonial before, so I felt confident going in. After paying a $1,850 deposit, Colonial confirmed my move details via email and sent links to helpful moving tips and hacks. I prepared by packing (my mother helped, too), changing my address with the USPS, dealing with utility and internet providers, and planning my cross-country road trip.
Pickup day
After getting stuck in traffic, the crew showed up at 4:30 in the afternoon, about 30 minutes later than expected. It wasn’t a big deal. Their hard work and professionalism put me at ease immediately.
While they packed, wrapped, and loaded everything onto the truck, I answered their questions, cleaned the rooms they’d emptied, and tried to stay out of the way. Everything was out of my apartment by 7:30.
Delivery day
The movers arrived at my new Houston apartment 13 days after they picked up my household goods in North Carolina. That may sound like a long time, but it was reasonable, actually pretty good, for a smaller shipment traveling more than 1,000 miles over a holiday weekend during peak moving season. Colonial delivered my items two days before the end of the estimated service window on my original quote.
Like the pickup crew in North Carolina, the unloaders in Houston did a great job. Nothing was lost or damaged, everything ended up exactly where I wanted it, and the movers reassembled my table, desk, and bed.
The one downside was a $480 charge for the 500-foot carry between the truck and my apartment. I wasn’t expecting it, but I thought it was reasonable. The movers couldn’t have known about the parking situation before they arrived.
A 500-foot carry could have easily turned into a shuttle, which would have cost me far more. Colonial probably saved me money by carrying and dollying everything rather than bringing in a smaller truck.
Final thoughts
By most measures, my move with Colonial Van Lines was a success. The crews in both North Carolina and Houston were professional and efficient. Nothing was lost or damaged. My original estimate was accurate, and the long carry charge was reasonable given that the movers couldn’t have anticipated the truck parking situation before arriving.
That said, I felt like I paid more than I should have, and the communication issues made the whole process harder than it needed to be. I shouldn’t have had to spend time relaying messages between the driver and the office. Between that frustration and the scheduling inflexibility, I’d probably start from scratch and compare options again on my next move, rather than automatically choosing Colonial.
Planning a long-distance move? According to moveBuddha’s cost data, the average user saves 30% by comparing quotes. Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to get prices from top-rated movers and find the best option for your route and budget.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Kallie’s experience:
- Build a buffer into your schedule if you’re moving over a holiday weekend: Kallie moved over the 4th of July weekend and her items still arrived on time, but holiday moves can stretch your delivery window. Have a plan in place in case your things take a few extra days to arrive.
- Budget for additional charges on long-distance moves: Kallie paid $114 for crews to pack a few large items and nearly $500 for a long carry at her new apartment. Ask your mover upfront about potential extra fees, including long carries, elevator charges, and stair fees, so you’re not caught off guard on delivery day.
- Ask your landlord or property manager about truck access before move-in day: Long carries and shuttle fees aren’t always avoidable, but knowing about access limitations ahead of time gives your mover a chance to plan. A quick conversation with your building manager before the movers arrive can prevent a costly surprise.
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