I Spent $4,185 on My Georgia to California Move
Fact Checked by: 
As told to moveBuddha
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- Kelsey W. moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Marina del Rey, California, in March 2022 to be closer to family, a 2,200-mile move of a two-bedroom apartment’s worth of belongings.
- After researching several options, she hired Compass Van Lines, and her Georgia to California move was quoted at $3,795 but came in at $4,185 due to undisclosed fees at delivery.
- This is Kelsey’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on a conversation with Kelsey W., about her move from Atlanta, Georgia, to Marina del Rey, California, in March 2022 using Compass Van Lines. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
In March 2022, my partner and I moved our two-bedroom apartment 2,200 miles from Atlanta, Georgia, to Marina del Rey, California, to be closer to family. Our two dogs made the trip with us.
We spent nearly a week researching moving options before settling on Compass Van Lines. After filling out contact forms and fielding calls from movers that friends had recommended, the process quickly became overwhelming.
Finding moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator made it much easier to compare options without being bombarded by follow-up calls from companies we’d never heard of.
My Compass Van Lines experience at a glance
Here’s a quick summary of how our move went with Compass Van Lines.
- Communication: Compass Van Lines was professional and responsive early on, but as moving day approached, calls started coming in from multiple departments and from the carrier, Best For You Moving, LLC, which made things confusing and hard to track.
- Pricing transparency: Getting my initial quote was easy, but the final bill came in $390 higher than estimated due to long carry, elevator, and “early reservation” fees at delivery that weren’t disclosed upfront.
- Crew professionalism: Despite the communication issues, the crew handled my belongings carefully, including fragile items like TVs and picture frames that I’d been worried about.
- Timeliness: The crew arrived within five minutes of the agreed-upon pickup time in Atlanta and delivered my household goods to Marina del Rey as promised.
- Would I use Compass Van Lines again? Yes, I would use Compass Van Lines again, though I’d push upfront for a single point of contact throughout the move.
My move at a glance
| Moving From | Atlanta, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Moving to | Marina del Rey, California |
| Distance | 2,200 miles |
| Moving Company | Compass Van Lines |
| Moving quote | $3,795 |
| Actual cost | $4,185* |
*The $390 cost discrepancy was due to long carry, elevator, and “early reservation” fees at delivery, none of which I knew about beforehand.
Why I chose Compass Van Lines
My biggest concerns going into this move were unexpected delays in Atlanta and making sure my belongings arrived safely after 2,200 miles on the road. My partner and I filled out a number of online contact forms and called a few movers that friends had recommended. F
or the next three weeks we were bombarded by emails, text messages, and phone calls. Subsequent Google searches weren’t particularly helpful either, but the screening process got much easier once I found moveBuddha.com.
What ultimately led us to Compass Van Lines was a reasonable quote, the professionalism of our rep Josh, and a faster-than-expected timeline estimate for such a long haul. We’d also looked seriously at PODS containers early on since we weren’t sure how quickly we’d find a new place in LA, but decided a full-service mover made more sense given the distance and volume.
The one thing I didn’t fully understand going in was that Compass operates as a broker, not a carrier. That distinction ended up mattering more than I expected once moving day arrived.
Getting my quote from Compass Van Lines
To save money, my partner and I had originally planned to sell most of our furniture before the move. We changed our minds after calculating what it would cost to replace everything and talking things through with our Compass rep, Josh.
Since Compass Van Lines had a 600 cubic foot minimum, taking everything made sense. Once we’d made a new inventory and resubmitted it, Josh prepared a revised estimate that included loading and unloading, furniture assembly and disassembly, and transportation.
Rather than purchasing additional valuation coverage, I opted for the free released-value protection. Before the move, I made the following deposits to Compass Van Lines:
- $1,518 after getting the initial estimate
- $150 after adding a few items and reserving additional truck space
I was informed that on move day I’d need to have a check or money order ready for $1,603.50, which the moving company said was 50% of the new total.
How I prepared for the move
My partner and I got started in early January. We began the decluttering process by going through closets, boxes, and furniture and setting aside anything we didn’t want to take with us.
Since saving money was a priority, we decided to do the packing ourselves. Early on we focused on non-essentials like photos, decorations, and seasonal clothing.
We also put a “no-buy” rule in place that covered everything except necessities. When we weren’t packing and downsizing, we were planning our cross-country road trip. All told, downsizing, packing, and planning took about two months.
Communication got complicated as moving day approached
After finalizing my move details, I was told I’d receive multiple check-up calls in the days leading up to the move. Eight days before the scheduled pickup, I got a call asking whether the driver could come four days early. I stuck to the original plan and let dispatch know that wasn’t possible, and they agreed to load on March 18 as scheduled.
After that, I started getting calls from multiple departments at Compass Van Lines and from the carrier, Best For You Moving, LLC. This made communication tedious and confusing. After another confirmation call from Compass Van Lines on March 15, things settled back down.
Pickup day
I eventually agreed to let the movers come two days early, on March 16. I had to contact dispatch multiple times that morning to confirm everything, but the driver did call when he and the crew were on their way.
When the driver arrived, he presented me with a new contract and additional insurance information. I tried to reach Josh for clarification, but he wasn’t available. Over the next 45 minutes, I received texts and phone calls from six different people.
Everything eventually got worked out, but I still had concerns about how fragile items like TVs and picture frames would be packed and protected. The crew handled them carefully.
While the crew worked, my partner and I took turns handling work calls and keeping an eye on things. We also bought the crew lunch. The last item was loaded at 6:50 PM, about seven hours after the crew had arrived.
Delivery day
The movers made multiple requests to deliver my household goods early, but since that wasn’t an option, we kept the original delivery date. When the crew arrived at my new place, there were a few more issues with the contract, and one of my deposits hadn’t been applied to the final bill.
It took about 45 minutes of back and forth between the broker and the moving company to get everything sorted out. Once it was, the crew staged everything near the elevator and moved it into my apartment. My partner and I took turns directing the movers and unpacking boxes. Other than a damaged drinking glass and floor lamp, move-in was smooth and efficient.
Final thoughts
My biggest issues with Compass Van Lines centered around communication and billing. In several instances, Compass and Best For You Moving, LLC didn’t communicate effectively with each other or with me. Having a single point of contact throughout the process definitely would have made things easier. The extra fees at delivery were frustrating, too. I didn’t have much choice but to agree to them in the moment, but I wish those charges had been disclosed upfront.
Looking back, I also felt that Compass’ role as a broker could have been clearer from the start. Despite all of that, I was happy with both Compass Van Lines and Best For You Moving, LLC, and I’d use Compass again. If I moved again, though, I’d seriously consider cutting out the middleman and working directly with a carrier. It might take more effort upfront, but the payoffs could include better communication and lower costs.
Planning a long-distance move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from vetted carriers in one place. You can also browse our list of the top interstate moving companies to find the right fit for your move. According to moveBuddha, the average user saves 30% by comparing quotes through the calculator.
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