How I Compared Moving Quotes for My New York to Colorado Move
Fact Checked by: 
As told to moveBuddha
- Hitesh moved from New York, New York, to Denver, Colorado, in August 2022 for a new remote job, a roughly 1,800-mile move with a 1.5 bedroom apartment.
- After comparing three quotes, he hired Dumbo Moving and Storage, and his New York to Colorado move was quoted at $3,550, with a final cost of $3,793 after extra boxes and a shuttle fee.
- This is Hitesh’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
The account below is based on our conversation with Hitesh, who moved from New York to Colorado in August 2022 using Dumbo Moving and Storage. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
After years in New York, my partner and I were ready for a change. When I landed a new remote job that let me work from anywhere, Denver felt like the right move. We were moving nearly 1,800 miles during peak summer season, and price mattered, but I was equally focused on finding a company with solid communication and transparent pricing.
I used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from highly rated interstate movers, and Dumbo Moving and Storage came back with the lowest number by a wide margin.
My Dumbo Moving and Storage experience at a glance
Here’s how the move played out from start to finish:
- Communication: There were a few minor misunderstandings along the way, but I gave Dumbo four out of five stars for communication overall.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: I underestimated my box count and had to pay for a shuttle in Colorado, but my final cost came in just a few hundred dollars over the original estimate.
- Timeliness: Dumbo delivered my items in eight days, a surprisingly fast turnaround given I was making a small, long-distance move during peak moving season.
- Professionalism: I was genuinely pleased with the helpfulness and professionalism of both the office staff and the crew on moving day.
- Loss and damage: Only a few items were damaged in transit, and nothing got lost between New York and Denver.
- Would I use Dumbo again? Yes, I’d consider using Dumbo Moving and Storage if I move in the future.
Why I chose Dumbo Moving and Storage
I’d known about my move about four months out, but I found my mover in about a week. I relied on moveBuddha to compare ratings and reviews without jumping from site to site, and my two other quotes came in significantly higher than Dumbo’s.
I was also impressed by the company’s positive reviews, their overall professionalism, and the care my customer service rep took while building an inventory during a video survey.
Going with Dumbo was a bit of a leap of faith since they’re primarily a local mover. Rather than purchasing full-value replacement coverage through Dumbo, I bought a supplemental policy through a third-party insurer, MovingInsurance.com, to give me better peace of mind on the long haul.
With my move date approaching, I booked and paid a 50% deposit by credit card. Once I’d signed on, Dumbo confirmed the details, explained what to expect on move day, and sent guidance on how to pack boxes to minimize damage.
This was especially useful since my partner and I were handling our own packing to save money. We got organized, packed a few boxes at a time, and built an Excel spreadsheet to track each carton and its contents so delivery and unpacking would go smoothly. Our only specialty item was a synthesizer keyboard, which I wrapped in bubble wrap and repacked in its original box.
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My move at a glance
| Move date | August 29, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | New York, New York |
| Moved to | Denver, Colorado |
| Distance | About 1,800 miles |
| Move size | 1.5 bedroom apartment |
| Moving company | Dumbo Moving and Storage |
| Moving quote | $3,550 |
| Actual cost | $3,793 (I had more boxes than expected and had to pay for a shuttle in Denver) |
I also tipped the crew $400 in cash for a job well done.
Quotes I compared
I got three quotes before booking. Here’s how they stacked up:
| Moving company | Move type | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dumbo Moving and Storage | Full-service | $3,550 |
| Piece of Cake Moving and Storage | Full-service | $5,500 |
| American Van Lines | Full-service | $7,000 |
Dumbo’s quote included loading and unloading labor, transportation from New York to Colorado, a fuel surcharge, and basic released-value coverage of .60 cents per pound per item.
Pickup day
I got a text on the morning of August 29th letting me know the crew was on the way. They arrived at 8 AM, took a quick look around, and got straight to work, disassembling tables and beds and wrapping furniture in moving blankets. While they worked, my partner and I packed a few last-minute items, answered their questions, and moved some boxes to open up space in the apartment.
The one surprise was my box count. I’d estimated around 20 cartons, but the actual number was closer to 40. It wasn’t a major issue, but the higher volume added slightly to my final cost. Other than that, everything went smoothly. The crew loaded the truck in four hours, and I paid the remaining balance in cash before they left.
Delivery day
Dumbo provided a shipment tracking link so I could follow the truck’s progress. Based on the 1,800-mile distance and the timing during peak season, I expected to wait a few weeks for delivery. Then, seven days after pickup, I got a text saying the movers would arrive the following day. That was a welcome surprise.
The catch was finding out at the same time that I’d need to pay a shuttle fee because the parking lot at my new apartment complex couldn’t fit the moving van. Shuttles are common when you’re moving into apartment buildings, but I’d shared my new address with Dumbo a month in advance, so the last-minute notice caught me off guard.
The shuttle fee itself was minimal, and the crew worked quickly and carefully. Unloading took just a few hours. A few items had been damaged between New York and Colorado, and I emailed photos to Dumbo and submitted a separate claim with MovingInsurance.com a few days after settling in.
Final thoughts
Overall, my move went about as expected. Dumbo delivered effective communication, and I got a quick delivery with no lost items and only minor damage. Their quote also saved me thousands over the competition.
If I could change one thing, it would be getting advance notice about the shuttle charge. It also would have been useful to update my box count online and see how the added volume affected my cost before move day.
Despite those issues, I felt like I got my money’s worth. My partner and I plan to stay in Denver for the foreseeable future, but if we move again, I’d consider using Dumbo Moving and Storage.
Ready to compare quotes for your own move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to see what long-distance movers would charge for your route.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Hitesh’s experience:
- Estimate your box count as carefully as you can. It’s usually not a big deal if you end up with more boxes than expected, but notify your mover by phone, text, or email and ask for an updated quote to avoid surprise fees on moving day.
- Use a comparison tool before booking. moveBuddha made it easy to research and compare quotes, ratings, and reviews in one place, without jumping from site to site.
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