What I’d Do Differently on My Move from North Carolina to Kentucky
Fact Checked by: 
Wilmington, NC → Lexington, KY
$6,686
Virtual survey, 6,405 pounds
$9,000
+$2,314, about 35% over
633 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared two quotes before I hired Mayzlin Relocation for my North Carolina to Kentucky move, which I now think was one quote too few.
- My bill went up $2,314, about 35%, and I found out the night before my packers arrived, after the estimator had already seen everything on video.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
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This account is based on a conversation with Christopher, who moved from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Lexington, Kentucky, in June 2022 using Mayzlin Relocation. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from North Carolina to Kentucky
I found out about a work relocation roughly two months before my move date. I briefly considered moving containers and weighed hiring movers against renting a truck, and with a job, two kids, and a house full of furniture, my wife and I ruled out the DIY options fast.
My worries going in were that things would get lost or damaged, that boxes would land in the wrong rooms, and that I’d end up paying more than my quote. The shipment wasn’t especially valuable overall, though it did include a few large pieces of artwork and a Peloton that needed special handling. Of those three worries, the pricing one is the one that came true.
I started by Googling “best movers near me.” moveBuddha came up near the top, so I compared full-service movers and built a preliminary budget with the moving cost calculator, and I had Mayzlin Relocation picked inside a week. According to moveBuddha, users who compare movers this way save more than 30% versus taking the first quote they get.
My Mayzlin Relocation experience at a glance
Here’s what stood out most about moving with Mayzlin Relocation, good and bad.
- Communication: Adequate through the move itself, and genuinely frustrating when I tried to resolve the pricing problems after booking. The crew also turned up not knowing my move details.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My final bill came in about 35% above my $6,686 quote, a difference of roughly $2,314, and I found out the night before my packers arrived.
- Care and professionalism: I was pleased with how the packers and movers handled everything. The customer service after booking left a lot to be desired.
- Timeliness: Pickup and delivery both happened on schedule, which is the thing Mayzlin got right from start to finish.
- Loss and damage: Nothing was lost or damaged. Some boxes landed in the wrong rooms because the labeling wasn’t clear enough, so my wife and I shifted them during unpacking.
- Would I use Mayzlin Relocation again? No. My things arrived on time and in good condition, and the pricing and customer service issues are why I wouldn’t go back.
over my original Mayzlin quote
Find out what a move from North Carolina → Kentucky actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose Mayzlin Relocation
When I started vetting movers I narrowed it to three criteria: a reasonable price, positive ratings and reviews, and a company headquartered in North Carolina. Mayzlin met all three. I got a second quote from a large national mover and it came in significantly higher, and the professionalism I saw from Mayzlin’s estimator early on gave me the confidence to book.
Shortly after I submitted a request online, a representative called and we did a virtual walkthrough of my home so he could see everything that needed moving. A few hours later I had a $6,686 estimate based on 6,405 pounds. It covered full packing service, loading and unloading, transportation, a bulky article charge for the Peloton, all applicable taxes and fees, and free released-value coverage. I declined additional moving insurance. My wife and I were responsible for taking the screen off the Peloton and removing wall-mounted items like pictures, televisions, and curtain rods before the crew came.
rating
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
My move at a glance
Here are the basics of my relocation, including what I was quoted and what I actually paid for my North Carolina to Kentucky move.
| Moved from | Wilmington, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Moved to | Lexington, Kentucky |
| Distance | 633 miles |
| Move size | 900 square foot home (six rooms total) |
| Moving company | Mayzlin Relocation |
| Moving quote | $6,686 |
| Actual cost | $9,000 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
I only got two quotes, Mayzlin’s $6,686 and one from a large national mover that came in significantly higher. That’s the decision I’d change.
Two data points can’t tell you whether a number is competitive or unrealistically low. If I’d collected three or four and several had clustered well above Mayzlin’s, that pattern would have told me the estimate was probably too good to hold.
Pickup day
The night before my packers were due, I got word that my estimator had misjudged the size of my move and my actual cost would be higher than anticipated. That was surprising and alarming, particularly since he’d already seen everything on video during the walkthrough.
The next morning the packers told me there’d be more boxes than expected and my packing costs would rise too. I’d already paid a deposit and had no other options at that point, so I agreed to the additional charges and paid again by Zelle.
The crew arrived on time at 10 a.m. in an unmarked rental truck, not familiar with my move details, which I put down to poor communication between the crew and the office. I was still happy with how they packed, wrapped, and loaded everything.
While they worked I called Mayzlin to ask why my price had gone up and what they could do. Some of the staff I spoke to tried to put it back on me, and I reminded them that moving is their business and that their estimator had already seen everything on the virtual survey. I felt frustrated and trapped. Things improved once Mayzlin’s owner got involved.
Delivery day
Mayzlin delivered to my new home eight days later. The crew arrived at 9 a.m. and worked steadily until about 3 p.m.
Some boxes ended up in the wrong rooms because they hadn’t been labeled properly, so my wife and I moved them while unpacking. A minor inconvenience, and almost everything else went to plan.
By that point my case had reached Mayzlin’s owner, who acknowledged that we probably both shared some blame for the inaccurate estimate and the increase. He and I settled on a final cost we could both live with.
Final thoughts
My move wasn’t perfect, and my things arrived on time and in good condition. What soured it was how some of the customer service staff handled the pricing situation.
I have a hunch commission-based pay may have played a part, though it’s equally possible the original estimate was an honest mistake. Either way I wouldn’t use Mayzlin again. Looking back, they could improve in three areas: more accurate and transparent pricing, clearer communication between movers, office staff, and customers, and more careful box labeling so things land where they belong. The cost increase cast a shadow over the whole thing and turned what could have been a good move into a frustrating one.
Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to get a realistic sense of what your move should cost before you start collecting quotes.
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Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Christopher’s experience:
- Request a binding or not-to-exceed estimate for an interstate move: Either offers more pricing protection than a standard non-binding estimate. Costs can still rise legitimately with these, and the gap between quote and final bill is usually far smaller than the 35% Christopher saw.
- Know your rights under the FMCSA 110% rule: With a non-binding estimate, if your final bill exceeds 110% of the quote, your mover must deliver your shipment once you pay 110% at delivery, and you get at least 30 days for the rest. Read the FMCSA’s 110% rule before signing anything.
- Get at least three estimates, not two: Christopher compared two. A third and fourth would have shown him whether Mayzlin’s number was competitive or an outlier, which is the single change most likely to have prevented this.
- Consider an in-home survey over a virtual one: Virtual surveys are the norm now because they’re less intrusive, and they’re often less accurate. A physical walkthrough might have produced a workable estimate for a move this size.
- Escalate early when a price changes: Christopher’s situation only improved once the owner got involved. If frontline staff start assigning blame, ask for a manager rather than relitigating with the person who can’t fix it.
- Label boxes by room yourself: Even with full packing service, Christopher had boxes land in the wrong rooms. A marker and 10 minutes saves you carrying them twice.
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