My move from California to Colorado: what went right
Fact Checked by: 
Van Nuys, CA → Colorado Springs, CO
$11,439
3 bed, 2.5 bath
$11,503
+$64 over my estimate
1,089 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared five quotes before I hired North American Van Lines for my California to Colorado move.
- My final bill landed $64 over my $11,439 estimate on an $11,503 move, which is about as accurate as an estimate gets.
- 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 Marcie N., who moved from Van Nuys, California, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in November 2022 using North American Van Lines. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from California to Colorado
After years in Los Angeles, my husband and I were ready for a change by November 2022. We had our hearts set on Colorado Springs, Colorado, more than 1,000 miles away, so I got quotes from several companies on moveBuddha’s Best Interstate Movers list.
My first choice was JK Moving, but they didn’t have a truck available on my move date, so I booked with North American Van Lines instead. With nearly a century of experience and more than 500 agents nationwide, North American is one of the most respected names in the industry, and I wanted to share what actually happened so anyone planning a similar move knows what to expect.
I compared my quotes using moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, which helped me see how my estimates stacked up before I committed to anyone.
My North American Van Lines experience at a glance
Here’s the short version of how my move went, from first quote to delivery day.
- Communication: It was adequate throughout my move. Some of the customer service representatives could have been more proactive and returned my calls more quickly, but they usually responded to my emails promptly.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: I paid $64 more than the price I was quoted, which is remarkably accurate on an $11,000-plus move.
- Professionalism: North American delivered a top-notch experience from start to finish.
- Timeliness: My household goods arrived in Colorado within the agreed-upon delivery window.
- Loss and damage: The movers didn’t lose anything on my move. A few glass vases got broken, but I take full responsibility for that because I didn’t pack them well enough.
- Would I use North American again? Yes, North American hit my move out of the park.
over my original North American Van Lines quote
Find out what a move from California → Colorado actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose North American
My quotes came in slightly higher than I expected, and I got the best vibe from JK Moving. They couldn’t come up with a truck when I needed one though, so I booked with North American instead. What sealed it for me was that North American offered a guaranteed-not-to-exceed estimate, so my move cost would only go down, never up, if the actual weight came in under what they estimated. My husband and I packed everything ourselves to save money.
The main thing I’d change is the phone communication. My local agent, Robb & Messer, usually got back to my emails quickly, but their customer service representatives weren’t always as fast to return my calls or texts. If you have a question that needs a quick answer, email might not be your best bet with every agent.
rating
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
My move at a glance
My husband and I had been planning this move for years, but the last few pieces of the puzzle didn’t fall into place until about a month before our move date. Here’s how the numbers on my California to Colorado move broke down.
| Move date | November 18, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Van Nuys, California |
| Moved to | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Distance | 1,089 miles |
| Move size | 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths (about 1,650 square feet) |
| Moving company | North American Van Lines |
| Moving quote | $11,439 |
| Actual cost | $11,503 |
moveBuddha users save more than 30% on average by comparing quotes before booking. Try the moving cost calculator to see what your own move might cost.
Quotes I compared
I knew planning and execution were the keys to a smooth move, and I wasn’t willing to work with an inexperienced company just to save a few bucks. I started by Googling long-distance movers, and moveBuddha made the process easier because I could compare companies side by side. I still double-checked everything against each company’s ratings with Consumer Affairs and the Better Business Bureau before requesting online quotes and doing virtual surveys.
Here’s how my full-service moving quotes compared:
| Company | Estimated weight | Estimate amount |
|---|---|---|
| North American (full service) | 14,770 pounds | $11,439 |
| International Van Lines (full service) | 11,270 pounds | $11,620 |
| Mayflower (full service) | 13,990 pounds | $13,985 |
| JK Moving (full service) | 14,000 pounds | $14,580 |
| Safeway Moving (full service) | 16,751 pounds | $14,667 |
Pickup day
I planned my move for November to avoid peak season service issues, and I ruled out moving containers because I wanted a full-service experience. My move was pretty straightforward, but with more than 100 boxes and miscellaneous household items, it was larger than most. Along with breakables and fragile musical equipment, I had a large paper mache Easter Island statue replica that needed special attention.
I packed diligently, labeled each box carefully, and wrapped my guitars and keyboards in bubble wrap before packing them in a wardrobe box. I also decluttered and downsized, disconnected my appliances, and dealt with various housing issues before move day.
The day before my move, I got a call from the driver to let me know what time he and the crew would arrive. North American’s driver showed up promptly at 7:50 a.m. on Friday, November 18, about ten minutes earlier than expected. After introducing themselves and looking around, the crew protected my floors and walls, wrapped loose items in quilted moving blankets, and the driver prepared a detailed inventory while I tidied up and packed last-minute items. I made sure they padded my Easter Island statue adequately before it went on the truck.
Loading took about seven hours, and I was impressed with the crew’s thoroughness, care, and professionalism the whole time. I gave the movers a cash tip, but I didn’t have to pay North American until my things arrived in Colorado.
Pro tip: Start packing well before your movers arrive. I still had boxes left to pack when the crew showed up, and it made pickup day more hectic than it needed to be, see our guide to decluttering before a move.
Delivery day
My household goods arrived in Colorado on time, 12 days after they were loaded in California. The driver and crew protected my floors, doorways, and walls again with moving blankets, fabric mats, and flattened cardboard boxes, then brought everything inside while I checked each item off the inventory. Unloading went as expected and took slightly less time than loading.
My final move cost was $11,503, which was $64 higher than the price I’d been quoted. I might have been charged for mattress cartons I never ended up using, and I still need to call Robb & Messer to see if that charge was accurate. My goods also weighed about 500 pounds more than estimated, but I wasn’t charged for the extra weight because I had a guaranteed not-to-exceed estimate.
While unpacking, I only found one box with damaged contents. I wasn’t happy to find broken vases, but I blame myself because I didn’t use enough packing paper to cushion them.
Final thoughts
My move with North American was a success by nearly every measure. For anyone considering a move like mine, I’d say start the estimate process at least two months out. It takes weeks to research companies and verify their USDOT numbers, getting online quotes and scheduling surveys takes longer than expected, and you’ll want time to ask about insurance, cancellation policies, payment methods, and the claims process. Many moving companies also reach maximum capacity more than a month out during peak summer season.
If I could do it all over again, I’d clean my refrigerator more thoroughly since even a spotless fridge can start to smell after being closed up in a moving van. I’d also start packing sooner, since I still had boxes left when the movers showed up, and I wish I’d known exactly how much to tip the crew.
See what your own move could cost with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, the same tool I used to compare my quotes.
My ratings
Here’s how I rated North American on a scale of one to five:
- Communication: 4
- Timeliness of my move: 4
- Quote accuracy: 5
- Overall experience: 5
I gave North American a 4 for communication because of the slower callbacks I mentioned earlier, even though their emails were prompt. I also gave them a 4 for timeliness, even though my things arrived right within the agreed-upon window. A 12-day delivery window is reasonable for a move over 1,000 miles, but when it’s your own stuff sitting on a truck, even a reasonable window can feel long, and that’s really where the 4 came from rather than anything North American did wrong.
Would I use North American again and recommend them to friends, family, and coworkers? Yes, and yes.
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Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Marcie N.’s experience:
- Start the estimate process early: Begin researching companies and requesting quotes at least two months before your move date, especially if you’re moving during peak summer season.
- Ask for a guaranteed not-to-exceed estimate: It protects you from paying more if your shipment weighs more than expected, without preventing your cost from dropping if it weighs less.
- Have a backup mover in mind: Even a well-reviewed company can run out of trucks on your exact date, so know who you’d call next.
- Expect a reasonable delivery window, not a guaranteed date: A 12-day window is typical for a move over 1,000 miles with a full-service mover, even when everything goes right.
- Pack fragile and oversized items yourself with extra cushioning: Underpacked glass and breakables are one of the most common causes of damage, even with a careful crew.
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