My Last-Minute Seattle to Chicago Move with SMARTBOX: How It Went
As told to moveBuddha
- Marilyn moved from Seattle, Washington, to Chicago, Illinois, in July 2022 after her husband landed a new job opportunity, a roughly 2,100-mile move covering two bedrooms and approximately 1,000 square feet.
- After comparing four quotes, she hired SMARTBOX, and her Washington to Illinois move was quoted at $3,466 for two containers, with a final cost of $3,880 that included $414 for unloading help from Two Men and a Truck.
- This is Marilyn’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on our conversation with Marilyn, who moved from Washington to Illinois in July 2022 using SMARTBOX. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My husband found out about a new job opportunity in Chicago less than a month before his start date. Since we’d moved before, we knew that planning was the key to making our move as painless and affordable as possible. I focused on companies that offered flexible moving solutions and easy online quotes because there just wasn’t time for in-home surveys or long-winded sales pitches.
I found our moving company in just one day. After preparing a preliminary budget using moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, I got quotes from full-service movers and moving container companies to compare my options.
My SMARTBOX experience at a glance
- Communication: SMARTBOX communicated adequately throughout my move, and I loved being able to handle nearly everything online.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: SMARTBOX’s quote for two moving containers was right on the money.
- Professionalism: I was impressed by my delivery drivers’ patience and professionalism from start to finish.
- Timeliness: My containers arrived in Chicago just ten days after leaving Seattle, a fast turnaround on a 2,100-mile move during the peak summer season.
- Loss and damage: Nothing was lost or damaged on my move.
- Would I use SMARTBOX again? Yes. I had a great experience and would recommend them to anyone planning a similar move.
Why I chose SMARTBOX
I relied on Yelp and moveBuddha to find service providers. With SMARTBOX, I only had to fill out a brief questionnaire before getting a quote, and I could handle nearly everything online from there. SMARTBOX was more expensive than U-Pack, but the quote included $10,000 of insurance and SMARTBOX had more service dates available than any other option I found, including Sundays.
With my husband’s start date rapidly approaching, that availability made all the difference. SMARTBOX also ranks on moveBuddha’s best moving container companies list, which gave me added confidence.
My husband and I were pleased to find a top-notch container company with reasonable prices. The customer service from SMARTBOX wasn’t great after I booked, but I found helpful information on the company’s website. We were still concerned about our artwork, a 65-inch flat-screen television, and a jewelry mirror that would need special attention.
rating
3.9 / 5
My move at a glance
| Move date | July 22, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Seattle, Washington |
| Moved to | Chicago, Illinois |
| Distance | About 2,100 miles |
| Move size | Two bedrooms, approximately 1,000 square feet |
| Moving company | SMARTBOX |
| Moving quote | $3,466 for two moving containers |
| Actual cost | $3,880 (including $414 for a crew from Two Men and a Truck to help with unloading in Chicago) |
Quotes I compared
Here’s how my four quotes broke down:
| Moving company | Move type | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan River Moving and Storage | Full-service | $5,756 |
| Move Happy | Full-service | $3,600 |
| SMARTBOX | Moving container | $3,466 |
| U-Pack | Moving container | $2,601 |
Getting ready for moving day
With a quote I could afford from a company I felt comfortable with, I didn’t wait to reserve our dates and containers. My husband and I stayed organized by sourcing boxes, paper, and tape, and packing a few cartons at a time.
Most of our items fit in standard cartons, but we wrapped the flat screen in bubble wrap and bed sheets and packed it in a sturdy television box from U-Haul. We protected our artwork (pictured) by wrapping each piece individually and then bundling them together.
My husband and I were willing to do the packing ourselves, but we weren’t thrilled about carrying boxes and heavy furniture. Luckily, we were able to round up enough friends to help with loading in Seattle. We decided to hire movers in Chicago because there were multiple flights of stairs leading up to our new place.
Two Men and a Truck provided a quote for between $351 and $591 depending on how long the crew worked. Their customer service representative, Zain, put us at ease with his professionalism and attention to detail.
Pickup day
I was impressed that my empty moving containers showed up exactly when SMARTBOX said they would. My husband, our helpers, and I knocked out loading in about six hours. The process went smoothly but took slightly longer than expected.
In hindsight, I wish we’d hired movers to help with loading too. Neither of us is as young as we used to be, and six hours of physical labor wore us out. If you’re planning a similar move, consider hiring a loading crew even if you have friends willing to help.
Delivery day
SMARTBOX didn’t communicate proactively while my containers were en route, but I contacted their customer service department regularly to get updates. In the end, my containers arrived in Chicago just ten days after leaving Seattle. That’s a surprisingly quick turnaround on a 2,100-mile move during the peak summer season.
I also liked that the containers could be dropped off and picked back up on the same day, since our new place was on a narrow street. The movers from Two Men and a Truck showed up earlier than scheduled and waited 90 minutes for the containers to arrive, but I wasn’t charged for that wait time.
When the SMARTBOX driver arrived, he parked his semi a few blocks away and moved the containers into place with a forklift. The crew worked efficiently while my husband and I prepared refreshments, drank coffee, and directed them on where to put everything.
Despite three flights of stairs, unloading took just 90 minutes. When the containers were empty, the driver hauled them away.
My container costs came in exactly at the quoted price. The final bill from Two Men and a Truck came to $414. I paid via credit card and gave the crew a cash tip for a job well done. Two Men and a Truck followed up with a post-move phone call and email survey, but SMARTBOX didn’t reach out to see how things went.
Final thoughts
rating
3.9 / 5
My husband and I got top-notch service from both of our service providers. SMARTBOX and Two Men and a Truck came through with easy communication, quick and transparent pricing, professionalism and flexibility, and on-time service.
We were pleasantly surprised that everything turned out so well given the timing and last-minute nature of our move, and we’d definitely consider using both companies again.
My one frustration was the multi-hour delivery windows from both SMARTBOX and Two Men and a Truck, which made it difficult to multitask and coordinate their services.
That said, I know this is largely unavoidable because moving and container companies have to juggle commitments from multiple customers each day.
Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Marilyn’s experience:
- Work with companies that provide easy online quotes with no hidden fees. This saves time and lets you compare options without sitting through long sales pitches or in-home surveys.
- Vet and book service providers well in advance. Marilyn didn’t have this luxury on her move, which added stress to an already tight timeline.
- Hire labor for loading and unloading if you can afford it. Six hours of loading wore Marilyn and her husband out. Professional help is worth the cost, especially on a long-distance move.
- Declutter and donate things you no longer need before you move. Reducing what you’re shipping lowers costs and makes packing and unpacking much more manageable.
- Use a one-stop-shop like moveBuddha to compare service options quickly. It cuts research time and makes it easier to spot the best value for your specific route and move size.
- Stay positive and try to enjoy the process, even when you’re stressed. A good attitude goes a long way on moving day.
- Use a “hide my email” feature and omit your phone number when requesting online quotes. This cuts down on annoying follow-up communication from companies you didn’t choose.
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