A site about me.
According to the 2007 American Community Survey data, part of the Census Bureau, once the average person reaches the age of 18, they are likely to move at least another 9.1 times in their remaining lifetime, compared to just 2.7 more moves once a person reaches 45 years old. Americans move an average of 11.7 times in their lifetime.
By the time I was ten years old I'd already moved at least a dozen times across the United States and back again and lived in a dozen cities. By adulthood, I became a connoisseur in the art of moving. To me, moving is just as much a science as an art. My quest for knowledge and truth as a person and an investigative reporter propelled me to learn everything I could about moving so that no one else will ever experience a horror story.
Before hiring my movers, I'd heard the horror stories, but thought, this can't happen to me. However, I didn't know enough to recognize them. “Is this Coast to Coast Moving Company?” I said to the woman I found on the Internet. I changed their name to protect the innocent, me. I learned to never hire movers through the Internet or on the phone, for that matter.
“Well, actually, it isn't, but can I help you—what is it you want?” The syrupy voice on the other end of the phone line cooed. I explained it was my first time using a moving company and that I wanted to relocate to New York. “We move people from Los Angeles to New York all the time,” she said in an upbeat professional way. “And we don't contract out to other companies, either. Your furniture starts out in our truck and it ends up in our truck.”
A few weeks later, on a cold November afternoon, I'm waiting for the movers at the storage company where my belongings are stored. Four hours later than expected—a big truck pulls up with large red letters displayed on the sides, BUDGET RENTALS. Three kids jump out. “You're four hours late,” I blurt out, trying to be civil. “Too many people moving today—ran out of trucks,” the foreman says. He looks at my two crates stuffed with boxes and furniture. “Oh my God…I'm tired—let's get this done fast.”
It's now 8:30 P.M., dark and a lot colder than it was six and a half hours ago. Angel, the foreman, walks over to me. “According to my calculations,” he said, his face expressionless. “The total is $3,500.” “That can't be right,” I say. “My original quote was $1,795—” We battle for the next half hour. I am cold, hungry, disillusioned, but even more determined. I end up paying $280 over the original quote, a lot less than what he wanted to charge me.
On December 10th I received a call from a man with a heavy Russian accent telling me he will arrive in Saratoga Springs with my belongings the morning of December 13th. Snow covers the ground that morning and the temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Two men in jeans and tee shirts jump out of the 18 wheeler and start unloading my boxes and furniture. Some of the boxes had fallen apart. Few were taped, only the ones I taped, even though I'd emailed Ms. Sugar Voice that I wanted the boxes taped.
In spring, the sun is out and the snow melted. I visit my storage unit and find two dozen boxes are missing, not counting the ones that spilled out. Tape recorders, radios, television and other electrical appliances are missing. My radio/CD/tape recorder is smashed, boxes of broken dishes, antique plates, cake platters and tea pots, wine glasses. My antique rosewood table and desk are chipped and gouged, the computer desk scratched with pieces missing, my ukulele dented, two strings broken. The good news, my VCR arrives safely, probably because they already had too many VCRs in their stockpile.
Thinking back, Angel did warn me about my damaged antique furniture. He said, “Don't bother ever sending antique furniture because by the time it gets to its destination, it'll be broken and fall apart anyway.” He spoke the truth. He is an angel after all.
After what I know now, I would have slept the night guarding my life's possessions and figured out what to do in the morning. However, had I taken the time to learn about every aspect of moving and had a step-by-step plan to follow, I would not have been easy prey to the scam artists who are professional crooks at work — the motivation for writing Moving Your Life.