December 4, 2008
Owie!
It’s a given that moving from Hawaii to the mainland is an expensive proposition. I used an online calculator to work out estimated charges several months ago. The written quote I finally got today (several days after it was promised) is in the same ballpark. The company estimates my cost for moving from Oahu to Scurry, Texas, where I’ll be staying with a cousin while I shop for a new home, at close to $8000. Ouch! So much for hoping that I had over-estimated the cost.
This is the part that I wasn’t prepared for. Dealing directly with the shipping company (instead of a moving contractor) means that I have to find a trucker to get my container to the Port of Honolulu after I load it myself. I haven’t contacted local trucking firms yet, but I’m betting their fee will add another thousand to my costs. I’ve requested “door to door” quotes from some local moving firms, but they’ll be acting as middleman between me and the shipper, so I’m thinking their quotes will be even higher than the one I already have.
If I’d been able to move several months ago I’d have been able to pay for the move upfront. Unfortunately, living expenses over the last few months have severely depleted my reserves and I’ve had very little work coming in to replenish the coffers. I’ll have to put most of the moving expenses (plus airfare for myself and Lance) on my credit card. If I sell the house quickly and pay off the balance that won’t be so bad, but interests charges will be astronomical if I have to carry the blanace for an extended period of time. If finding a buyer takes too long I might even end up having to rent the house out. I don’t have any experience managing a rental property (unlike the experts at Outer Banks rentals) so I’d have to hire a local property management firm to do that for me - more expenses to be paid out before I get settled and start making money again. Can you say “nightmare?”
I keep repating my mantra, but it’s not working very well right now. Maybe if you chant along with me? Okay, everyone - all together now: It’s only money. It’s only money. It’s only money …
[tags]Hawaii, moving expenses[/tags]
Posted by skeet @ 10:05 pm • Hawaii, Just stuff
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December 6th, 2008 at 7:35 am, blueyes Says:
Not sure but have you tried one of those Pods type container companies? You pack it and they move it and I could only hope it would be cheaper than what you got quoted. The moving is included in the price. My friend used a similar company going from east coast to west coast and only had to pay about $1500.00 I believe.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:51 am, skeet Says:
There’s only one company in Hawaii that supplies Pods, Blueyes. They are strictly for in-state moving and storage, so I can’t use one to take with me. I’ll probably use one when I get to Texas, though, since I don’t have a place to move into yet. The cousin I’ll be staying with has a couple of acres, so she’s fine with me storing my stuff in a Pod on her place until I’m ready to unpack into a new home.