Moving Experience: Pavan’s Move With Allied Van Lines
Pavan needed to move from Warren, Michigan, to Jacksonville, Florida, for a new job. Like many other would-be movers, Pavan was worried about the logistics of moving his belongings more than 1,000 miles and the potential risk of items getting damaged along the way.
Early on in his research, Pavan learned about moveBuddha and decided to participate in our Better Moves Project in exchange for a $500 stipend.
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
Read Pavan’s process for choosing Allied Van Lines and how well this top-rated moving company performed his long-distance relocation.
Move day takeaways for Allied Van Lines customers
- Communication: Pavan was given a personal move coordinator for the duration of his move who contacted him before and after every step of the process so he could be prepared and to ensure everything went smoothly.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: Pavan’s final moving costs actually came out cheaper than what he was initially quoted since fewer boxes were used for packing than expected, and the moving truck weighed less than the initial estimate.
- Professionalism: Pavan was impressed with the professionalism Allied/Rose Moving & Storage provided throughout the move, with consistent communication, a thorough in-home estimate, and packers and movers who worked safely and efficiently.
- Timeliness: Both packers and movers arrived on time to Pavan’s home in Michigan, while everything was delivered to his new home in Florida on time seven days later.
- Loss and damage: The only damage Pavan experienced was a small dent in his stainless steel trash can and ball bearings that fell out on a TV stand wheel. Nothing major!
- Would Pavan use Allied again? Pavan would definitely use Allied again, thanks to their excellent communication, on-time service, and safe and timely delivery of his belongings.
Pavan needed help moving from MI to FL
Pavan was trading the cooler weather of Michigan for the balmy beaches of Florida, where he relocated for work. He wanted the extra level of support a full-service moving company could offer, but online reviews were, in a word, scary, since there are so many negative ones out there.
We understand that fear, which is why we always caution people against choosing a mover solely based on customer reviews. Moving is tricky, and things can go wrong, even when working with one of the best companies. And it’s human nature to only share feedback when the experience is bad, so online reviews tend to skew negative.
Fortunately, Pavan discovered us fairly early on in his research phase and used our guides to help narrow his search. With the help of articles like our list of the best long-distance moving companies, Pavan gained confidence as he decided which moving companies he should get quotes from.
Pavan’s move at a glance
| Move Date | September 4, 2024 |
| Moved From | Warren, MI |
| Moved To | Jacksonville, FL |
| Distance | 1,019 miles |
| Move Size | Two-bedroom home |
| Moving Company | Allied Van Lines |
| Moving Quote | $9,081.03 |
| Actual Cost | $8,798.37 |
Pavan got quotes from three full-service moving companies
After doing research with moveBuddha and following our advice, Pavan decided to get quotes from:
We suggest gathering quotes from at least three companies to better compare services and pricing, so he was right on target.
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Pavan received an in-person estimate from Allied Van Lines, which played a major role in his final decision, despite Allied not being one of our picks for long-distance movers. That home visit yielded a much more thorough and accurate estimate of his belongings and their total weight than he could’ve gotten over the phone — and it likely explains why Allied’s quote was significantly higher than the other companies.
Lower quotes can be enticing, but they aren’t particularly helpful if you’re just going to end up paying significantly more come moving day because you didn’t calculate your move size correctly.
You could tell Pavan had done his homework because even though his over-the-phone estimates from both Safeway and JK Moving were much lower, he noticed that so were the total approximate weights for his belongings — nearly half what Allied calculated during the in-home inventory.
As it turned out, Allied’s estimate of 7,000 pounds was pretty accurate, which means if Pavan had gone with one of the cheaper quotes based on smaller move sizes, that decision would have actually ended up costing him close to twice as much as that initial low estimate.
Here is how Pavan’s moving quotes stacked up:
| Company | Estimated Move Size | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Van Lines | 7,000 pounds | $9,081.03 |
| Safeway Moving | 4,767 pounds | $7,653 |
| JK Moving Services | 4,000 pounds | $6,995.46 |
Pavan chose Allied for their transparent pricing
Notably, Pavan didn’t end up going with the company that offered the cheapest estimate, JK Moving (this surprises us, since JK’s reputation as a white-glove mover usually means premium pricing). Instead, Allied Van Lines’ in-home estimate sealed the deal for Pavan.
Like all van lines, Allied uses its national network of vetted independent movers to coordinate relocations across the U.S., so they assigned Rose Moving & Storage, a moving company in nearby Belleville, Michigan, to work directly with Pavan.
Pavan was impressed by the detailed approach the Rose Moving representative took in each room of his house. This included an explanation of how everything would be packed and a heads up that they would need to build a custom crate for his 83-inch OLED TV.
It’s worth noting that Pavan opted for a binding not-to-exceed estimate. This means he could actually end up paying less than his initial quote of about $9,081 for 7,000 pounds of belongings (which is what happened) if it turned out that Allied overestimated the move size or amount of packing materials needed.
But the real benefit here is that with that not-to-exceed quote, he wouldn’t have to pay more if the move size was larger than anticipated. Sounds like someone read up on the different types of moving estimates!
Pavan ended up paying for a full-service move with packing, unpacking, and additional insurance coverage — all add-on options that will increase your total moving expenses.
Packing and moving went off without a hitch
After Pavan agreed to Allied’s quoted price, they assigned a personal coordinator to him that served as his single point of contact throughout the move. Crews were coming the day before moving day to pack everything up, so Pavan’s coordinator called him the day before that to confirm a time.
Packers arrived promptly at 9 a.m.and worked efficiently to box up Pavan’s items with care. As promised, his 83-inch TV was crated for maximum protection. And his moving coordinator even checked in during packing to see how everything was going!/p>
Pavan’s coordinator told him the moving crew would arrive the next day at 9 a.m., and they showed up right on time. It took about four hours for the movers to load everything into the truck. As with packing day, Pavan’s moving coordinator called to make sure everything was going smoothly.
Delivery was just as smooth (and came with a nice surprise!)
Pavan was told that it would take seven days for his belongings to reach his new home in Florida – and that’s exactly what happened.
Before delivery, however, Pavan got some great news — since the movers had used fewer boxes and the truck weighed less than anticipated, his final invoice was nearly $300 less than the original quote.
Delivery was much like moving day, in that Allied provided excellent communication and professional work. Pavan’s truck driver called him two days before arrival and again the morning of the delivery so he could get ready for them, which he appreciated.
The movers unloaded everything efficiently, put everything where Pavan wanted, and even reassembled his furniture. They also helped Pavan locate an item that had been packed in the wrong labeled box. Of all his items, the only damage was a small dent in his stainless steel trash can and ball bearings that fell out of a wheel on his TV stand. The 83-inch OLED TV that was crated arrived in perfect condition.
Our take on the move
Allied Van Lines and its partner Rose Moving & Storage delivered excellent results for Pavan from start to finish. We’re especially impressed by the level of communication from both Allied and Rose, with multiple calls before (and even during) packing, moving day, and delivery. This ensured that Pavan was always well-informed regarding what to expect.
Even more importantly, though, is the fact that the movers lived up to their promises on everything from the arrival time for the packing and moving teams to the safety of his items while in transit.
With that in mind, it’s important to note that while Rose Moving & Storage sounds like a stellar company, your experience with a mover operating under the umbrella of a van lines may vary. Large companies like Allied will do their best to fully evaluate smaller movers before partnering with them, but there’s no guarantee they’ll all be as punctual and professional as Rose.
It’s helpful to check out customer reviews for both a van lines and the potential local moving partners in your area. We also have additional moving experiences with van lines from our Better Moves participants.
The verdict
Overall, Pavan was thrilled with how Allied and Rose Moving & Storage handled his move. Their excellent communication, on-time arrivals, and safe delivery of his belongings added up to a quality experience from start to finish.
Even though Allied’s initial price gave Pavan a little sticker shock, in the end, he felt like he got his money’s worth, thanks to the care that the movers provided with packing, loading, and delivering his possessions. Plus, the not-to-exceed quote ensured his price was locked in — and he came out with $300 extra in his pocket!
Ultimately, Pavan would use Allied Van Lines again, and would recommend both Allied and Rose Moving & Storage to others planning a similar long-distance move from Michigan. The companies made what can often be a stressful experience into something much more manageable — an effort Pavan greatly appreciated ahead of starting a new job in a brand new locale!
Here’s how Pavan rated Allied’s performance on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Communication: 5
- Timeliness: 5
- Quote accuracy: 4
- Overall experience: 5
Do you have an upcoming move? Share your moving experience with the Better Moves Project to earn a $500 stipend. Sign up now.
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