Moving Experience: Sam’s Move with Bellhop
When Sam had to relocate from Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina, for an exciting career opportunity, he literally had to get to work immediately.
Sam was concerned that moving on a time crunch would increase the cost of his move. He didn’t want to start a new chapter of his life in a financial hole, so he opted for Bellhop Moving because, as a no-frills pro mover, they gave him the lowest price. Likewise, the company’s instant quote calculator online made this process more convenient compared to competitors.
So, did Bellhop come through with affordable yet quality service on Sam’s move? Or did all the stress and expenses make him feel like he had a second job on top of his new one?
In exchange for a $500 relocation stipend, Sam participated in our Better Moves Project to document and share his experiences with Bellhop before, during, and after moving day.
Move day takeaways for Bellhop customers
- Communication: Bellhop movers were helpful and communicative early on. He especially appreciated the texts and emails to update him on the status of his delivery along the way.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: Sam’s final price exactly matched his original quote. Bellhop’s pricing was significantly more affordable compared to full-service movers.
- Professionalism: Bellhop movers and drivers arrived on time and were professional, careful, and efficient throughout the process.
- Timeliness: Sam’s household goods were picked up and delivered on time.
- Loss and damage: All Sam’s furniture and belongings were delivered in perfect condition.
- Would Sam use Bellhop again? Sam would absolutely use Bellhop again. The entire process was easier and more affordable than he thought.
Sam needed help moving from GA to NC
Sam needed to be in his new office ASAP and he didn’t have time for a DIY move. He was also worried about throwing his back out moving heavier furniture and the possibility of unforeseen medical costs.
Sam was relieved that Bellhop was able to give him a quick quote and find him the most affordable movers in his area that were available last minute. Bellhop works to match customers with local moving company partners in their network.
Given that cost was a concern, Sam decided to move smaller items on his own and break down all his furniture to avoid any additional fees.
Using our moving cost calculator is always a great way to ensure you don’t go over your moving budget.
rating
4.3 / 5
89% of users select this mover
Sam’s move in a nutshell
| Move date | May 26, 2024 |
| Moved from | Atlanta, GA |
| Moved to | Charlotte, NC |
| Distance | 242 miles |
| Move size | Five-bedroom home |
| Moving company | Bellhop Moving |
| Moving quote | $2,495 |
| Actual cost | $2,495 |
Sam got three quotes before selecting Bellhop
Sam only had a few weeks to plan his move, and that only allowed him a few days to select his movers. So, he started with a quick Google search for “affordable movers.” From there, he found moveBuddha and started researching his options and narrowed it down to Bellhop Moving, Safeway Moving, and American Van Lines
Once he used the Bellhop’s online quote calculator, Sam spoke to a customer service representative. Their conversation assured him that the estimate would be close to the final price, even though it was much lower compared to Safeway and American. Bellhop also made the entire quote process easier than competitors, which Sam appreciated.
After several more calls and emails, Sam compiled the following quotes to help make the best decision.
| Company | Estimated weight | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Safeway Moving | 5,000 pounds | $3,700 |
| American Van Lines | 5,000 pounds | $4,200 |
| Bellhop Moving | 5,000 pounds | $2,495 |
Sam chose Bellhop for their unbeatable price
If it wasn’t for his tight work schedule, Sam would have preferred the control and affordability that comes with a DIY move.
Feeling forced into hiring professional movers due to circumstances, he was baffled by how much it cost to move even after downsizing. Once he got a quote from Bellhop, he was shocked by how affordable they were in comparison.
Part of the reason why Bellhop has such great prices is because they work as a broker to find the best local movers in the 27 states they serve, plus Washington D.C. This incentivises local movers to give customers the lowest possible price in order to compete. And that’s great news for people like Sam, who don’t have a lot of time to negotiate.
Bellhop’s quote included the following:
- Loading and unloading labor
- Door-to-door transportation
- Basic liability insurance
Bellhop offered other services, such as furniture disassembly, packing, and additional insurance coverage. However, Sam chose to stick to a basic service package for the sake of his budget.
Sam’s move was more streamlined than most
Since he was so vigilant about avoiding hidden charges, Sam’s move was more simplified than most. Not only did he move many of his smaller items himself, but Sam also disassembled his furniture ahead of time.
Ultimately, Sam set himself up for a smooth moving experience by having fewer items and doing as much as he could for Bellhop movers ahead of time. That way, the professional movers could focus on the heavy lifting and driving.
Moving day was quick and painless
Bellhop continued to make Sam’s move easier by giving him the option to pay with a credit card a day before the move. They also let him know via text that his movers would arrive at 8:00 a.m. the following day, and Bellhop movers arrived promptly at 8:02 a.m. the next morning.
It took the team of Bellhop movers two hours to load up Sam’s furniture and belongings. During this time, Sam continued to pack his car up with clothing and smaller items. Before leaving, Sam was given direct contact information to check on his delivery in transit.
Sam was pleasantly surprised by Bellhop’s efficiency
Bellhop’s delivery was so efficient that Sam’s belongings were delivered ahead of schedule. Despite being a move across state lines, all his items were delivered four hours later that same day.
Prior to unloading the truck as his new six-bedroom home, Sam showed Bellhop movers where he wanted his furniture and how to position it. The Bellhop movers set up everything according to his preferences.
Our take on Sam’s move
Overall, Sam’s interstate move was more seamless than most. As much as our goal is to help readers make the best possible moves, communication issues and hidden fees are unfortunately common complaints about the moving industry.
Fortunately, Bellhop’s communication was top-notch from start to finish. Sam was also able to avoid other problems by adhering to our moving checklist, even though he was pressed for time.
Specifically, taking initiative to disassemble furniture and move smaller items himself allowed professional movers to focus on wrapping and moving the heavier furniture he was worried about.
We also love that Sam played an active role on moving day. He loaded items into his car, while making himself available to movers, if needed. Oftentimes, customers will leave and run errands or take a nap, which can significantly slow down the process if movers have any questions that pop up.
Sam’s initiative obviously paid off. All his belongings were delivered in perfect condition, ahead of schedule, and without any extra fees.
rating
4.3 / 5
89% of users select this mover
The verdict: Did Bellhop make the grade?
Bellhop movers loaded up Sam’s belongings and delivered them across state lines without any damage the same day.
Sam was extremely impressed by this because Bellhop had initially quoted him a significantly lower price compared to other full-service movers. He was understandably concerned that the lower price point might lead to inferior service.
To say that Sam was pleasantly surprised by the outcome would be an understatement. In fact, he regards his experience with Bellhop as the “easiest move” of his life.
Here’s how Sam rated Bellhop on a scale of 1 to 5:
- Communication: 5
- Timeliness: 5
- Quote Accuracy: 5
- Overall Experience: 5
Sam’s advice for anyone planning a move
In the end, there are only a few things that could have made Sam’s move go better. He wishes he found Bellhop sooner so he could have avoided stressing out so much.
If he could do anything differently, Sam would have trusted Bellhop movers with all his belongings and not gone through the trouble of moving smaller items himself. Although his energy was well spent disassembling furniture and avoiding added fees, the movers were capable of handling the extra boxes in Sam’s car and there was plenty of room on the truck.
Sam’s advice for anyone planning a move is do not be afraid of using a professional mover — especially if you live in one of the 27 states in which Bellhop operates.
Consider Bellhop if you live in any of the following states or Washington, D.C.: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
While it may seem more cost-effective to rent a truck and do everything yourself, Sam learned that the price of a full-service mover can be comparable. More importantly, you don’t have to compromise service to hire affordable professional movers, you just have to know where to look for them. And again, our moving cost calculator is a great tool to help you get started.
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