Maybe Moving; questions!

[Stevedore]

So in our advancing ages (70 & 67), we're thinking of moving to a different home which should sever our needs further into the future than where we currently live. We currently have what's called a "bi-level" around here, may be diferent in other areas, so our basic living area is in an upper level. (Kitchen, bedrooms, living room, dining room). I have pretty bed knees, and stairs are uncomfortable for me. My wife has similar concerns, although not as serious. (yet!)

Anyhoo, we're going to start shopping for a single-level house after the holidays, and I've already started worrying about the logistics of moving, after living here for almost 40 years.

My question, which I think is somehow related to GJ-ers, is what are the implications, if any, of moving a workshop? My current ground-level garage shop consists of the usual DIY-er stuff, with an emphasis on woodworking. I have a workbench, lathe, floor drill press, old Delta bandsaw (with cast-iron base), Delta contractor saw, jointer, thickness planer, belt/drum sander, grinder on a stand, & buffer/wirewheel.

Do conventional movers move this sort of equipment? Or do I need to hire someone additional, who can handle the heavy weights, strapping things in place, moving & handling carefully, etc.?

When we moved to this house, I had only a radial arm saw on a stand, and the movers took care of it, so things are different now.

Anyone have any related experience, stories, advice, or whatever, that they'd like to share?

Thanks!

 

[KDXSR5]

I have helped plenty of family and friends move over the years, which usually included large machines. I have even gone to other states to help family move. Is this a viable option for you?

 

[finn]

Call the local moving company and ask.

The worst they can say is they won't move your shop, but even then, they'll likely have some local suggestions.

 

[Richard Cranium]

starving collage kids

 

[sberry]

Find some help, move the stuff.

 

[vavet]

Our last move was about 16 months ago, but it was not a conventional move. I rented a Penske truck and did a lot of the grunt work myself. I also hired 2 "Bellhops" for a few hours. Bellhops are college students from nearby schools. They provided labor only - no truck, straps, padding, blankets, etc. They were not well trained on how to pack a truck or the tricks on moving large furniture through tight spaces.
I worked for a conventional moving company when I was in college, so I knew the tricks and was able to help them. Anyway, my point is that they had no trouble moving all my garage items. My double bay toolbox was the biggest problem, but that was only a problem getting it into the truck because of the weight of the toolbox and the steep ramp of the truck. I should've rented a truck with a liftgate or hired a flatbed wrecker to move it for me.

I think my biggest concern would be making sure they pack and handle your things carefully.

On a side note - have you looked into retirement communities? There are some near me that offer single-level living and other amenities, like a workshop space, garden area, etc. I forget the names of all the different levels of assisted living, but they have some that are basically apartments and you live completely independently, but always welcome to join the group for meals, dancing, cards, or other activities. If your situation changes and you require additional assistance, you can move to a different area on the same campus or (depending on what kind of assistance you need), the nurse visits more often. Just something to think about.

 

[Thumper68]

While I have handled my personal moves myself with help from friends and day labor one place I worked part time had a local moving company come in and pack and move their entire business.

I was helping out on the move days and the moving guys were quick and efficient, even with the big stuff, working with a rigging crew to move some of the bigger equipment.

I would call around and talk to local movers.

 

[rsanter]

Conventional movers will generally move anything. Some are better than others.
You will likly need to supervise them.

Think about hiring local teens or college kids from the neighborhood. They need money and you likly already know who they are.

There is also the option of hiring day help from CL. I know this will get some responses but some of the guys are decent people needing a little work.

Bob

 

[Radix2]

I move my shop with movers once. I broke my machinery down into moveable/carry-able pieces and they moved it like everything else. Cast iron tops, motors, etc. Did a pool table with a three piece slate the same way.

Every company and crew is going to be different so you will have to ask.

 

[Stevedore]

Thanks for the replies. Of course, I'll be asking prospective moving companies about my machines; just wondered what I might expect.

My concern with hiring college kids, craigslist labor, etc., is liability, insurance, etc. I know it's a common practice, but I'm just paranoid about such things.

Regarding doing it myself with the help of friends: We're all old! And past the point of wanting to do such work. I'm still capable (I bear-hugged my bandsaw up & onto its mobile base), just prefer not to do it.

 

[Radix2]

I got to say....kinda funny for a Stevedore to ask obout moving stuff!!!

Haha!

You are the expert !

 

[Stevedore]

I got to say....kinda funny for a Stevedore to ask obout moving stuff!!!

Haha!

You are the expert !

Oh yeah! It's a nickname from my youth. I like to think of a stevedore as a large & powerful person, which I may have once been, but no longer...

 

[Chief919]

A good moving company will move anything.

A friend of mine was in the middle of a frame-off restoration of a CJ-5 when he got transferred from Ft Bragg to Ft Bliss. He sent me pictures of the movers carrying the CJ-5 Body, then frame and then axles in and packing it in with the rest of his household stuff.

 

[kbs2244]

I think distance will have a lot to do with it.
Same guys both ends?
If temp help to load, who to unload?

 

[58Yeoman]

We moved to our present house 8 years ago, and I'm now 66. I had way more stuff than she did, and it took a large rental truck two trips for my stuff. I've gotten rid of some of it, but I mentioned that on the next move, I might have to have an auction. We had to shoe-horn some stuff into the house, and I'm not sure it would fit going out.
With the shape that Illinois is in now, we've recently been talking about leaving this god-forsaken state for another. But, it won't be for a retirement home. I feel what you're looking at, and I wish you luck.

 

[cvairwerks]

Something you might look at before commiting to move, is a stair assit unit for the house. It's basically a fold up chair that rides a track up and down the stairs...You sit on it, activate it, and ride up or down. The don't move real fast, but work well and are not super obtrusive, depending on your stair layout. Straight stair units are fairly inexpensive, while those that have to make curves or corners add to the cost. A straight stair unit can be had for well under the cost of a move I'd bet from the prices I sw.

 

[tomroblee]

I was in a similar situation five years ago. Our old house was a 1920's two story with a basement on a fairly small "city lot". My workshop was in the basement. I also was worried about how to move the heavy tools. I ended up giving away most of the heavy tools. I was amazed to discover that folks thirty years younger than me had no problems at all carrying the machinery--even up steep stairs.

We ended up buying an existing handicap accessible house in a fairly new subdivision. It has zero steps, wide hallways, wide doorways, and bathrooms large enough to maneuver with a walker or wheel chair.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Interesting thread.

In years past, I was the guy all my friends called to help them move. Even pianos!

Now I'm in my early sixties, and going to call movers to move my ancient Delta band saw, 12in disc sander, drill press and radial arm saw up out of the basement into my new ground level shop.

No sense risking injury at this point in my life.

 

[Squashfest81]

With our recent move, didn't use movers, but I made a few calls due to a large safe that the in-laws abandoned on us when they shipped out to warmer climates. The regular moving companies all had a weight cutoff of 500lbs. Anything over they would not handle and you needed a "heavy" moving company. They had a list of those companies.
Make some calls and good luck.

 

[28HopUp]

We are in the middle of making a similar move from Delaware to South Carolina. I used the move as an excuse to purge items we did not need. We moved the cars ourselves with the help of U-Haul. A 26' box truck handled our necessities for the apartment here while the new house is being built. We close next week on the new place, which is not a retirement home but instead is a place we can eventually retire in (having just turned 50yo). We used movers to store/transport the items we didn't absolutely need these few months (including the shop and garage items). I'm glad we moved the light stuff ourselves, but will be even happier when the movers handle the rest. Plus I get to create my own garage build in my 20'x24' detached garage.

My advice would be to spend wisely on movers for the items you need to take with you.

 

[jumpstart]

Any decent moving company can move what you have or have other vendors they can use or refer you to. You are spot on about insurance and liability with casual laborers.

 

[SteveL]

Timely topic as my wife is pushing to move someplace warmer now that we are retired. We just finished putting in new carpet through out the house and had everything repainted which meant moving every item we've gathered since moving here 30 years ago. We've been purging stuff we really don't need but I too fear the thought of moving my basement workshop. Lots of large equipment, three work benches and enough lumber and sheet goods to probably build a nice size kitchen.

My initial thought was to sell off most everything and get new once moved. Gives me the chance to upgrade to a SawStop cabinet saw and better jointer, planer, etc. Garage stuff should be fairly easy to move but even there, the thought of new nicer built in metal cabinets in the new home sounds nice.

My biggest concern is convincing my wife that we will need a 1,500 sq ft plus garage to house the shop and three cars to get everything at ground level.

Interested to hear how others have dealt with this.

 

[L5wolvesf]

My concern with hiring college kids, craigslist labor, etc., is liability, insurance, etc. I know it's a common practice, but I'm just paranoid about such things.

Check with your homeowners insurance company. If you're staying with them they may be helpful as far as the liability etc.

Howfar are you thinking of moving?

 

[matt_i]

Its a little different when you acquire 1 piece of machinery at a time and then have to move the whole assembly of stuff at once.

Imo you need two classes of skill to do this right. 1) people to handle the heavy weight and get piece A to location B inside the truck or trailer. 2) someone who is skilled and inventive in strapping stuff down so it doesn't fall over and get damaged.

Armed with the right guys you can play part #2. I would buy up a case of ratchet straps, and if renting, get a few "bales" of the movers blankets.

There is always making the call to a pro moving company. The problem is when you have a problem with something bent broken or tweaked. How they compensate you and who does the repairs may not be satisfying.

I would also keep stuff boxed up as much as possible. A set of pro-movers employed a classic trick to steal my nice & barely used chainsaw. They put an asset tag on a little buck-saw noting it as a "tree saw". When I signed the 50 bazillion inventory sheets they insisted on, I had made a perfect case for insurance to deny my claim after they pleaded ignorance.

 

[y'sguy]

My wife and I are fussing over these decisions now as well. I am mostly retired and she will be soon.
We are 66 and 64. With more aches and pains arrising all the time!. ***** gettin old! We are excited about getting a smaller "new" place. (we already own the house and prop, btw) we are going to update new and remodel. Hopefully it will be smaller but much more efficient. With much less to take care of.
Part od my struggle with this is: I'm probably not going to to do any more engineand trans swaps, no more large scale remodeling or cabinet makeing. So I may sell off many of my tools. GAD! yes I know there I said it. I hope I don't regret it. But at my age and interests, I think I can use my time at a community woodshop whem need or car buddies shop. I'm not a professional mechanic just someone who loves to make stuff and have the space in the garage.
So I hear where you're are coming from.
You are the only one who can answer if you will continue to use that equipment.
i've sadly been to lots of estate sales and seen all the stuff you listed for sale at low prices, good stuff too. Good for the buyers of course. It's where I got some of my best stuff.
So ask yourself how much you are going to use it again and consider purging it. You can still buy new as to what you need , if you need it.

But your question was how to move it. Low flat bed trailer. lots of tie-down straps and 4-20 somethins from you nearby church.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I've moved interstate several times and work has paid the bill. In every case, traditional moving companies did the job, they moved my shop with no issues, although I did supervise them.

If you are paying for the whole trailer, it would serve you to buy some trailer seals, seal all the doors. That way you know that everything you shipped will be there on arrival at your new home

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[James-W]

Thanks for the replies. Of course, I'll be asking prospective moving companies about my machines; just wondered what I might expect.

My concern with hiring college kids, craigslist labor, etc., is liability, insurance, etc. I know it's a common practice, but I'm just paranoid about such things.

Regarding doing it myself with the help of friends: We're all old! And past the point of wanting to do such work. I'm still capable (I bear-hugged my bandsaw up & onto its mobile base), just prefer not to do it.

That is a very big concern I would have as well. I am not a lawyer so I could dead wrong on this, but I would think if you hire some college kids to move your stuff, then they are working for you. If you have them do something that causes one of them to be injured while working for you, I would think you would be responsible, at a minimum for his/her medical bills, and I suppose there is also the possibility of a lawsuit. I have no idea how your homeowners insurance would work on that either.