IVL does have high reviews across a number of trusted review sites, with many customers citing excellent customer service. However, my own experience has found the customer service to be lacking. Out of six calls placed to the company, I only walked away with real information about working with IVL from one of them. The website has a chat function, which states it\u2019s for customer service, but both times I used it, responses were slow or nonexistent. The last time I used it, I simply wanted to inquire about a price discrepancy on their website. I was told, \u201cthis chat is for new quotes only,\u201d and the representative just stopped responding to me. So many other customers have had stellar experiences with IVL\u2019s customer service department that I have to believe my own experiences are an outlier, but I felt I would be remiss in not mentioning them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/p>\nBasic Services and Cost: 10\/10<\/h3>\n <\/strong><\/span><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n\n
\n
International Van Lines earned a perfect 10 out of 10 for basic services. From local moving to storage services, the brand does it all and will serve the majority of homeowners\u2019 needs when moving. They operate in 150 countries for international moving, and thanks to their background as an international logistics company, IVL has the experience to handle the complexity that comes with moving overseas. However, IVL no longer serves Alaska. Loading, unloading, and full-service packing are included in a majority of their quotes, but unpacking will cost an extra fee. While you can opt out of full-service packing, customers should be aware that IVL doesn\u2019t offer major discounts for self-pack. It may be more cost-efficient to let them tackle the heavy lifting. Thirty days of storage is also included in their quotes as long as you request it before or during pickup on your moving day, but additional time after this initial period will cost you. It isn\u2019t entirely clear how much additional months cost as the website and emails give ranges between $0.50 and $0.65 per cubic foot. When I reached out to the company for clarification on this expense, I was not able to get an answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nService<\/em><\/td>\nAvailability (Yes or No)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLocal Moving<\/em><\/td>\nYes<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLong Distance\/Interstate Moving<\/em><\/td>\nYes<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nInternational Moving<\/em><\/td>\nYes<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPacking and Unpacking<\/em><\/td>\nYes<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLoading and Unloading<\/em><\/td>\nYes<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nStorage Services<\/em><\/td>\nYes<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\nCost<\/h4>\n Full-service packing, disassembly and reassembly of basic furniture, loading, unloading, protective pads for furniture, 30 days of storage, and basic liability coverage were all included in the quote I received from International Van Lines. Debris removal, shuttle service, bulky item packing, unpacking services, and piano handling all cost extra, but the estimate you receive from IVL will clearly outline these expenses. Compared to many other companies\u2019 full-service quotes, IVL\u2019s shows one of the most cost-effective service proposals, so if you\u2019re thinking about having professionals pack your items, IVL could be a solid way to save hundreds of dollars.<\/p>\n
I requested a quote for a two-bedroom home, moving between Maybrook, NY, and Carrboro, NC, a distance of 573 miles. The move was estimated at 3,682 lbs., and I was quoted:<\/p>\n
\nFull-service option with packing: $4,000.52<\/li>\n Bulky item (each): $150<\/li>\n Unpacking service: $175.00\/hour at a minimum of 4 hours<\/li>\n Piano handling: $150 to $350<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEditor\u2019s Note: The cost data provided in this article is based on Today\u2019s Homeowner\u2019s standardized sample moving scenario from Maybrook, NY, to Carrboro, NC, for a single-family home, with a move date set eight weeks away. Please be aware that these estimates may vary depending on factors such as additional services required and market fluctuations. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of writing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n
Today\u2019s Homeowner Tips<\/p>\n
When getting a moving quote, you should inquire about full-pack and self-pack prices. Companies that offer full-service will do all the packing for you and supply the packing materials. Many even will do the unpacking at an extra cost. Full-service does cost more than self-pack, but the added cost is sometimes minimal, and it may save you time and effort during your move. <\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Available Discounts<\/h4>\n Very few companies bake full-service packing into their moving quotes, so this can be an excellent way to take advantage of discounted full-pack solutions. Seniors, military members, and veterans may also qualify for additional savings (between 10% and 15%), but IVL\u2019s website advises that all customers should ask for a discount, stating it could save you up to $500 on your move.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\nCustomization: 9\/10<\/h3>\n <\/strong><\/span><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n\n
\n
IVL came just short of a perfect 10 in customization. The company doesn\u2019t offer home staging, which resulted in them being docked a point. Assembly and disassembly of basic furniture and basic valuation coverage ($0.60 per lb. per article) are included in all of IVL\u2019s quotes. Packing materials are also included if you opt for the full-pack solution, but you can always buy boxes and supplies right on their website. Piano, special item, and antique moving are available but do cost extra, as does custom crating. Junk removal may or may not be part of your full-service packing quote, so be sure to ask. Prices for junk removal<\/a> depend on the amount of debris you have and the availability of space inside the trailer. In addition, International Van Lines has solutions for car, boat, RV, and motorcycle shipping, and these solutions come with concierge services that handle all the paperwork and logistics of moving your vehicle or boat. If you want to add on any of these options, be sure to talk to your IVL relocation specialist as soon as possible to get a quote and reserve the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nCustomization Options\u00a0<\/td>\n Availability (Yes or No)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nAssembly\/ Disassembly<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSells Packing Materials<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nOffers Valuation Coverage<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nPiano Moving<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCar Shipping<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSpecial Item\/ Antique Moving<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nCustom Crating<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nJunk Removal<\/td>\n Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nHome Staging<\/td>\n No<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/p>\nReputation: 10\/10<\/h3>\n <\/strong><\/span><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n\n
\n
Thanks to their claimed Trustpilot profile (where they currently have a 4.3) and their A on the BBB as of this writing, IVL earned a 10 in reputation. Happy customers on Trustpilot explain that representatives, crews, and drivers were all kind, polite, and communicative, while the move itself was stress- and hassle-free. However, on the BBB and Google, reviews are more mixed, at 3.46 and 3.9, respectively. On Yelp, IVL has a very poor rating at just 1.7, and a vast majority of reviews are a single star. Many customers leaving 1-star reviews stated that their items arrived broken or ruined. The brand is responsive to both negative and positive reviews on Google and Trustpilot. Many competitors simply respond to positive reviews, if they respond at all, so it\u2019s good to see IVL taking that extra step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nRating Site<\/em><\/td>\nRating<\/em><\/td>\nNumber of Reviews<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nBBB<\/em><\/td>\nA \/ 3.46 out of 5 stars<\/em><\/td>\n175<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nTrustpilot<\/em><\/td>\n4.3 out of 5 stars<\/em><\/td>\n