I had the movers move me one time and my machine disappeared. The box was marked sewing machine and inside the box was trash from the wrapping and their lunch leftovers. At the time the military paid 10 cents on the dollar value. So I was royally screwed. After that we had container moving.

Take the computerized machine with you if you can.

Wow. Lots of great advice, many good experience, and some just awful ones. Sorry to all of you who had such bad experiences. Yikes! I think I'm going to take pictures, get statements from my machine repair person, box and wrap well, get the insurance, and try to take the computerized machine with me!

I don't know that I will be this careful with my dishes!

Thanks again!

When we moved from Colorado to California, my machine went with us in the car. Yes, it was jam packed but I wasn't going to trust my soul-mate to a moving company. It would've felt like putting my child in the moving van. No way!

I've had no problems with moving a sewing machine in its carrying case. Granted my moves as an Air Force wife were a good number of years ago now, but my trusty Singer that I got as a college freshman made it from Texas to California to Mississippi to Oklahoma to Guam to Georgia, back to Texas, to Maryland and finally back to Texas again. Most of these moves were contract mover packed.

When we moved I packed my 2 Berninas and my 2 dogs and my jewelry in my car. Everything else went in the moving van. I watched the movers load & unload the van & I held my breath...a lot! Funny how the moving men respect a big screen TV but seldom realize the value of our machines. They just have no idea :shock:

I have never,ever in all my 20 years of military moves, entrusted my guitar or sewing machines to anyone but me. I've had too many other things either broken or stolen.
Take lots of pictures of your things before they are packed and hang on to the pictures.
Also insure your stuff for its true value.
Sharon in Texas