Recommendations for movers back to the US

[HogHollow]

Well, time really flew by, and I'm hitting the 2 year limit of my stay in Singapore soon.

I'm prepping for the move back to the States in Aug, and I'd like to know if anyone has recommendations for movers to ship my stuff back to Austin, TX?

I used Atlas Van Lines for coming over to Singapore in 2021, and there blundered the move by forgetting about my shipment on the dock for over 3 weeks.

Thanks.

[malcontent]

Well, time really flew by, and I'm hitting the 2 year limit of my stay in Singapore soon.

I'm prepping for the move back to the States in Aug, and I'd like to know if anyone has recommendations for movers to ship my stuff back to Austin, TX?

I used Atlas Van Lines for coming over to Singapore in 2021, and there blundered the move by forgetting about my shipment on the dock for over 3 weeks.

Thanks.

That was quick! Happy to be moving back?

Isn’t your employer arranging for your move and don’t they have a preferred vendor?

[snoopy2023]

Hi
I am also relocating to the US but sooner than you, I just posted a question on this - message yet to be approved by moderator. I am moving to Minnesota.

[Lisafuller]

Well, time really flew by, and I'm hitting the 2 year limit of my stay in Singapore soon.

I'm prepping for the move back to the States in Aug, and I'd like to know if anyone has recommendations for movers to ship my stuff back to Austin, TX?

I used Atlas Van Lines for coming over to Singapore in 2021, and there blundered the move by forgetting about my shipment on the dock for over 3 weeks.

Thanks.

A friend of mine moved back to the states recently, her family used Santa Fe Relocation.

[Lisafuller]

Hi
I am also relocating to the US but sooner than you, I just posted a question on this - message yet to be approved by moderator. I am moving to Minnesota.

Any reason for the move?

[HogHollow]

Ah, great, thanks for the recommendation. I'll check out Sante Fe Movers.

My 2-year expatriate contract is up in July, and my wife isn't keen on staying. She's lost 10 lbs in the 18 months we've been here so far, out of the 110 lbs that she weighed initially, so I think getting her back to Austin will help her get healthy again.

[HogHollow]

[/quote]

That was quick! Happy to be moving back?

Isn’t your employer arranging for your move and don’t they have a preferred vendor?
[/quote]

My employer gave me an allowance to use for whichever freight company I prefer, so I'm free to choose who I'm comfortable with using.

Ah, I don't know if I'm totally happy moving back so soon. I didn't really get to enjoy traveling around the region because of Covid. I'm trying to plan a scuba diving somewhere in June, and that's about all the regional travel I'd have done in the 2 years I'd have been in Singapore.

The crazy gun violence back home is pretty jarring, so I'll have to go back to sleeping with a handgun in my bedside drawer, and pumping gas before midnight. Singapore is really unique in how safe it is round the clock.

[Lisafuller]

Ah, great, thanks for the recommendation. I'll check out Sante Fe Movers.

My 2-year expatriate contract is up in July, and my wife isn't keen on staying. She's lost 10 lbs in the 18 months we've been here so far, out of the 110 lbs that she weighed initially, so I think getting her back to Austin will help her get healthy again.

Did you at least enjoy your time here?

[Lisafuller]

That was quick! Happy to be moving back?

Isn’t your employer arranging for your move and don’t they have a preferred vendor?
[/quote]

My employer gave me an allowance to use for whichever freight company I prefer, so I'm free to choose who I'm comfortable with using.

Ah, I don't know if I'm totally happy moving back so soon. I didn't really get to enjoy traveling around the region because of Covid. I'm trying to plan a scuba diving somewhere in June, and that's about all the regional travel I'd have done in the 2 years I'd have been in Singapore.

The crazy gun violence back home is pretty jarring, so I'll have to go back to sleeping with a handgun in my bedside drawer, and pumping gas before midnight. Singapore is really unique in how safe it is round the clock.
[/quote]

Completely feel you on the last part, we're moving back to the states in a couple months as my daughter's going off to college. Not sure if we'll be relocating to Miami where we're from or somewhere further north, closer to where my daughter intends to go to school.

[HogHollow]

[/quote]

Did you at least enjoy your time here?
[/quote]

I am enjoying my time here so far. The city has a lot to offer in terms of cultural activities, such as the recent light to night event, F1, various local festivals, etc.

But the humidity's really something that needs getting used to, as well as how direct and curt the service people here can be sometimes.

Overall, it's definitely a positive experience getting to live across the planet for 2 years.

How long have you been living in Singapore? I think the transition back to Miami won't be too bad, since I think Singapore looks and feels very much alike! The fancy high rises by the beach, the shopping district, and excellent spicy food from Latin America.

[malcontent]

The crazy gun violence back home is pretty jarring, so I'll have to go back to sleeping with a handgun in my bedside drawer, and pumping gas before midnight. Singapore is really unique in how safe it is round the clock.

I’ve stopped watching the news, so am not very clued into the latest “sensations” but have been back to the US four times in 2022 (making up for lost time during Covid), including the entire months of June and December. I spent time in seven states. California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I took the inner city L-train at least a half-dozen times in Chicago (daytime only, of course) and spent several weeks right downtown - walked around quite bit, even in the early evening. Never had any issues whatsoever.

The most disconcerting encounter the whole time was when I was checking into a hotel - left the wife and kids in the car (public parking garage at 2am) and apparently some crazy guy came up and was begging them to roll down the window and speak to him. They refused and ignored the guy until he left.

[HogHollow]

I’ve stopped watching the news, so am not very clued into the latest “sensations” but have been back to the US four times in 2022 (making up for lost time during Covid), including the entire months of June and December. I spent time in seven states. California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I took the inner city L-train at least a half-dozen times in Chicago (daytime only, of course) and spent several weeks right downtown - walked around quite bit, even in the early evening. Never had any issues whatsoever.

The most disconcerting encounter the whole time was when I was checking into a hotel - left the wife and kids in the car (public parking garage at 2am) and apparently some crazy guy came up and was begging them to roll down the window and speak to him. They refused and ignored the guy until he left.

I agree that you'll be safe living in the US if you know where not to go, and what time to avoid certain places. I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience in Chicago, because the recent news about crime in the city isn't good.

I've been going to LA every quarter for work meetings, so I make it a point to read the news and keep in touch with things like gas prices and crime.

And in Austin where I live, you can't dial 911 anymore for crime, unless it's immediately life threatening, like when someone's actively attacking you.

For anything else like people "just" stealing or wrecking your property, you have to dial 311 for the city misc. hotline. All thanks to "Defund the police"...

[HogHollow]

I’ve stopped watching the news, so am not very clued into the latest “sensations” but have been back to the US four times in 2022 (making up for lost time during Covid), including the entire months of June and December. I spent time in seven states. California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I took the inner city L-train at least a half-dozen times in Chicago (daytime only, of course) and spent several weeks right downtown - walked around quite bit, even in the early evening. Never had any issues whatsoever.

The most disconcerting encounter the whole time was when I was checking into a hotel - left the wife and kids in the car (public parking garage at 2am) and apparently some crazy guy came up and was begging them to roll down the window and speak to him. They refused and ignored the guy until he left.

I agree that you'll be safe living in the US if you know where not to go, and what time to avoid certain places. I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience in Chicago, because the recent news about crime in the city isn't good. I used to stay by Grant Park over Labor Day weekend up till a few years ago for the Chicago jazz festival, and you could walk around the area safely even past midnight.

I've been going to LA every quarter for work meetings, so I make it a point to read the news and keep in touch with things like gas prices and crime.

And in Austin where I live, you can't dial 911 anymore for crime, unless it's immediately life threatening, like when someone's actively attacking you.

For anything else like people "just" stealing or wrecking your property, you have to dial 311 for the city misc. hotline. All thanks to "Defund the police"...
[/quote]

[Lisafuller]

Did you at least enjoy your time here?
[/quote]

I am enjoying my time here so far. The city has a lot to offer in terms of cultural activities, such as the recent light to night event, F1, various local festivals, etc.

But the humidity's really something that needs getting used to, as well as how direct and curt the service people here can be sometimes.

Overall, it's definitely a positive experience getting to live across the planet for 2 years.

How long have you been living in Singapore? I think the transition back to Miami won't be too bad, since I think Singapore looks and feels very much alike! The fancy high rises by the beach, the shopping district, and excellent spicy food from Latin America.
[/quote]

The question is whether or not will settle in Miami or up north, where it's a lot colder. If we decide to return to Florida, we'll try getting a place on Miami Beach. It would've been ideal to buy during Covid as property prices were way down, but we weren't able to view in person so we skipped out. Have been in SG for over 20 years!

[Lisafuller]

The crazy gun violence back home is pretty jarring, so I'll have to go back to sleeping with a handgun in my bedside drawer, and pumping gas before midnight. Singapore is really unique in how safe it is round the clock.

I’ve stopped watching the news, so am not very clued into the latest “sensations” but have been back to the US four times in 2022 (making up for lost time during Covid), including the entire months of June and December. I spent time in seven states. California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I took the inner city L-train at least a half-dozen times in Chicago (daytime only, of course) and spent several weeks right downtown - walked around quite bit, even in the early evening. Never had any issues whatsoever.

The most disconcerting encounter the whole time was when I was checking into a hotel - left the wife and kids in the car (public parking garage at 2am) and apparently some crazy guy came up and was begging them to roll down the window and speak to him. They refused and ignored the guy until he left.

Well Mal, you must remember that you're a man, your experience would be very different from that of a woman or child.