Yeah, RRob, "high" is an understatement. That's the "we don't want your business" quote.
I think the direction we're likely to take is a 1-way Penske and a car trailer.
A pro truck-driver friend of the family said Penske trucks are bigger/better/more capacity, but more $$ than U-Haul, and their 26-foot is all box, not 23-foot with a 3-foot 'bunkbed' area over the cab.
One of my moving-experienced friends suggested that if we don't **really** like/need something -- i.e. handmade, family, irreplaceable, valuable, costly, etc. -- to just yard-sale it off, and buy a replacement on the other end. He also suggested that if it's particularly fragile, sell it here & replace it there, stuff like dishes, glasses, mirrors, etc.
So, I'm thinking that next weekend, I'm going to have
ONE HELL of a yard sale, and probably again in 2 weeks.
Y'all come now! Lots of redundant tools, a buncha welding tanks (oxy/acetylene, straight argon, 25% Co2/argon mix, and a small nitrogen tank) probably close to 500 lbs. of steel and aluminum materials, lawn & garden implements, some furniture. Hell, I have a used-once $700 roto-tiller that I don't really want to drag across the country cos I hate gardening. I should start listing the nicer stuff on Craig's List. I'll post here in the market if I think anyone would want it.
My wife's freaking out about it -- she thinks someone is going to stick the rototiller under their shirt and walk off.... but, she has a point -- this week some asshole stole our recycling bins.
Bucho, wanna work security for a yard sale?
Regarding the tax deductiblity, I'm definitely keeping thorough records, but I believe the deduction is only applicable if you're moving for work. We're moving to be close to my wife's family.