Question for the group, we’re getting ready to move out of state and it seems like trying to hire someone to get them out of the house and on to a U-Haul is almost cost prohibitive. Either that or no one wants to put them on a truck without a forklift.

For reference the two safes are both Amsec’s (an NF 6036 and a BF 6030).

Wondering if I wouldn’t be better off selling both in TX and re-buying say a BF6036 once we’re in Kansas? I’ve downsized quite a bit and no longer need the size that my current BF provides.

Anyone else with recent experience moving safes long distances. What was your solution?

Sell them and buy new in Kansas. No brainer for me.

Don't know if this will help but about 2 years ago my wife and I bought a home from a retired career military officer. He was an avid hunter, shooter, and collector. He had a large, very heavy safe, partially built-in, for his collection. Apparently the cost to move the safe to his new home was such that instead of moving it, he offered to sell the safe to me at a very attractive price. I don't have a large enough collection to need a big safe but the price was so good, we could use it for other valuables, documents, etc., that we bought it. I really got it for "not-quite-pennies-on-the-dollar," but close. That was his solution.

sell, donate or give away before move; downsizing requires adaptation & innovation. The perceived loss of $ amount can't be all that great after having such items for a few decades.

Have you offered it to the buyers of your old place?

No forklift needed to load those safes. Nothing a regular safe company couldn’t handle if you have one nearby.

Before you make the decision to sell them or take them, price a new safe. Prices are up and availability is not what it usually is.

I just sold a BFX6636 the other day. Almost $6k

I was up against that same quandary when I moved to this house 16 years ago.

For me it was a no brainer. Sell the old safe and buy a new one at the new house.

I'm glad I did.

I just moved my 600lb Cannon across town a month ago. It's not as big as yours, but it was pretty simple for my brother and I to do. The key was renting a truck with a lift gate. I think the maximum lift capacity was several thousand pounds. I just remember seeing and thinking no way I'm going to max that out.

The other trick was getting a dowel under an edge to progress to the four wheeled moving dolly.

Hope you don't have stairs or hills.

Cheers~

Have you called DFW Safes to get a quote?

Dfwsafes.com

Moved two 500 pounders to my basement a couple of months ago. Wasn't terrible and would have been pretty simple if it was all on-grade. I called 3 guys from the neighborhood to help but it could have been done by two of us with an appliance handtruck/dolly.

In the grand scheme when moving, a $2-3000 safe isn't much. I'd probably get a new one before I'd pay someone $1000 to move it.

We've moved twice in the last 8 years. The first time I did as many have suggested - sold the safe at the house being sold and took the opportunity to upgrade to a larger safe at the new house. That cost me about $1200 in depreciation with the sale and another $3K to upgrade.

With the recent move, I took that safe with me. Had a local safe mover pull it from the house, pack it on a pallet, and ship it ($1200) and then another $300 from the local mover to put it in place. Safe is well over $7K, so I thought that was reasonable for having some one else coordinate the whole move for me. And, I didn't have to wait on a new safe build to just but in my shop. I couldn't buy a new one for the original price plus the move cost even if I sold it for the same price I paid due to price increases over the last 7 years.

quote:

Wondering if I wouldn’t be better off selling both in TX and re-buying say a BF6036 once we’re in Kansas?

This makes sense, why bring two safes and incur the cost of moving them. Buy and have the new one installed prior to getting there, and just transport your firearms.

Someone in TX will want a new safe, and you should get enough to cover the new safes cost..

Of course you'd want to make sure you can get a new safe first, covid stuff and all...

Leave the safe with the house and provide the new owners with the combo?

My LGS sells a lot of safes and has a crew of gorillas that delivers and or moves them. FWIW.

I would try and sell mine with the buyer having to come pick it up. If it didn’t sell the new homeowner would get a nice safe. No way I’m moving that thing again.

quote:

Originally posted by slyguy:
I just moved my 600lb Cannon across town a month ago. It's not as big as yours, but it was pretty simple for my brother and I to do. The key was renting a truck with a lift gate. I think the maximum lift capacity was several thousand pounds. I just remember seeing and thinking no way I'm going to max that out.

The other trick was getting a dowel under an edge to progress to the four wheeled moving dolly.

Hope you don't have stairs or hills.

Cheers~

Mine was 1,000 pounds empty and the new one was 1,150.

I don't want to even think about trying to move them.

I've only got a 500-lb safe and since I moved it with my brother and nephew 9 years ago, I've already decided it will convey with the house when it is time to move. No-brainer.

I have a 30 year old Graffunder that's honestly a little too small now for my needs. It weighs 1100 pounds empty. When I move next time, it's staying here one way or the other.

quote:

No forklift needed to load those safes. Nothing a regular safe company couldn’t handle if you have one nearby.

Before you make the decision to sell them or take them, price a new safe. Prices are up and availability is not what it usually is.

I just sold a BFX6636 the other day. Almost $6k

One answer you got, that contradicts most of the others. But it came from a pro who makes his living by selling, servicing, and moving safes. I’d be inclined to carefully consider his advice.

Who knows what kind of expense and availability you’re going to be dealing with at your destination.

One move I made (in town in NC) I paid two guys to help me, I borrowed moving dolly

When we moved out of state the safe was sold to the new buyer of the house. I left it open and the instructions on the counter and a business card for a locksmith

When we leave or move here I will probably move it with us as the prices have gone up significantly