Logistics of Setting up an STR long distance without full service

[Allison Hertzberg]

Closing on my first STR in bradenton florida later this month. It's a 3/2 with pool and outdoor covered seating section. What I'm use to is furniture/decor shopping at estate sales/auctions. I feel confident I could buy maybe 80% of the furnishings from estate sales that would end up saving me a ton and would hold up better and be more unique.

BUT I dont want to make myself crazy.  I have a full time job, little kids etc. etc.  I have about a month and a half to get the place live, not doing any renovations beyond painting....

1. Thoughts on getting one of those pods, uship or pods, filling it and then shipping it to florida and i'll meet it there.  Then hiring people to unload. The uship cost was about $3k. Is this crazy....is this basically paying for a move?

2. Get large items like couches and ship via freight?

3. Do one of those set up design services where i buy the furniture after working with a digital designer to help with layout and then have a team receive and set it all up? Assuming this is pretty expensive.

Any recommendations of a company that services bradenton florida and does the receiving/assembly.

I'll be done there at least 3 more times in the next 2 months to help oversee set up and stage.

[John Underwood]

I like the POD idea if the savings offsets the shipping costs.

Big items ship directly to the house and pay a handyman or similar to receive the items.