Bradtke Movers

These guys we’re awesome. I switched things up last minute and they still went the extra mile to accommodate my move. Will definitely recommend them to everyone I know

An unconditionally positive experience. Honest, hard working, dependable. So careful with each and every belonging. I was delighted with every aspect of the move. And this from a guy who hates moving!

Every part of our moving experience with Bradtke was top notch, from initial estimate to completion of the second half of the move. Our crew (Agustin, David and Jaime) was outstanding: thoughtful, friendly, careful, engaging. I cannot say enough about the quality and speed of their work.
Because of the timing of the closing on the sale of our home and our purchase closing, the moving team had a 4 hour delay. Though word of this was not conveyed to the team prior to moving day (the one glitch in their system, as we had informed the front office), the team took it in stride.
Great guys, flawless move.

Great service! Juan and David moved me yesterday and they were fantastic. Very pleasant, quick, and accommodating. They wrapped everything for me. It was a great experience and I will definitely use Bradtke again in the future.

THEY LOST 10 OF MY BOXES.
I sold my condo in May 2012. Because the closing process was such a nightmare, I wanted at least the move out process to go smoothly. And I while I don’t have a ton of fancy stuff, I do have some special pieces of furniture, art and belongings that mean a lot to me (as well as I just like my stuff), so I wanted to take care in the moving process. I did research on Unilocal and J. Bradtke Antique Movers was one of the best reviewed companies that did both moving and storage (needed to store my things for 2 months). Also, I figured, «Hey — „antique“ is in their name, so they probably have experience taking real care on moves,» and their website indicated as much. So I booked them.
Because things happened so fast in the closing process, I packed fast and enlisted some friends to help. So I didn’t make a detailed inventory of every box’s contents (hindsight is ²⁰⁄₂₀), but I did number all of the boxes — I had 108 boxes.
The move-​out process was reasonably smooth, as was the move-​in process. Because they were charging me by the hour and everything had been loaded off the truck, I let them go because I didn’t want them to keep charging me. And I had a huge mountain of boxes throughout my new place (I have a lot of stuff), so I figured we were good to go.
Over the next week or two, I unpacked all of the boxes — and in doing so, I discovered there 10 boxes were missing. 10 BOXES!!! That was 10% of my stuff!
I called the company as soon as I realized what happened to find out what happened. Rachel — the woman who answered the phone — was *incredibly* rude and also unhelpful. She told me that she would send someone out to check the warehouse in a few days. I asked why they couldn’t check that day and she said they were just really busy. Days later I would call back and they still hadn’t checked. Then I called back and she said one guy checked but she was going to have someone else check. I asked what that was going to do and was increasingly getting frustrated. I finally asked how things could be lost because shouldn’t all of my stuff just gone into a storage locker and then been brought back out… and I learned that in fact no — their «storage» facility was just a huge warehouse! Things are just marked off in different areas — but they are completely not locked, there are no clear rooms that section things off… NOTHING. It’s just one huge warehouse. I was LIVID. If that was the case, there was nothing to prevent someone from just plain old stealing my boxes. Or from accidentally including it in moving it to someone else. When I asked about that as a possibility, they actually said «Well one box I understand, but I’m sure we would have heard from someone if they had that many things that we moved that weren’t theirs.» Are you kidding me??? And when I mentioned the possibility about stealing, she asked what was missing and I gave her a few examples (my down comforter was the first thing I knew was missing), she scoffed and said «well that’s not worth stealing.» 1) That was so offensive, and 2) Who are you to judge something that would be stolen?
Long story short — they lost 10% of my stuff, when I went through all my receipts of purchases I made that I knew were missing, the value was approximately $ 2400… and when I tried to work with their insurance company, they said they would pay me on the depreciated value of the amount, but that I had to find dates of purchase for everything and receipts for everything. You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. All in all, I would have been paid a fraction of what it would have cost to replace those items. In the end, I just ended up disputing their charges for the moving fees through my credit card company (thank god for Chase), and got half of their $ 1900 moving/​storage fee back.
More than all of that, they were just AWFUL throughout the process. If they had lost it but owned it and gone above & beyond to make it right, this would be a very different review — because s**t happens. But they didn’t own up to the fact that they lost them until I confronted them with evidence, they were SO RUDE on the phone every time I called (namely, Rachel), they never genuinely apologized, they gave me the runaround through their insurance company and then fought me disputing the charge… and the whole thing lasted for 1 YEAR. It was so, so awful.
So please — if you’re thinking about using them… RUN. Save yourself. I used New City Moving on my last move on a recommendation from a friend and they were amazing — came in way under budget and so professional. But whatever you do, just don’t use Bradtke Movers.

I would give negative stars for this «prestigious» company if I could. I actually caught them red handed stealing a backpack full of my silverware AND have two movers from their company on VIDEO leaving my residence with backpacks several times during the day, into their moving truck which contained empty beer bottles.
Here is the whole story…
I found one of the mover’s backpacks in the service elevator stairwell of my residence. I opened it thinking someone was throwing it away, and it was full of my antique silverware. After questioning the workers they identified one of the men as the thief. The police were contacted and a report was filed. The theft was noted at around 2:00 or so in the afternoon at which point Bradtke movers were contacted as well as the police. In an effort to ascertain whether or not anything else might have been stolen the security tapes in the basement of the building were carefully analyzed by myself and the building engineer. Some particularly telling segments have been photographed. I have detailed notes as to the comings and goings of every single Bradtke employee from the time they checked in until the time they left the premises. I can tell you what they were carrying in as well as out of the building. I continue to be perplexed that no one from Bradtke has ever asked to view the tapes.
There was quite a bit of activity in and out of the building by two of the packers especially, at least one of whom is the suspected thief. At one point they exit the building carrying a backpack, stop at a distance outside of the building, one opens the back pack, points inside and they both are smiling broadly as they saunter down the driveway. They both look like they just won the lottery. This was in the morning, well before lunch. At one point they exited pushing a wheeled empty bin.
Also, I have the sign– in sheets for all of the workers and it was curious that only eight were on the list. Signing– in is a strictly enforced protocol and every visitor must relinquish his/​her drivers license or some form of identification. The tapes clearly indicate that Freilin (do not know how to spell his name) was lurking about in the shadows until the desk manager walked briefly away thereby offering him the opportunity to bolt for the service elevator without having to identify himself. I wonder why? While I asked for the names of the persons involved on four separate occasions, none were forthcoming…
After unpacking all of the boxes Bradtke had packed before the theft, I discovered that the following items were missing.
«Rose Point» sterling silver set by Wallace silversmiths (Mother’s set)
10 soup spoons– oval
6 cream soup spoons
9 salad forks
1 place fork
5 butter spreaders
Just to give you an idea of the current costs of the missing pieces… however, our family history and the amount of time we have had these antiques in our family cannot be measured with a dollar sign. They’re simply irreplaceable in my eyes.
Sterling oval soup spoons-​$ 169.95 each
Sterling cream soup spoons– $ 69.95 each
Sterling salad forks– $ 69.95 each
Sterling place forks– $ 149.95 each
Sterling butter spreaders– $ 129.95 each
As you can see, the price of silver is high, ergo the theft. I understand that the silver was probably melted down soon after it was stolen, according to the police officer anyway.
Unfortunately, the major item taken was the base and one arm of a very large and ornate antique candelabra/​epergne which I purchased about 12 years ago from the Silver Vaults in London Since the base and one of the arms is gone it has been rendered useless to me.
Additionally, half of a silver– plate set is also missing, two items were cracked/​broken due to negligent packing and Bradtke could care less. Their insurance actually denied our claim despite the fact that I caught them stealing and have several of them on video leaving with stuffed backpacks. They did, however, fire at least one of the workers due to the incident. Sounds like a guilty verdict to me.
This was a most disappointing experience and I feel that there should have been more involvement on Bradtke’s part. They arranged for a detective to call and set up an appointment to discuss the case and he never showed up nor did he call to reschedule. I waited weeks to hear anything back from Bradtke and they were very unresponsive.
Want to hire Bradtke, the «elite antique movers of Chicago.» lock up all of your valuables as there are several other reviews on here claiming the exact same experience, majority claiming silver as the main item stolen from their residence.
We have taken legal action against all parties involved.

We used this company for an in-​house move in April. We are still discovering things missing. Do not use this company if you want to keep your possessions. We can’t prove anything of course, but a necklace was missing just after they left. We just now found that several pieces of silverware were extracted from their cases. We informed them at the time if the missing necklace, but got no comment. The silverware now confirms our suspicions.

Moved with them before, missed estimate by 40%. Took 10 hours, poor supervision. Had to bribe their workers with several hundred extra dollars to get them to finish job. Called again today asking how it would be handled differently and told, «it happens». «If you don’t like our company try another one». I took this advice and recommend you do as well.

This is one time when my affinity for all things «old school» does not apply.
Should have gone w/​my initial instincts on the choice of Bradtke Antique Movers when I called and listened to the the old-​school woman, Rachel (think aging, high-​school librarian voice), slam and insult New City Movers, who recommended Bradtke for their experience w/​antiques.
Instead, I provided explicit detail to Rachel on exactly how I wanted the piece to be wrapped, she explained it would be bubble-​wrapped, padded and gently strapped to the interior of the truck. She understood my concerns about the casters and side wings on the item. She told me she had taken notes on everything I asked for and ensured me Bradtke would take extra care w/​my piece.
I scheduled the movers to arrive after 1PM, they arrived before 1PM. Mover #1 climbs the stairs and gawks at me in that icky way.
Mover #1 if they could bring the piece in the back way. It is a 4′ tall by 2′ sq. piece. I had arranged for it to come in the front door — so no, not the back way, even w/​construction on my street.
Wondering what it means to be «bonded» as a moving company. Contemplating what type of training Radtke puts its staff through in the current millenium.
As soon as they had the piece put down, mover #1 asks to use the bathroom. My instincts told me to say «no» but instead, I agreed. Here’s some useful info. for my fellow Unilocalers: no service staff should ask to use a customer’s bathroom — even in a dyer emergency. Really. This is part of the standard training professional movers receive. I discovered this after inquiring w/​two other companies.
He was in my personal bathroom for about 3 full minutes. No flush. No hand washing. I kid you not.
On what planet does a well-​trained antique mover not stop on the way at a gas station or McD’s to use the restroom? Is mover #1 making #2 in my house?
Oh no.
While mover #1 is maybe #2-​ing, mover #2 is looking me over while waiting and eyeballing the nick knacks on my mantle — he looks like he tied one on but good last night. Nothing professional or fresh about these two guys. #2 starts to unwrap the piece which has a dirty furniture mover’s pad wrapped around it. No bubble wrap, no special care. There are new nicks and dents in it that were not there when I purchased it.
#1 emerges from my bathroom and walks up to the piece and tells me that the nicks and dents were there — I don’t even ask about them — he points them out.
Of course this is an argument I won’t have with the movers.
I can tell these guys have never received any training, are probably very hard working, and they did the best they could. Even through my discomfort, I feel a bit bad for these two tweedle-​dee-​dums. They needed work and Radtke needed cheap laborers.
Here comes the best part: #1 asks me what I was told I was supposed to pay. I look at him quizzically, while #2 learns on my brand new Laz-​Z-​Boy chair.
#1 tried to charge me an added $ 45 – 75.00 arbitrary dollars which he adds up after pulling out an enormous smart phone. When I asked why the amount was so outside the fee range I was quoted; #1 asked me to tell him what he was supposed to charge because «nobody geeve me peepers.»
Then he takes a personal call on his personal phone.
So I call the company number on my own phone and Rachel answers, does not say the company name, but say, «hold pleeeuz.»
I hang up and call back.
Rachel answers, and, while enjoying her lunch, and treating me to many masticate-​ory sounds; she proceeds to tell me she has no hard-​copy paperwork, only the driver does, that she quoted me $ 120.00 per hour for a 3-​man crew, no wait (she says) she quotes me $ 90.00 per hour for a 2-​man crew, no wait (she says), she does not have anything in front of her to be sure what she told me. We go ‘;round a bit w/​me telling her she is speaking over me repeatedly, her telling me the owner is not there, etc. I end by telling her I am going to pay the fair amount quoted and tell her to enjoy the rest of her lunch.
I write a check for the lowest amount in the fee range that Rachel quoted me on the phone, tipped the guys in cash, and escort them out of my home after asking what the owner’s name was — #1 told me, «Reechturd.»
After a thorough exam of the item; I call and ask for the owner. I’m pretty sad and upset this company f-​ed up my piece. I could have moved it in the hatch of my car w/​much more care.
I get «John», who says he is an «office staff» who listens to the whole story which ends w/​him telling me the owner is Joe Radtke who makes a «rare» appearance there — he’s no idea about any «Reechturd.»
I think this company is surviving on old recommendations and testimonials and I think that #1 was actually telling me the owner is a «Rich Turd.»
Maybe they are smarter than I gave them credit for.
In any even, buyer beware — I should have gone with New City Movin

I agree that they are on time and fast but… don’t have a problem with your move! This was without a doubt the worst, most frustrating service experience I’ve ever had after finding I’d had items stolen!
LONG story short, I was shocked to discover that I had three items stolen during my move; an IPhone, ITouch (both unopened) and a full book of state quarters (including the two mints; Denver and Philadelphia).
(TIP: Don’t move alone, you can’t see everything happening so always have a friend or two to help guide and watch the movers… my expensive lesson).
Though I was confident of where I’d packed the items (in a box moved separately to my apartment), I decided not to give up hope and go through the many boxes in my storage unit (where my belongings were moved). There I found that when they’d unpacked my things into storage they’d made it impossible for me to access the two wardrobe boxes I’d said I’d need to get into.
I called Bradtke and explained. We picked a date for a mover to meet me and witness me go through the boxes to search for the missing items as well as repack the unit so that I could get to what I needed. In the end, the items were not in any boxes, as witnessed, and yet I was charged $ 90! I was NEVER informed there would be a charge… I have friends I could have called but was trying to do the right thing in making them aware of the situation and allowing them the chance to make it right.
In the end, I was informed by the Manager that the Owner refused to give me any credit for the stolen items (I had a receipt for one item and another was work equipment that I provided a lengthy email string supporting the fact that I had received the equipment through work and would have to pay almost $ 600.00 to replace what their mover (s) helped themselves to). They did agree to refund the $ 90 but that was 4 months after I initially contacted them and then they never sent the check. I guess they thought I’d go away? I had to follow up again to make sure I at least got that money refunded… super sleazy!
I certainly didn’t expect to be robbed when I hired this company. A disheartening and expensive experience to say the least.

Great service! I am very happy. I moved an upright piano from Chicago into the suburbs 40 miles north.
They responded quickly to my email request for a quote and their price was $ 80 cheaper than another moving company.
Very polite, quick, and they wrapped my piano very well. I would definitely recommend them!

I used them twice now and will continue to use them.
They are on-​time, fast, and charge reasonable prices. They treat even my cheap, falling-​apart furniture like it is priceless heirlooms.
This year they moved my plants and I was very happy with how they handled them.

We used Bradtke on the recommendation of a friend at work — who is quite particular. These guys lived up to their billing.
They showed up on time, and were ready to work. We moved from a 4 level townhouse to a 2-​level single family home, and they dealt with the narrow staircases and long walk to the truck without complaint. My furniture shows some of the dings of past sub-​standard movers (generally fresh from skid row!), but these guys didn’t leave a scratch.
My favorite step was that they laid plastic sheeting over our carpeted stairs, to avoid tracking dirt into our home. A very appreciated touch! They had tools on hand to deal with any tricky assembles/​disassembles and they didn’t blink when we asked them to move a couple extra very heavy pieces.
These guys might price out slightly more expensive than the competition, but the end result was worth it! I hope not to move again for a LONG time, but if so, I will use or recommend J. Bradtke!

Thank you so much for helping my parents move! I am very pleased with this company! The movers were awesome; they worked so hard and weere very careful with the furniture and the boxes. The guys showed up promptly and worked very effectively. I would recommend Bradtke to all my friends who need movers!

After receiving a recommendation for these movers by Strongbox Storage (another wonderful company), and after reading reviews on Unilocal,I decided to use Bradtke Movers. And am SOOO glad that I did. After moving more than 26 times so far, you could call me a professional mover. :-) I have worked with numerous moving companies over the years. Here are a a few highlights of why I was so impressed with Bradtke Movers:
* When talking on the phone and coordinating the move, Allen (sp?) was very articulate, and he responded professionally and thoroughly to every question I had. I required delivery to two different locations, plus an additional pick-​up at the first delivery location, and he provided clear instructions to the movers. The move was extremely well orchestrated.
* The movers were very pleasant, fun, and professional. I enjoyed talking with them. They were very efficient and fast, and they further cushioned my belongings so that there was no way that they would be damaged. Yay! (I am Type A and had already padded and shrink-​wrapped my expensive furniture. I appreciated the additional care they took to ensure absolutely no damage occurred.)
* The movers followed my complex instructions. I had some very fragile and very expensive items that needed to be stored a certain way. They remembered my instructions when they got to the final destination and followed them perfectly.
*In addition, the movers did not get frustrated with the fact that I needed boxes stored in a complex way… Some delivered to the first destination, some towards the front of the storage locker, and then some at the very front of the storage locker. They remembered these instructions as well and did everything exactly as I had asked. WOW!!! I’m not sure I would have remembered all of it. LOL
Thank you so much to Bradtke Movers for the outstanding move. I have never had more fun moving!

It’s really hard for me to write a four-​star review when I absolutely wanted to write a five-​star review. Unfortunately, there was a little bit of an issue at the end of the move and that is why I’m dinging one-​star.
First off, Rachel was my life-​saver. See my experience with Jay Movers on this site — she was able to book me for a May 31^st/​June 1^st move when everyone else was booked.
They came to my place and looked around for the estimate. Everything was itemized and insurance was included. They also waived the overnight fee, making them super-​competitive. I had read good things about the movers themselves so I signed up (although, given my situation, I didn’t have much of a choice).
Everything written here about the movers hasn’t changed. They were speedy, very courteous, and very good with handling my things. I felt so bad for them — they moved me from a 4^th floor walk-​up to a 3^rd-​floor! I did my best to tip them well. Overall, they went under the time estimate by about half an hour.
However, at the end the charge was 165 over the estimate. Apparently they didn’t figure for transportation time the second day of the move. I understood the reason for charging for transportation, but please include that on the estimate.
There was also a bit of pressure to cave as it was past closing time at the office. Luckily, I was able to get hold of Rachel and she abided to the estimate. Thank you again, Rachel. You are my moving angel.
While I definitely don’t think this was any kind of scam-​tactic, it definitely made me feel uncomfortable. Apparently it was the result of a lack of inner-​office communication. While this is a difficult thing to attain, it is a necessity in this day and age. Still, I cannot complain about the move.
Like I said, I really wanted to maintain their perfect record here on Unilocal,but I feel that this is a pretty significant issue. All in all, however, I highly recommend them!

These guys are MACHINES! I have used them once. I helped my sister move 3 times and she used them on each occasion.
There are so many good things to say that I don’t know where to begin.
First, they were enormously flexible. I had planned on moving on a Monday in February and I woke up that morning and it was snowing like crazy and I had not finished packing the things I wanted to pack. I called them at 830a to see if I could move my 10a move to later in the week and they did it without complaint. I was ecstatic. I could finish packing in peace and my stuff wouldn’t get all snowy.
(I could move my move date bc I had closed on my new condo and not closed on my old condo… thank God.)
Second, they were on time although the building management who takes orders from a particularly difficult condo association member made it impossible for Bradtke to do its job.
Third, 5 guys descended on my 1 bedroom, disassembled my bed, dining table and office armoire and wrapped every single piece of furniture in blankets and Saran wrap within 45 minutes. If the freight elevator were larger, we would have been out of there within 90 minutes. Alas, the challenges of living in a high-​rise.
Forth, they took a brief lunch and met me at my new home — on the 4^th floor of a 6 unit walk-​up. They did not balk when I told them there was no elevator. They schlepped all of my belongings up seemingly without breaking a sweat. I was in awe. I couldn’t look when they maneuvered my monster couch up the narrow stairway, but they did it with ease and grace (according to my mother who was with me).
Finally, they repaired a few things that I packed that broke in the move (probably due to my sorry packing skills) without asking questions. Just fixed ‘em. Made it right. No battle, no fight, no nothing. I was floored.
I found out at the end of my move that Bradtke’s moves all of the treasures for the big auction houses in Chicago. That is a major endorsement.
If I ever move again, I will use them. If anyone asks for a reco, I will do so with pleasure and zeal. They are amazing.
As for cost… I have only moved 3 times over the last 25 years so I have no perspective. I would imagine they are more pricey than average, but it is well, well, well, well worth it!

I called Bradtke based on the other reviews I had seen here and am glad I did!
The crew moved my new (to me) upright piano from a house to my third floor walk up. No small feat! But they did it carefully and quickly. Not a scratch was put on the piano or any walls. The crew was good-​humored and friendly, even while straining up the stairs!
I ended up paying more than I thought I would, but the final amount certainly wasn’t insane, considering the weight of the piano and the number of stairs and the crew of four movers.
I recommend Bradtke Movers and will very likely use them when ever I move out of this apartment. With a little luck, my next home will have an elevator for them…

I used these guys to move a piano I purchased (off CraigsList, not from a piano store, so I was on my own for finding a way to get it home). I can’t think of a bad thing to say about them. They were pleasant on the phone when I called to set up the move, and they offered me two options within the next week. On the day of the move, they arrived more than on time (they actually called to ask if they could come early because they were running ahead, and were ready and waiting when I got there). It took them (a 4-​man crew) 15 minutes to load up the piano (including removing all the removable panels and wrapping the whole darn thing in blankets and tape), 30 minutes to drive from point A to point B, then 15 minutes to get it up the tight staircase to my 2^nd-​floor walk-​up.
They didn’t bat an eye at the close quarters (I swear that my own eyes saw them get stuck a couple of times and I was sure they weren’t going to make it … but they did) and were completely cheerful. They didn’t even bat an eye when they found out that «2^nd floor» really meant 2 full flights of stairs (because of those pesky raised first floors) … Plus, they put the piano right where I wanted it, put it back together again, and charged me exactly what they quoted me on the phone.
And, for the record, I got several quotes on the move, and these guys were actually the cheapest for the job (just by a bit, but still …) The larger companies were going to charge me a 2 or 3-​hour minimum for what turned out to be a 1-​hour job — so even though these guys are touted as more of a specialty company, that worked out better for a single-​item move.

These folks are fabulous if you need anything huge (like a piano or a china cabinet) moved or anything extremely antique and/​or delicate. I have dealt with them in my line of work for 3 years now and everytime I hire them or recommend them for a client they have been prompt, careful and on top of their game.
They are on the pricey side but worth every penny.