The Incredible Moving Pod

There are many ways to move you things from your old home to your new one. Moving containers is becoming an increasingly popular option. Before you move you should think about all of your moving options.  Here are some to think about.

Full Service Movers

Full service movers are the most expensive way to go if you are moving very far. If you are just moving across town then hiring people with a moving truck that will do the heavy lifting and even take apart your furniture is not quit so bad. Generally when we are talking about full service movers we are talking about hiring a large moving company that can pack your belongings in there boxes, put everything in there truck and drive it to your new home, store everything if you need them to, and then deliver and unload for you.

Moving Containers and Moving Pods

Moving containers and moving pods is my favorite way of moving long distance. You can get a few containers delivered to your residence, pack them at your own rate, and then get them picked up and driven to there destination for you. You can also have these containers stored in there warehouse if you need some time. This method does tend to be more expensive then just renting a rental truck or using your own vehicle, but the convenience can be worth it.

Moving Trucks

Moving trucks are a great option if you have too much stuff to mail or the distance is too great to use your own vehicle. Even if you are moving just a few miles renting a moving truck can save you lots of time since you can make fewer trips. In my experience the rental truck always costs at least twice what you think it will.

Moving With Your Own Vehicles

Unless you don’t have much to move, moving with your own vehicles is a lot of work and can take a really long time. If you aren’t moving far then this is one place you can save a lot of money moving. I moved a few years ago just using an old van and the trunk of a car. It took three days, still not sure if the money saved was worth it.

Moving With the Post Office

Moving with the Post Office only works if you are not moving much. This is very likely the most expensive way to move per pound. We used the post office to move once from Anchorage to Albuquerque. We got rid of almost everything and shipped the rest. It was easy to do and cost us less then moving everything we owned in a rental truck. That was over nine years ago and we still have a few boxes from that time that are still sealed. Obviously they were not worth the time and money to ship. Just make sure you really want everything that you ship or else you will be wasting your money.

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Well you can’t sleep in your moving pod. I know people have tried; it is dangerous and probably illegal. I’m sure no one visiting this moving pods site was even considering it. Just had to put it out there. Do not try to sleep in moving pod.

So were do you sleep while moving? I personally have used both the “timing it just right so you wake up in the old place and go to sleep in the new place”, and the “you sleep while I drive and then switch off” methods. They are both completely exhausting and only work for shorter moves.

What do you do for longer more relaxing moves then? Stay in a hotel of course. I know the economy is week and everyone is trying to save as much money as possible. I found the perfect solution where you can Compare Hotel Prices and Save! You should seriously consider staying in a hotel during your move, your health will thank you for it.

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I tend to be the frugal type even when I am moving from one home to another. I just hate to spend extra money when it seems that so much money has to go the new place. Unfortunately moving itself tents to be expensive weather you are going to use a moving pod, one of those you pack it rental trucks or the full service movers.

The only tool I would tell anyone that they will need to have for any move is the old trusty hand truck. This is a great tool if you are moving your stuff all by yourself or have a crew coming to help. Even if you are planning to hire people to do the heavy lifting I would suggest still have one for the before move shift your stuff around that most of us end up doing.

We finally purchased a sturdy hand truck for our last move. It made a world of difference, I am thinking of treating myself to a second one when the time comes for us to move again. We have used this handy tool numerous times since our last move as well. Hand trucks are great for moving stacks of boxes, furniture, sacks of dirt, and giving each other a ride (try this last one at your own risk).

Luckily you can find several to choose from at your local hardware store and sometimes even the big box stores carry them. Be sure to get a good sturdy one. You will probably be lifting heavier things than you think and you want the frame to stay strong and the tires to hold up. I at first wanted to just get the cheapest one that I could find, but ended spending a bit more for a stronger one. It was absolutely worth the extra cost.

If you would prefer to just order one then Amazon.com has a few nice ones to choose from.

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An important part of moving from one home to another is making sure it will be clean enough to either get your deposit back if you rent or make the house attractive to potential buyers if you are selling.

In the post made last week we talked about what you can do to make your home appear cleaner before your move. If you have lived in a rental for a long time or are trying to get your house ready to show to potential buyers then It will be necessary to do a bit more.

I truly believe that the list that you will use as you’re to do list for your move out cleaning is very individual. No one could give you a comprehensive list to work for everyone and every situation. It is the best to make your own.

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When moving you are trying to get so much accomplished it is hard to think of every last thing that needs to be done before you’re done with your old home. If you’re moving from a rental home then getting that deposit back is a priority. Even if you can’t get the deposit back then you can bet that you will be responsible for the cleaning that had to take place after you are gone. If you are selling your home then making sure it is clean to appeal to anyone being shown your home only makes sense. Over our many moves I have discovered a few really great tricks to make your home seem cleaner to others. If you only have a few hours for your move out cleaning then be sure to include these tricks.

Tricks to make the home seem cleaner

Clean the edges

Cleaning the edges of a room makes it look sharper and less dingy. Start at one edge, hopefully by a door. Sit on the floor with a dry scrubbing brush and a bucket of water and sponge. First use the brush on the edge of the carpet to push the fuzz and dirt that gets trapped there. Using a vacuum that cleans edges can help, but the results just aren’t as crisp. Next use the wet sponge to wipe down the floor boards or the bottom of the wall. Make sure that the paint is cleanable by testing a small section first. If you are working with walls that will be damaged by the water then just use a dusting cloth. When the area that you can reach is done then move over to a new section. Work all the way around the house until you are back at the place that you started. When you are done use your vacuum to pick up the gunk that was cleaned away from the walls. I have gotten my entire deposit back using this trick along with the most basic cleaning. Once even got a thank you note with it. This will take a few hours to do, but is worth it.

Bleach the sink

Smells are a powerful thing. When it smells cleaner then everything looks cleaner as well. This trick will not require a lot of work, so definitely do it. Just pour a capful of bleach onto all sinks, bathtubs, and even toilets with at least a gallon of water. Leave a few hours or overnight and then just before you are done with your cleaning just opens the drains. If bleach is just too strong for you to use then pick another cleaner with a fresh scent. If you do use a different cleaner then plan more soaking time. Your whole house should smell clean for a long time if no one starts stinking it up again.

Shine your sink

Making your sinks and other porcelain and metal fixtures should be among the last things that you do. Shiny tends to make people think clean. Use a soft cloth to rub baby oil into a nice shine. Luckily this is really easy to do after you have scrubbed off all of the grime that  it should only take a few minutes to a half an hour to do an entire house.

Fill the holes in your walls

If you have been renting your home and the lease stated that hanging objects that make holes in the walls is not OK, then try this trick. Rub white hard soap on white walls to visually fill in the holes. Do this carefully and sparingly so it won’t be too obvious.

Get rid of all trash

Not leaving anything behind would be a no brainier, but you would be surprised how often people just leave trash and other unwanted items behind. If at all possible take everything with you. Leaving anything behind is a sure way of annoying anyone that has to enter the home after you have left, like landlords or interested buyers. The home will also retain a fresh, clean smell longer if it is completely empty.

Take the time to do these extras and your home will be inviting and really feel clean to others.

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It seems that moving pods are all the rage for your move this year. I don’t know if I have moving pods and containers on the mind, because I have seen them in even the most unexpected places. I actually saw one parked behind an independent gas station recently. Of course they have been parked on my street lately in front of my neighbor’s houses. It is sad to see so many of the families move from my block, but fun to know that they are moving the easy way.

We have included a few quotes on this moving blog and are ready to start adding more. So be sure to check back to see what’s new.

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Who in the United States has not driven down the street and seen a U-Haul truck? In the summer they are everywhere. When it comes to moving truck rentals this company is the one most people think of first. I have used them for in city moves several times, but how about an out of state move?

Why use U-haul instead of the competition?

The biggest thing to consider is that U-haul is everywhere in the US and Canada, in fact there are over 15,000 locations. The company claims to have lower truck beds to make loading easier and I can attest to that as we have used a few other companies as well. According to the website “U-Haul has the newest and safest fleet in the industry.” 

This company also offers storage facilities and packing supplies. And if you don’t already know, the range of sizes of trucks you could rent is amazing. You could get a pickup truck or a 26 foot Super Mover and many sizes in between.

What I found extra interesting is that you can get one month free storage with a One-way truck or trailer rental, with paid reservations either before or after your move.

So, what’s the quote?

I will use the same destination and origin as the other quotes so that the numbers can be compared more accurately. Although these prices are also dependent on other factors, and as I have stated before they are not guaranteed. Your quote will be different. I am just giving numbers to help you get an Idea of what you are looking at.

My date of move will be one month from today, February 27^th, 2008. From Mesa, AZ to Port Angeles, WA.

The basic estimate is very easy to get right there on the website. For a 17 foot truck that should hold 2 to 3 bedrooms or an 849 cubic foot capacity would cost $1,294.00 for 6 days of use with 1638 miles included. Amazingly for this distance the miles included might just be enough, but if it isn’t then expect an additional cost per mile. I also know from the past that you will be offered insurance and other extras that will make the cost go up.

And don’t forget that gas is not included. This truck should get 10 miles to the gallon. Just for the fun of it, let’s do the math on that also. So let’s assume that you can get an average of $3.01 a gallon of gas throe out your trip. With the fluctuation of gas prices this might be high or low, it’s hard to tell. For 1640 miles gas would cost around $493.64.

What is the conclusion to all this?

You can reserve your truck right there on the website easily, with options of adding extra moving supplies, equipment, and even movers to help you either pack or unpack. You would need to drive the truck yourself and with gas my estimate would be around $1787.64.

You are the only one to decide if a moving truck rental is right for you.

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You are going to be exhausting yourself with moving out preparations and the actual move itself.  You may be too tired to think of this simple moving tip to do before the day you move in. Do it, and you save yourself a ton of grief; forget, and you will not be a happy mover.  

Now what is this mysterious thing that you must do to make your life easier?  Spray for bugs.

If you are moving to an area that cockroaches are a problem, then get ahead of them. For the United States cockroaches are the biggest problem in the warmer areas, with the worst infestation in the most southern parts of the country from Florida to California. That being said, very few places in the world are completely safe from roaches. I’ve heard of infestations in New York and even Anchorage.

Spray a newly built house.

Just think about it. All of those naturally occurring bugs that were there before the house was built never left, and they are looking for a new place to live.

Don’t forget to spray if your previous home had even the smallest roach problem

If you are moving from a place that these nasty little bugs live, then don’t forget to spray before you move in. If you can’t do it before hand, try to do it right away after you move in. And then spray again 2 weeks after you have finished moving in. I would also spray about a month after that just for good measure. If you had even the smallest problem with cockroaches before, then they are most likely going to move with you in your furniture. So get rid of them before they make themselves comfortable in you new digs.

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This is a do it yourself moving company, so the packing is up to you. Don’t forget that you could hire a crew for that part too if you need to. You can either use an ABF truck that can hold a house worth of stuff or you can use a Relocube that is ideal for an apartment or dorm move. Storage is also available for a Relocube for an additional cost. There is a coverage map on the website to give you an idea whether or not this company is for you. This company also offers shipment that could fit on a pallet.

My quote is for February 21 which is one month from today. From Mesa, AZ to Port Angeles, WA. For three bedrooms plus.

To get a quote online you will need to not only enter your moving information, but also your name and e-mail address. You could also call the number right there on the home page instead. I opted to try to get the quote from the website and was given an option of receiving an instructional DVD. You just have to give a mailing address.

The quote came very fast right there on the U-pack homepage. I expected to have a problem because my destination is somewhat isolated. The quote is $3650.00 for 19 feet of space. There is an adjustment price per foot of plus or minus $131.00. It is stated that all estimates include gas and taxes. The estimated transit time is 6 days. This is the extent of what is given in an online quote. You can’t ask someone questions for more information, but at least it gives a basic idea of cost.

To further explain adjustment price per foot, the company states “You only pay for the space you use in our 28′ x 8′ x 9′ commercial trailer. Need less space? No problem. Just subtract $131 per foot from your 19′ quote, subject to a 5′ minimum. Need more? Just add $131 per foot…”

If I want to store my belongings because I am not ready to move them in yet it will cost $395 per trailer for each 30-day period.

What I liked about this estimate is the fact that I could get the most important details right away on their site. No waiting, and no talking to someone in a call center that is mostly concerned about getting a reservation or getting me off the phone quickly. This company also seems to be able to serve many places on the map.

The only thing that I don’t like about the quote is it is a bit pricey compared to PODS, but it could be worth it.

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