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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In this challenging economy we are all looking for more affordable ways of doing everything. Using a moving pod instead of paying full service movers is going to save you a bundle, but how do you get your stuff into the moving pod?

Will Work for Doughnuts

Most everyone has friends and family that will understand that you need help. If moving cheap is really a necessity for you then, it’s time to swallow your pride and ask. Don’t forget to provide doughnuts or pizza to your helpers.

If you don’t have people in your life that will happily help you then it would still be cheaper to hire some neighborhood kids to do the heavy lifting.

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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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The news is so full of doom and gloom lately because of the down economy. Jobs have been and are going to be lost for many. Homes are going into foreclosure and you might be one of the many Americans that need to downsize. There is so much unhelpful drama being spouted by the media out there, you might want to curl up into a helpless ball.

I am not a doomsdayer, but sometimes we all just need to look at the facts for a minute before moving onward with what needs to be done.

I have personally been in this place before in 2001. We had job loss that lasted for six months. No one was hiring. The reason I share this is because I have developed a philosophy about these things that I want to share. Sharing this on a moving pod site may or may not be appropriate but here I go just in case it could help someone.

Change happens; sometimes it is out of your control. Some change is going to make your life harder, while other change will make your life easier. When things change that makes your life more difficult it is your job to first; figure out how to survive it, then to work hard to change things so your life will be easier again. Think about this, there are self made multi millionaires out there that were at one time broke, bankrupt, and some were even homeless. Anyone can pick themselves up and start over.

If you find yourself having to make an emergency move or any other type of move then check out these posts on this moving pod site.

Make a house cleaning checklist for your move

Another House cleaning list for your move

Are you in need of moving boxes?

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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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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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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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Are you in a big hurry to move? There can be many reasons you find yourself in this predicament. Or maybe you would rather pay someone else to do the heavy lifting, and walking back and forth for you.

If you are using a moving pod or a rental truck or simply have a lot of stuff to move then looking into hiring other people to do the lifting and carrying for you could save a lot of time and strain.

I found movers that will move your stuff info your pod or truck for you. This is a large company that can send people to you no matter where you are. They will even pack for you if you supply the packing materials. You can schedule them for loading or unloading or both if you are only moving within 50 miles. I would think that you could schedule a loading and then an unloading separately if you are moving a long distance. They can also help you with your overseas move. My favorite part about this moving company is that they have pre-priced packages right there on the order service page. If you are looking for this type of service then check them out.

Moving labor Professionals

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