It’s that time of year again folks, people are starting to plan Spring Break vacays! While tropical locations are probably most popular, many spring breakers plan to head to cold-weather, powder-laden destinations for a little fun in the snow.
This infographic naming the five states with the most ski and snowboard mountains comes at a perfect time for vacationers, but it’s also good info for folks planning to move. How exciting to move to a location where a weekend skiing trip is a short drive away. Check it out!
Oh, and would you believe that the state of New York has 52 mountains to ski and snowboard?
If you’re like me, the idea of packing up a house feels overwhelming (especially one you’ve lived in for a long time). It undoubtedly means sifting through some drawers, cabinets and closets that you haven’t dealt with in a while.
Not so appealing.
Of course, you could just choose a moving service with packing and loading help and let an experienced crew come in and do everything for you—get it all packed up and worry about what you need and don’t need once you get moved into your new home. That’s definitely the easy way, but probably not a great approach if you’re also trying to save a little money.
When you consider that your U-Pack price is based on the amount of space your shipment occupies in the moving trailer (or the number of ReloCubes you use), it makes sense to only move what you intend to use at your new home. And that leads us to the subject of this post: Moving is a great time to donate items you no longer use.
To get you started, we’ve created a list of items you may consider donating, and some of the best places to donate:
Clothing that no longer fits or hasn’t been worn in over a year. Donation centers like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, community women’s shelters and community homeless shelters often need clothing.
Household items like kitchen utensils, dishes, sheets, blankets, towels, etc. Organizations like women’s shelters and homeless shelters often have a need for these types of items.
Toys. Crisis shelters for women and children, and homeless shelters will normally accept both new and used toys.
Non-perishables from the kitchen pantry. You can donate these to your local food closet or homeless shelter. After holiday seasons, many food closets end up bare, so can/boxed items are greatly appreciated.
Electronics. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages you to add old computers and other electronics to your donation list. You can find a local program in your area like EcoSquid, Earth 911, Greener Gadgets, TechSoup and Call 2 Recycle.
Large furniture items like sofas, beds, tables, etc. Letting go of these large items will definitely reduce the size of your load! Typically the Salvation Army and Goodwill will accept these large items—and in most cases will come to your location to pick them up.
If you’re having difficulty finding organizations in your area to accept your donations, check with your local United Way or websites like donationtown.com. There are also nonprofit internet-based groups like Freecycle and FreeShare that will accept most household goods. And one last tip, don’t forget to ask for a receipt for tax purposes—most donations can be used as a deduction.
In an ideal world, if we were moving to another state we would know exactly when and where we’re moving at least 6-8 weeks before the big day. Early on we would start researching moving companies, getting quotes, scheduling the move, gathering packing supplies and packing up rooms one-by-one. Ahhh…sounds simple, doesn’t it?
But we know that doesn’t always happen. It’s not unusual to get one (or five) calls a day from customers in a pickle: They’ve just been told their job will require moving to another state, and they’ll need to report there in one week; the truck they’ve already reserved with a moving company is no longer available, and now they need to find another company to move them; someone made an offer on their house—great news—but now they have to be out in three weeks.
Yikes! Most traditional moving companies require 4 to 6 weeks notice. And, panic ensues.
But it doesn’t have to.
The solution for a quick-notice move to another state
U-Pack is a great solution; known for being flexible and doing what it takes to get the job done.
Of course, it’s best to reserve your move with as much notice as possible, simply because equipment, drivers, and delivery appointment times are always based on availability. But if you’re in a situation where you need to move to another state on quick notice, call 800-413-4799 and U-Pack will almost always find a way to help.
U-Pack’s transportation provider, ABF Freight System, Inc., offers one of the most efficient transportation systems in the industry; that means faster transit times—an added bonus when you’re trying to get moved in quickly. Where many full-service moving companies can take 15 + days for delivery, U-Pack transit times average 2-5 business days. And, if you need to speed up delivery, or know the exact day your shipment will arrive, you can choose U-Pack Guaranteed. When you choose this option for moving to another state, you’re guaranteed 100% customer satisfaction. What does that mean? If your shipment fails to arrive on the guaranteed day, U-Pack can reduce your charges by up to 100%! Customers who need to move on quick notice often choose this option. Just ask your U-Pack representative about guaranteed transit when you call.
If you’re in a situation where you need to move to another state on quick notice, simply give us a call at 800-413-4799. We’ll be happy to provide a moving quote and help you get going in the right direction!
Go Ahead, Compare Truck Rental Rates to U-Pack… (We’re certain you’ll like what you find when you do!)
If you’re making a long distance or cross-country move, I strongly encourage you to do some research before you land on a specific moving truck rental company (likely that’s exactly what you’re doing since you’re visiting the blog). While truck rental services and U-Pack differ slightly (because you don’t drive the moving truck with U-Pack), they’re still in the same self-moving category. And they both offer low-cost moving solutions. The difference is, U-Pack is the easier, more convenient solution. Here’s why:
The top reasons U-Pack beats truck rental rates almost every time:
While truck rental companies like U-haul and Penske offer “unbeatable prices,” keep in mind that their truck rental rates rarely include the soft costs of moving; including fuel, insurance, taxes and road tolls (not to mention hotel stays and food along the way). It’s good to know that there are no additional soft costs with U-Pack. All taxes, tolls, fuel and the driver are included in your price.
If you choose U-Pack for your do-it-yourself move (particularly if you’re moving long distance) you’ll see you get a lot more bang for your buck. U-Pack prices are already comparable to other truck rental rates, but you get the added bonus of professional ABF drivers moving your belongings from point A to point B. Really, who wants to drive a large, unfamiliar rental truck long distance—especially if the rates are comparable?
Did you know that most rental truck companies recommend staying under 55 mph—even if you’re driving on interstates where the traffic around you is going 70-75 + mph? If you’re moving cross-country, that can add days onto your move, which in turn adds more meal tickets and overnight hotel stays. That translates to more costs being added to your overall truck rental rate. U-Pack transit times average 2-5 business days. You get to drive in your own vehicle at your own pace; a time and money saver.
With U-Pack, you pay only for the space you use on the moving trailer or the number of ReloCubes you use. How does that benefit you? If there is room left over, you aren’t stuck paying for space you didn’t need or use. When you choose other truck rental companies, you pay for the space whether you use it or not. If you run out of room, you’re left to decide whether to leave it behind or pay additional fees to have it shipped another way.
We think U-Pack does moving better at a price that makes sense. What do you think? Getting a free moving quote is easy. Call one of our helpful moving coordinators at 800-413-4799 or simply complete the quote form on the right sidebar. Then, compare your U-Pack service offerings and rates to truck rental rates and see what best fits your needs.
If you’re moving to the West Coast—specifically Oregon, Washington or California, you may be pleased to know that you’re moving to areas where you have first-hand access to some of the tastiest wine in the country. According to Food & Wine Magazine the West Coast is the home to the top vineyards in the U.S. And when you consider that wine grapes need at least 1,400 hours of annual sunlight during the growing season to ripen properly, it makes sense that this portion of the country would be optimal.
This West Coast Wineries infographic, just released in the U-Pack Press Room, depicts some of these locations (and never mind that they’re beautiful too).
If you haven’t had a chance to visit upack.com yet, you may not have noticed that we have a great deal of informative moving videos available that were designed to help with your move. You can find out more about U-Pack, get moving tips, and even see what hilariously funny Ed Sanders from ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has to say about moving.
It’s Flashback Friday! Each week we revisit a blog topic that our readers find helpful. Today’s flashback: Moving Across Country Cheap. This post shows how you can move across country on a limited budget—with the convenience of getting to drive your own vehicle. Happy Friday!
Have you gotten a U-Pack moving quote yet? If you're searching for ways to move across the country cheap, it's a great solution.
Here's how it works:
ABF (U-Pack's transportation provider) delivers a moving trailer or moving container right to your door.
You load.
ABF picks it up and drives it to your new home.
You unload.
It's that easy. And the prices are worth bragging about. They compare to truck rental, but ABF does all the driving!
If you select a moving trailer, the cost is based on the amount of linear footage you shipment occupies (rather than weight) — and you pay only for the space you use. We'll provide a secure dividing wall to install after you finish loading that separates your goods from any boxed, packaged or palletized commercial goods on the trailer (there's only one household goods shipment per trailer). Customers love the flexibility of only paying for the space they use!
If you use a ReloCube, your price is based on the number of Cubes you use— regardless of how many you reserve. That means if you think you'll need four, but end up fitting everything into three, you only pay for three. Like with the trailer, ReloCube customers love not being penalized for renting more than they need.
How Does U-Pack Move You Across the Country so Cheap? Good question – we get it a lot. Here's the short answer: ABF offers one of the most efficient linehaul transportation systems in the industry. Through a carefully planned system of terminals throughout the U.S., we're able to transport goods all across the country swiftly and with one of the lowest claim ratios in the industry. Transporting goods this way lowers cost, and in return, we pass on the cost savings to our customers.
If you have questions about moving cross country cheap with U-Pack, let us know! You can call us at 800-413-4799 or simply request an instant moving quote by entering your move information online. Good luck on your move!
Moving cubes, what a great idea! That’s exactly what U-Pack thought when we designed the ReloCube®, a 6’ x 7’ x 8’ portable moving and storage container that sits flat on the ground.
What makes it even more perfect is that you can rent as many as you think you’ll need, and pay only for what you actually use. That’s right. Let’s say you’re moving a one-bedroom apartment and you’ve got a lot of stuff. You’ve completed every space estimator you can find and you really think you need three moving cubes. ABF drops three cubes off at your apartment, you start loading. Half-way through, you decide you don’t want the raggedy old couch and matching chair, or the five boxes of clothes you don’t wear anymore—donate. Now it looks like you can fit everything into TWO cubes! When the ABF driver comes to pick up the cubes, you simply tell the driver you only used two (and he will notate it on the Bill of Lading by writing in the cube numbers). When it’s billed, you’re only charged for two! Customer’s love the flexibility.
So, if you’re moving a larger home, a small apartment or you need to safely ship items like motorcycles, U-Pack has you covered.
The Moving Cube’s Construction The ReloCube is a custom-built, weatherproof container. It’s equipped with logistics tracking for tie rings to secure your items in place. It sits flat on the ground for convenient loading and unloading, and fits easily into a standard-size parking space. Just place your own padlock on the Cube for added security and you’re ready to go. They can be used for moving, storage or both.
Reserving a Moving Cube It’s easy. Once you get a free moving quote, you can reserve online or by phone—800-413-4799. No down payment or deposit is required!
Since 1790 the U.S. census has been tracking the mean center of the U.S. population. According to this infographic, titled How Moving Companies are Changing the U.S. Landscape, at first count it was 23 miles east of Baltimore, but over the years it has moved steadily west, and more recently south. I’m certain I would have never guessed the current population center (as of the 2010 census). Plato, Missouri — an incorporated village in Texas County, Missouri with a population of only around 2,000.
The infographic also depicts the “30 Best Cities for Starting Over,” the “Top 10 cities in the U.S. by Population,” and “The Most Common State-to-State Moves.” It’s definitely worth checking out.
If you’re on Twitter and you’re U.S. military family, there are some fantastic resources at your fingertips. Because U-Pack is involved in so many PCS moves, we try to stay on top of the leading military resources. Check out our list of the 15 Military Tweeters You Should Be Following—I think you’ll find some of the best. @ABFUPackMoving follows all of them, and we think you should too!
@Militarymommy01 I’m not sure where she finds all of these great deals, but there’s no doubt the folks following her love them!
@MilAve_Leanne If you’re passionate about supporting the military, you’ll enjoy these tweets.
@MilitaryAvenue Great support for the American military family – information on relocation, travel and lifestyle.
@Armywives101 She shares awesome deals and provides great support for military wives.
@Mildutystations These tweets offer a wealth of information. From recipes to relocation to travel—you’ll love it!
@MyMission2Save If you’re a bargain shopper (and who isn’t these days), you definitely want to follow these tweets. Great place to find deals at the military px and bx, commissary deals and more!
@troopswap This is where you’ll find a ton of awesome exclusively military deals.
@ArmyWifeNetwork If you’re looking for a great resource for connecting with other military spouses or getting support through blogs, podcasts and columns, you’ll find it here.
@FrugalNavyWife The Frugal Navy Wife knows how to save. You’ll get several tweets a day with some great, too-good-to-pass-up deals.
@spouseBUZZ They are very active tweeters at @spouseBUZZ. You’ll love all of the great info they share. Definitely worth following.
@marriedtoarmy There’s absolutely a reason they made our top 15 list—you’ll find very active tweeters who are fantastic at interacting with their followers. If you need questions answered about a new duty station—follow @marriedtoarmy.
@OpWeAreHere They are all about supporting the military family at @OpWeAreHere. You’ll find more helpful resources than you can imagine—and lots of opportunities for free stuff.
@FrugalArmyWife Another fabulous place to find tons of deals. It seems like the tweets some kind of deal literally every two hours. Love that!
@ChristianMWs This is a Bible-based organization that is designed to provide support to military wives and their families. If you’re looking for support, you’ll positively find it here.
@MilitaryChild If you’re a military family with children, www.militarychild.org is a great resource. It’s designed to support the children of men and women serving in the armed forces.
Any other Tweets you think we should be following? We would love for you to share!
