What's the hardest thing about moving across the country? Besides figuring out how to keep your plants alive and remembering where you packed the bottle opener (keep it in your purse – you'll thank me later).
Some might say that packing sends them into a frenzy, or maybe it's figuring out the logistics – apartment hunting from 2,000 miles away is kind of a pain. But for me, the hardest part is always the first step: getting quotes from movers.
In-home estimates kind of make me nervous (partly because I watch too much Lifetime) but mostly because I'm not sure what the protocol is. Should I clean up first? I feel that the estimator will get a better sense of my kitchen if the dishes are piled up in the sink rather than tucked away inside cabinets.
I found that the best way is just to call the company directly. I thought I could save time with an o... Read More
I have officially been living in Chicago for two weeks. A few U-Pack boxes still decorate my apartment, but for the most part I'm settled and adjusting to the winter weather. I've reconnected with a lot of family and friends and had a chance to fill them in on my road trip out here. The drive out to California was a bit of a whirlwind - we drove straight through without stopping - but this time we made sure to stop. The convenience of not traveling with a truck-load of stuff provided me and my mom with the freedom to take the scenic route and stop whenever (and wherever) our hearts desired.
Leaving Los Angeles was tough. Not only did I have to say goodbye to friends, but we left right after the Santa Ana windstorm. While the winds may have left LA, they were still causing a ruckus outside of the city. For a while it was impossible to get above 60mph as I drove ... Read More
If you’re looking to move someplace that is hospitable to cyclists, there are a few bike-friendly cities in the U.S. you could consider. The best cities for cyclists will have bike trails, reasonable weather, and a large cyclist community. Bicycle parking and fitness gear accommodations are also a bonus for storing bike gear. Read on to learn more about the best cities for cycling.
Boulder, Colorado The city of Boulder offers many biking trails in and around the area, but its majestic scenery makes the cycling experience all the more enjoyable. The summer weather is fairly warm and sunny. You can visit Boulder Indoor Cycling when the weather is too chilly for riding! Join the Boulder Cycling Club if you want to learn more about events in the area and be part of the city’s leisurely cycling community. You can also join one of the city’s many competitive cycl... Read More
Follow Jennifer's 3-part blog series as she describes her cross country moving experience with U-Pack!
Four months ago I did something kind of crazy: I quit my full-time job to pursue a lucrative career as a freelance writer. Why did I quit my full-time job with benefits in a beach-front office at a promising tech startup? Because I fell out of love with Los Angeles.
Two years (and one month) ago, I left my home in Chicago and accepted a full-time job with a company in LA. It was hard to leave, but the opportunity simply was too good to pass up. And who couldn't use an excuse to escape the brutal Chicago winter? But as time went on, I started missing my family, my friends, and even the seasons (Christmas lights wrapped around a palm tree just isn't the same).
When I left the company I came out here for, I hoped to build enough of a life for my... Read More
OK, so maybe these aren't quite in your budget; they're still great fun to look at! I have to admit, my first though when I saw the square footage of Carmello Anthony's home was, "how in the world would I keep a home that large clean?" I have a feeling he figured it out.
Here is the shortened version of the Yahoo! list:
Michael Jackson's 17,171-square-foot estate is listed at $29,995,000.
Ricky Martin's Golden Beach, Florida home is on the market for ju... Read More
It's football season. Know how I know? The DVR is full, my husband is glued to both his laptop and the television, and most nights of the week include much more aggressive jumping and yelling that you would have seen last month, or the month before. Of course, my husband is the manager of an NFL team…kind of. Fantasy Football is alive and well at our house.
Which brings me to this: I have a feeling we aren't the only ones who'll be donning jerseys several nights of the week to cheer on our favorite college and NFL teams (Go Hogs! Go Cowboys!). If you're a lover of all-things-football, I think you'll find this infographic, just released in the U-Pack press room, very interesting. It's a list of the Top 5 NFL Stadiums in the U.S.&nbs... Read More
It's Flashback Friday— each week, U-Pack will revisit a blog topic that's been helpful and fun for our readers. Be sure to check the comments section of each post for even more valuable moving advice!
While moving on isn't always a bad thing, change is rarely easy. If it was, poets, authors and musicians wouldn't have so much inspiring material, would they? In the moving business, we talk to people daily whose move across country is tied directly to a life-changing event. Some folks are moving on thanks to happy events, and some due to not-so-happy circumstances. Considering the number of people who find themselves in the "moving on" position in life, we thought you might be interested in some great quotes designed to help get you through. Some are positive, some funny, some intellectual and some are... Read More
Right before the summer of 2008, when gas prices started to get out of control, people began throwing around the word "staycation". Instead of going on big, expensive vacations, families stayed at home to relax and take in day trips to area attractions. What a great idea! Basically, a vacation without traveling expenses.
For folks in the middle of a long-distance move, I imagine the idea of a staycation is very appealing. What better way to get to know your new city— not to mention save money after the expense of a move. And since U-Pack Moving does the driving, you're free to drive your own vehicle and have a little fun (and hopefully relaxation) along the way. Here are some great ideas of things you can do to relax an... Read More
These days, channels like "DIY" and "HGTV" offer lots of TV programs that teach you how to flip a house, make quick fixes to sell your home in a month, and even decorate your new place like a celebrity on a modest budget. With all of that activity, who has time for a regular old sitcom?
Here's something that might surprise you— I've found several moving tips and tricks from the popular TV show "FRIENDS" that can help you through a cross country move. Who knew? Despite endless teasing from my friends and coworkers, this die-hard fan decided it was time to share "What I've Learned about Moving from FRIENDS". Check out these wise quotes and apply the hidden lessons to make yo... Read More
It's Flashback Friday— each week, U-Pack will revisit a blog topic that's been helpful and fun for our readers. Be sure to check the comments section of each post for even more valuable moving advice!
Since this post was originally introduced, we've received lots of suggestions for additions to the list of moving away songs (just check out the comments). If you could contribute to another list of songs about moving away, what tunes would you include?
Do you have a friend who's moving away? You'll definitely need music for the going away party. We realize it can be a sad time, but you don't want every song to be a tearjerker. Think about all the good times you've had together, and let your fr... Read More
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The Best Tweets in Life are Free
If we haven't said it lately, it's definitely worth mentioning again: U-Pack customers are the best! Through participating in popular social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, U-Pack is able to gather valuable feedback from past, present, and future customers. To show our thanks, we're featuring some of the best tweets about U-Pack from Twitter. Check them out:
KristelAce: Booked our 'Relocube' today. It was half the cost of a pod! One step closer to the #Denver move.
abouse: Here is what you need to know - @ABFUPackMoving has AMAZING customer service. If you ever move, use them!
Texas music— a song for practically every city! Though it didn't include any Texas music, you've already seen us post a list of the best moving away songs. Upbeat tunes can really get you going, and I think it's essential to keeping the energy up during a stressful move. So if you're moving to Texas, naturally you'll need some true-blue Texas music to prepare for your new surroundings. (This may seem obvious, but ’Texas music' typically refers to country/western or ’outlaw country' styles, although the ’Texas Red Dirt' genre is quickly gaining popularity.) Here are just a few tracks to get you started:
Practically everybody has heard of a place or two with a bizarre name; but not everyone has heard of the extremely odd town names on U-Pack's newest list. (Just remember that if you decide you would like to live in any of these places, ABF U-Pack is the perfect moving company for the job!)
Strange city names that you'll have to see to believe Without further ado, here's the official U-Pack list of odd town names (in no particular order):
If there's a celebrity moving to a new home, chances are it's going to make headlines. Just ask Jesse James— thanks to his public split with Sandra Bullock, it was big news when the media found out he was moving to Texas. While moving isn't that high-profile for most of us, it's still stressful. Take a look at the following celebrity moving examples so far in 2010:
Reality star Kendra Wilkinson moved to Philadelphia so her husband, NFL player Hank Baskett, could prepare for his new season with the Eagles.
News broke in early August that golf legend ... Read More
If you're moving and want to tell everyone your new address, save a stamp (hey, every cent counts when you're on a moving budget). Send moving announcements via email.
There's a great selection of free moving announcements to choose from - whether you need a card that says, "We're moving", "I'm moving", or even a pleading invite to a packing party, you're covered.
Your concern may be similar to what mine might be - giving out friend's and family's email addresses is kind of considered a no-no. Who wants to subject their loved ones to a bombardment of unsolicited emails? Not me. The good news is that U-Pack practices permission marketing. That means we... Read More
Great Housewarming Gifts to Warm the Heart – and Your Home! Are you trying to select a housewarming gift for a friend or acquaintance that is moving? You can always give the standard gift card or kitchen appliance, but it means more if you put some thought into it. Think about the people you're buying for. Do they love the outdoors? Are they environmentalists at heart? Do they love to cook – or just love to eat? Here are some personalized housewarming gift ideas for the new homeowners in your life:
• Fun Apron + Grill Accessories • Customized Coasters • Window box herb garden • DIY Book for the ’less than handy' man in your life • Enroll your food-lover friends in a wine of the month club or a monthly fruit delivery • Indoor compost bin... Read More
If you're moving with kids and moving with U-Pack, you'll be able to drive your own car and have some fun along the way! I know a lot of vehicles are equipped with entertainment systems and DVD players these days…but take your kids on a trip down memory lane – sing some good road trip songs and play the old school road trip games. Here are a few suggestions – feel free to comment and add to the list!
Road Trip Games I Spy – Since you're riding in a car and the things you have to spy are limited, this might be a short game. But it's great for holding a preschooler's attention. The person who is "It" says, "I spy with my little eyes something blue." Then, the person who guesses correctly goes next.
You're moving. Almost everyone knows you are moving to a new city, but more than likely you haven't had a chance to tell them your actual new address. Besides formally changing your address at the Post Office, you probably want to tell your friends and family both near and far what your new address will be.
Did you know U-Pack has a solution for this too?
We have some nifty moving e-cards that you can send to as many people as you want free of charge. You can pick out the card and add a personalized message. There are some really neat ones to choose from. There are even invitations to invite friends over for a moving party (well, you can always try). It only takes a minute or two and Voila! everyone knows your new address (or when ... Read More
You just have to prove that you are a master packer and get the highest score on our U-Pack-A-Cube game!
Oh, you've never played it? Well go give it a shot.
I know it sounds silly, but it really is rather addicting. And since it only takes 60 seconds, there is absolutely no commitment involved. My highest score so far is 210, and I was pretty proud of that until one of my coworkers posted a score of 225! I obviously can't win the prize, but it's still entertaining.
If you are not moving, you could also opt for a $100 American Express gift card if you win. That is better than Cash!!! One tip though: don't pack the cat…
The decisions that cause people to move usually involve family matters or career changes. While this can be an exciting time, it can also be hard to leave your friends behind. But you're too busy to have a going away party, right? Between sorting, packing, and cleaning your schedule is booked solid.
So, why not have a packing party instead? Friends love to help out, and you can laugh and reminisce as you work. You don't even have to mail invitations! Just send one of the free moving announcements... Read More
