Thursday, January 31, 2013

How Reliable Is 1-800-PACKRAT?

While using a moving company like 1-800-PACK-RAT appears to be the best solution when it comes to quickly and easily completing the process of moving from one home to another, there are a few things you need to be aware of regarding such companies. 1-800-PACK-RAT certainly has plenty of plus points: All-weather steel containers, secure and dry warehouses and a positive reputation in the industry. However, this company shares the same secrets as the rest of the industry and they are not going to reveal them to customers who may think twice about using their services if they knew.

Complaints are Futile
In fact, complaints are also frequent since moving and storage companies are ranked in the top 20 most troublesome businesses according to the Better Business Bureau. Interstate movers are not well regulated as the Department of Transport is more concerned with traffic problems than moving companies. In the event of a dispute, you'll need the help of a third party but don't expect to get compensation of more than $1,000. We're not saying that 1-800-PACK-RAT gets more complaints than its rivals (it does have a good reputation), but quite a few customers have complained about their service.

Late Delivery
This is another problem with 1-800-PACK-RAT and all other moving companies since customers generally have to share space with others. After signing the agreement, a consumer will agree on a delivery date. There are legitimate reasons for late delivery such as bad traffic or inclement weather. However, it is often the case where customer B loses out because their stuff was loaded first on a truck with customer A that happens to live 500 miles away. So the moving company makes the first delivery and you have to wait. Worse still, you now have to rearrange your schedule around that of the moving company and if you don't, it can tack on extra storage costs.

Varying Estimates
Interstate trucking was regulated up until 1980 and back then, moving costs were roughly the same across the board. Now, you could have one moving company charge double what a rival costs for the same trip! This can even happen within the confines of one moving company. For example, 1-800-PACK-RAT has over 60 offices nationwide and do not have a universal pricing chart that we know of.

Nasty Disputes
Again, we are not necessarily pointing the finger at 1-800-PACK-RAT but customers often find that a moving company can renege on its original price promise. If you have a problem with that, they'll just hold on to your possessions until you pay. There have been plenty of horror stories about customers agreeing quotes in the $600 region only to be told that they have to pay an extra $1,000 or else they wouldn't get their goods back. To get your money back in such an instance, you'll need to take the moving company to court in what could be a long and stressful experience.

Moving companies like 1-800-PACK-RAT offer an easier way to move your possessions from A to B, especially when 'B' is halfway across the country. However, bad behavior is rampant in the industry so you need to perform plenty of research to ensure that your favored company is reliable and has a good reputation. In most instances, 1-800-PACK-RAT fits the bill but since the standard of service can vary from one branch to the next, reading customer reviews is essential.

Use a Packrat promo code to save 5% off moving and storage fees.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

1-800-PACK-RAT Review and Coupon Code

1-800-PACK-RAT is a moving and portable storage company originally founded in North Carolina in 2001 though its headquarters are now in Bethesda, Maryland. It makes the rather bold claim that it serves over 115 million people in America, a figure that may well be slightly exaggerated. What isn't in question however is the company's impact in the portable storage and moving industry. 1-800-PACK-RAT really took off from 2003 where the company could only be found in 3 locations nationwide to 2005 when this figure rose to 50 locations.

Containers
The very first PACK-RAT container was all-steel and completely waterproof while it got its name because of its sheer size and ability to store absolutely everything a home contains. The 12 foot container is the equivalent of a 10x10 foot storage facility container while the larger 16 foot container is around 15x10 feet in size and is said to have the capacity to fit 3-4 room's worth of possessions.

While the original containers were popular with customers, a few flaws were uncovered and the company made the requisite adjustments. First and foremost, each container has steel frames, walls and doors. Each door has a sturdy lock while metal skids ensure that there is 6 inches worth of clearance to keep your goods dry. The special metal construction also stops moisture from being absorbed into the container and prevents mold from forming. 1-800-PACK-RAT also have a special delivery system where they use a loading mechanism to keep the unit level as it is being lifted up and delivered. This greatly reduces the chances of goods being damaged.

Security
The aforementioned solid steel doors and locks serve as a deterrent to potential thieves. You are given the keys to the container and no one else is given access regardless of whether it is on your property or in the secure PACK-RAT facility.

Protection
The company clearly states that it is not responsible for any damage done to your property but it does offer two customer protection packages. The Basic Plan covers damage caused to the container while it is in your possession. If you want to protect your goods, you will need to purchase the Silver Plan which offers up to $75,000 worth of insurance while your possessions are stored in the container. This plan covers damage or loss caused by theft, vandalism, smoke, fire, wind, hail, lightning, falling objects and other events.

Overall
1-800-PACK-RAT enjoys a very good reputation in the industry. It offers good protection for your possessions, appears to genuinely care about customer service. It's a shame that you have to pay extra for added protection but this is no different to the terms and conditions employed by most other moving and portable storage companies.

Use Packrat coupon code V0111P2 to save 5% off storage and moving fees.

Friday, January 25, 2013

5 Reasons Why Using PODS Makes Sense

If you’re one of the millions of Americans that moves multiple times during the course of your lifetime, PODS is a great choice. It’s a known fact that relocation is one of the most stressful events in anyone’s life. You could try a DIY move or you could use the services of a professional moving and storage company. In fact, we have 5 reasons why you should spend money on a moving company rather than doing it yourself and cutting corners.

Pods Price
Most people automatically assume that PODS is more expensive than DIY but this may not be the case. It is true that you will have to pay a certain rate to cover the wages of the movers, fuel, insurance and use of their truck and storage containers. Yet when you do it yourself, you still need to hire a truck and drive it yourself and you will need to come up with safety devices to keep your goods safe. Not only that, you could injure yourself and the resulting medical bills could be substantial. While a professional company will cost more per hour, the move will be finished quicker and there is likely to be little difference in the overall price.

Speed
A reputable company will be staffed with big, burly individuals who are inured to carrying heavy things. You can bet that the company will also have a special system which allows them to safely and effectively move your goods. In contrast, you will probably need the help of friends and family if you are looking to shift heavy items like a fridge or cooker. You won’t have much of a system and the whole thing is likely to end in chaos.

Safety
We are referring to the safety of your possessions. Those who refuse to use PODS do so because they don’t believe their items will be safe. Yet professional companies offer insurance and besides, they load your goods in the safest possible manner by ensuring certain items are packed together while others are kept apart. You probably have no idea how to pack your goods and if you break them, you pay for them.

Equipment
PODS will have a heavy duty truck and a lift-gate to ensure your possessions are smoothly loaded on to the truck. They will probably have ropes and belts to tightly pack your items and prevent them from breaking. Since you are cutting costs by not using a PODS, you will probably buy a truck that is too small for the job and cause damage to your possessions by packing them too tight. You then take the wheel of a truck that is either too big or too heavy for you to handle safely and this is when accidents happen.

Acclimatization
When you use a PODS, you save time and energy which is most useful since you still have to unpack everything once the company has dropped your possessions off. When you try and move everything yourself, it could take several days to recover. Instead of going through the stress of trying to perform DIY move, just let the experts handle things. The beauty of PODS is that if you have too many items to pack into your new home, you can use their storage facility to keep your goods safe until you’re ready to store them in your new property.

Tip: Use a Pods promo code to save 5% off the cost of storage or one-way moving.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Organizing in Bursts: A New Method for Organization



After cleaning and organizing for hours one can feel as if they just ran a marathon while taking a final exam. Mentally and physically we can feel our energy disappear as cleaning day passes. Afterwards we can find ourselves wondering how we didn't get more done while spending so much time and energy, and that our homes aren't as clean as we hoped they would be at the end of the day.

What I have learned after many years of dedicating just one day a week to cleaning, that doing short bursts of cleaning along the way made my life a whole lot easier. If you hate those long days of cleaning, maybe you should consider trying out my organization method. While I won't promise it will eliminate cleaning day, it can count down the things you have to get to on that day.

All you have to do is take 10 to 15 minutes everyday to organize. Do not cheat and count small chores that you planned on doing that day anyways. You can either dedicate yourself to one area of your house or you can just do small things in different areas. Each day you will see a small part of your house getting more organized. By the end of the week you will notice a major difference. Even if you don't get to everything, you would have made a large dent.

If you are finding yourself still not getting everything organized after small bursts of cleaning and dedicating yourself to a cleaning day, maybe it is time for you to try a different style of organization. Organizing a small space can be a daunting task, and sometimes utilizing new techniques will help you not have such a mess. Even worse, if you have a big house you can avoid certain messes by just not going into certain rooms. Remember, denial isn't healthy! Try to find the motivation to try, even if it just 5 minutes a day. I know you can do it!

Happy cleaning!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Fat Kid to Vegetarian: Moving with Food

As a youth my parents moved a lot (I would pick up the habit later), so I established some moving pet peeves pretty early on that I swore I would never do when I grew up. For example, I would never put everything to the last minute. I would never hire movers, I could do all the work myself for cheap. I would never move (or even purchase) junk that I didn't need.

Like most parts of swearing I would never be like my parents, it turned out I am doing the ever-so-predictable metamorphosis into becoming them. I have lots of junk, I've hired movers and gotten super stressed over moving.

There is ONE habit I have not picked up on. I will not move food. I always hated having to pack the food. Usually the cooler and plastic bags filled with groceries would be wedged with me in the back seat with me making me wonder why we brought all this with us. My parents did a fine job moving, here is a post explaining how you can safely move food. Despite know how, I still refuse.

Not moving with food doesn't mean I throw away stuff. It just means as soon as I know I'm going to move, I'll make one more grocery store run to best utilize all my condiment and extra ingredients. Usually I have sesame oil, soy sauce and rice vinegar laying around, so I get stir-fry ingredients. In addition I always have cans of tomato sauce, so I make many cans of pasta. The idea for the last grocery run is to try to use up every extra thing you have, so that you do not have to move it.

This usually works out great at first with plenty of full flavored meals, but by the end when the pantry is getting pretty scarce and my belt buckle is a little more tight I find myself craving food I don't already have. This is the temptation you must resist! Do not give into the temptation of buying more groceries or you will never consume that unwanted can of chick peas, black beans, etc. By the end, I'm usually on a vegetarian diet which is not something I aspire to, and can't wait till my first big meaty meal at the new place.

If I have any food left I usually try to give it to neighbors or friends, because I just do not want to move it. The only food good I have moved consistently and regularly are my spices which all fit in a couple of small boxes.

Do you guys move your food? I'd like to know!




Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Moving Insanity: Moving with a Baby 101

The first year of parenthood may be one of the most challenging human experiences. While babies look glamorous from a distance, we who have had them know the truth about these cute, stinky, vomiting and demanding little precious monsters. Your life becomes centered around the baby's every whim and need unless you are one of the fortunate who have family, friends or a sitter that will allow you to take a nap for a couple of hours. Even with that help, those short breaks are usually dedicated to much needed sleep, not actually getting much done. 

So when for some reason you need to move with a baby, it can be a bit tricky to say the least. If there is anytime you could afford to get a mover, now is the time. Obviously this is not an option for all of us, but you should at least do some pricing around to see if there is anyway that you can spring for it. 

With lack of sleep,time and no sanity to spare, moving is going to be very difficult with your baby. You are parent though, so we aren't confident that you'll be able to handle this. Here are some tips to help you get through the ordeal. 

1) Stay Calm. Babies can pick up on when adults are stressed. Moving is something that stresses about 99.9% of adults out, but try not to show it around the baby. 

2) Keep a schedule. We all know that babies are ticking little clocks when it comes to naps, feeding and the like. Try to build your moving schedule around the baby's regular schedule if at all possible. 

3) Get a sitter. While not strictly necessary, it can be infinitely helpful to have someone watch the baby while moving.

4) Don't wait to pack the baby stuff. You may be tempted to not pack some of the baby stuff till the very end. Think about it though, a lot of stuff can get packed pretty early on to get it out of the way. 

5) Start packing everything you can, as soon as you can. Anything that can be packed, should be packed as soon as possible. This tip is helpful for any move, but can especially come in handy when dealing with a baby and a move. 

6) Move a short-distance if at all possible. While most of us do not have a choice about how far or close we move, the shorter the distance the easier it will be on you at anytime. 

7) Find doctors, hospitals etc. If you are moving far or just to another town, make sure you know some of the hospitals and doctors in the area and on the route. This way, god forbid, any emergencies come up you will know exactly where you need to go or who you need to call. 

8) Bring baby supplies for long-distance moves. The worst part about long-distance moves with a baby is that you will be dealing with transportation via plane, car, hotels, etc with a baby. This is absolutely no fun. Take everything with you that you will need, and also take stuff you will need on arrival if possible. Moving companies can be late, and can leave us unfortunately unarmed for having a baby when we first arrive to our new homes. Include clothes, blankets, food, a safety-approved car seat, toys, bottles, pacifiers, formula, wipes, lotion, powder, cotton balls, first-aid kit, collapsible stroller, sling and anything else you use regularly.

9. On an airplane. Dealing with TSA with pre-pumped milk can be an issue. Know your rights. Bottled milk is an approved by TSA to get through security. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise If you plan on taking a plane, leave early to make sure if they try to give you any grief that you won't miss your flight.
Everyone dreads being on the plane with the crying baby. One thing you can do is attach a note to your baby-carrier explaining that you and the baby are doing everything that you can do to keep quiet. You may still get some scowls, but the note will make the person seem even more like a jerk than they already are.  

10. On the road. If you are moving a long-distance via car taking a lot of breaks along the way will help the baby keep calm. Fresh air will be great for you and the baby, and it gives you a chance to stretch your legs. 


Thursday, January 3, 2013

How Does uShip Work?

uShip is an online company based in Austin, Texas that promises to take the pain out of shipping. The company was founded in 2003 and purports to be a global online marketplace for shipping services. You simply post the items you need shipped on the site and companies will compete for your business. There are a wide range of categories to choose from including boat shipping, auto transport, heavy industrial equipment and home and office moving services. As shipping is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States alone, uShip have certainly chosen a profitable niche. Below, we look at how uShip operates and what you can expect once you register with the company.

Regardless of whether you are shipping goods for personal use or else you need the service for your business, it is a process that is potentially time consuming and expensive. Worst of all, there are thousands of providers to choose from and few that are reliable. We hear all sorts of horror stories relating to the shipping industry so even though it can be an inexpensive, reliable and convenient service, many businesses are frightened to avail of it for fear of goods being lost or damaged. Since its formation in 2003, uShip has worked hard to establish a reputation for being a trustworthy shipping company source.

Saving Time, Money & Energy!
The beauty of uShip is its simplicity. Once you register with the site, you are quickly connected with thousands of shipping companies that are already customer rated. Instead of taking a blind risk online, you actually get to read reviews about these companies from your fellow consumers and decide if their service is right for you. Best of all, the sheer volume of companies on offer means there is little that can’t be transported. You can move electrical equipment, vehicles, cranes and even animals!

In order to find the best company at the best price, you submit a free listing of what you need shipped on uShip. This ensures that your plea for assistance is heard by companies of all sizes ranging from independent truckers to giant freight organizations. These businesses proceed to bid for the right to ship your cargo. Due to the extremely high level of competition, the prices offered by providers will plummet and in some cases, customers receive a whopping 50% off what they would normally expect to pay. So a company that might normally charge $800 is likely to enter a bid of $400-$500, a significant saving.

After quotes have been offered, choose the best bid based on price, estimated delivery date, feedback score and general reviews from previous customers. You can then get in touch directly with the shipping company in order to complete the arrangement. The contact information you provide on uShip will only ever be seen by the winning bidder so you enjoy total privacy. After the shipment has been completed, you are invited to leave a feedback score and the service provider will do the same. You should be honest in your feedback so future consumers can benefit from your experience.

In the minefield that is shipping, uShip provides a timely and convenient service that really takes the stress out of shipping your goods. Rather than waste time manually looking for the best shipping company, go to uShip today and get the job completed in a fraction of the time.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

3 Apps that will Help you With Self Storage

Dealing with self storage is never as simple as it may seem. Thankfully there have been Apps that helped ease the process of storing our belongings. I'm still waiting for the invention of the robot that will do all my moving for me, but until then I found these Apps to be useful for self-storage. When used correctly these Apps can reduce some of the most stressful parts of any self storage experience. 

1. Storage Calculator (Free)

This is a tool that will help you estimate the size of storage unit that you will need. While most self-storage companies will be willing to help you estimate, they apparently have a business motivation to over-estimate.

All you do is enter all the items into your app that you will be storing. You can enter the quantity of different items under different spreadsheets. This part of the process can be daunting, but you'll be surprised how quickly you can get through it. I found it helpful to help me decide exactly what I was going to put in storage while I entered items. Once you have put in everything the phone will determine the size of all your items then let you know what size storage unit you need.

2. SmartStop (Free) 

Remembering all the stuff that is in my storage unit has always been a personal problem of mine, so I was delighted by learning about this new app. SmartStop is an App that assists you in creating a detail inventory of all the items you have in storage. 

A new feature actually provides you with QR codes that you can put on boxes. This options lets you scan the QR code to see what is exactly in a box. No more opening tons of boxes in storage to find that one item you need! 

3. MoveMatch (Free)

This App will provide you with free estimates of how much it will cost to store or move your goods. What you do is enter where you live and answer some simple questions. 

The App will then get you quotes from different moving and storage companies in your area. This helps you narrow down who to call to get a more detailed quote on storage.