Moving Guru Blog

What Are Moving Cubes?

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Devie Lin

Moving cubes are moving pods.  And moving pods are you-pack containers.  They’re all the same thing: containers to put your stuff in.  And they all have similar pricing and restrictions.

And, really, if we want to be real, they’re all actually LTL shipments.

LTL stands for less-than-truckload.  LTL shipments are shipments of items that do not take up an entire truck.  So, the truck carries multiple customers’ shipments at once, let’s say from Chicago to New York, rather than only one at a time. It’s more efficient for the service provider and cheaper for the customer.

About a decade ago, the moving industry caught on, taking advantage of lax licensing laws.  Companies like PODS and U-Pack began offering similar services, sparking a change in the moving lexicon (you-pack, moving pods… make sense now?).

Recently, ABF U-Pack unveiled its ReloCube, which is where moving cube comes from.

But, really, they’re all the same thing: containers that you pack your stuff in and that the company drives to your new home.

Get some moving pod quotes!

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Top 8 Tips for Finding Cheap Self Storage

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Devie Lin

Here are the top 8 tips for finding :

  1. Look Distant – The further from a central city or town, the cheaper rates will be.
  2. Avoid Climate Control – You might need climate-controlled self storage, but if you can avoid it, you can save up to $50 a month.
  3. Avoid Drive Up Access – Drive up access is more expensive, generally.
  4. Get a Higher Floor – A unit on the third floor will be cheaper than one on the first floor.
  5. Stay Small – Don’t get a storage unit that is too big for you.  It could cost you up to $50 extra a month, assuming you don’t really over-do it. Get one precisely for what you

    need.  Take measurements.

  6. Sell Your Stuff – The best way to save on storage is to sell the stuff you plan on storing.  I mean, do you really need it?  Really?  Because you’re about to store it…
  7. Pay Up Front – If you can pay for, say, a year’s lease up front, you might be able to get a deal, because it lowers the risk for the facility.
  8. Use Your Own Lock – If you are willing to lock your storage unit on your own, you might be able to find one for relatively cheap.  Be careful, though.  You don’t want to sacrifice safety for a few extra bucks.

 

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What Is a Mini Self Storage?

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Devie Lin

Mini self storage is not anything special.  It is simply a term that gets used to describe self storage… it’s a different name for

the same thing.

Self storage is an empty space that you can rent and use to store your stuff in.  If you want mini self storage, well, just get a small storage unit!

Storage units can be overpriced.  Use our storage cost calculator to determine what price is right for you.

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Find Cheap Mini Storage Units

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Devie Lin

Do you want storage unit that isn’t priced

like an apartment?  There are four basic steps to finding a :

  1. Be Willing to Drive – Storage facilities on the outskirts of town will charge lower prices than those in town.
  2. Be Willing to Walk – Drive up access is great, but the cheap storage units are often on the second floor or in the middle of the facility.
  3. Avoid Climate-Controlled Storage Units – Climate-controlled self storage is necessary if you need to store perishable items.  However, if you can avoid it, you can save up to $20 a month.
  4. Sell Your Stuff – The best way to save money on a storage unit is the avoid renting a storage unit.  If you can sell some large items, you might be able to get a smaller, cheaper unit.  Check here for the storage unit size you need.

Get free storage pricing estimates at Movingguru.com.

Learn more about mini storage units.

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How to Set Up a Garage Sale

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Devie Lin

Garage sales, also known as , are all about deception.  Are you not a deceiver?  Well here’s what to do…

In most cases, goods sold at a garage sale are past their prime, if they ever had a prime.  They’ve been used, abused, and are in many ways useless.  How do you sell stuff that no one wants? Deception, my friend, deception in the way you set up your garage sale.

Setting up a garage sale requires three basic levels of deception:

  • Make Your Stuff Look Decent – Take some time to clean up your stuff.  Wipe off the cobwebs and dust, iron clothes, and touch up chips in paint for more expensive items.
  • Use Real Set Ups – Don’t just toss all your stuff in a box and let people rummage it. Instead, group like items, and set them up like patrons might expect to use them.  Stack your records in neat rows; display your clothes on hangers; organize dinnerware on a dining table.
  • Employ Diversions – One of the best ways to make people feel ready to buy is to set up your garage sale with free stuff on hand.  Cookies, chips, coffee, lemonade, water bottles… They’ll all make patrons feel like they’ve already gotten a deal, so they’ll be more willing to throw $4 at your Spin Doctors cassette tape.

Check out this link for more .

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How to Find Cheap Moving Help

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Devie Lin

Moving companies

offer all the tools and help you need when moving.  However, they cost a pretty penny… err, many thousands of them.  So, what do you do if you need help moving, but your moving budget is more dollar menu than five-star restaurant?

Finding Cheap Moving Help:

  • Friends & Family – Getting your friends and family to help you move is the best way to save money.  Maybe you have to front a pack of beer, dinner or a returned favor, but their help should be very low cost.
  • Co-workers – Besides friends and family, co-workers are some of the best people to ask for help from.  They know you well, you know them well, and both of you know that you’ll see each other on Monday.
  • Online Classifieds – Online classifieds, like Craigslist and Taskrabbit, are great places to enlist moving help for a low price.  Usually you can find someone who can help you with one or two difficult things, then you can handle the rest on your own.
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What to Load into the Moving Truck First

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Devie Lin
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What to Pack First When Moving

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Devie Lin

You should pack certain

things before others to avoid problems on moving day.  Here is the order you should pack your stuff in:

Packing

  1. Unessentials – Pack and box stationary things like books, vases and dishes first.
  2. Electronics – You may want to use your electronics, so wait on packing them until the unessentials are in order.
  3. Essentials – Pack your toiletries, medications, and other vital items near the end.
  4. Perishables – Wait until the last minute to pack foods that could spoil.
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Getting the Most from Your Moving Company

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Devie Lin

Finding the best moving company is one thing.  Getting the most from that company is another.

Moving companies, like people, have complexities.  If you treat them poorly, they’ll treat you poorly.  If you ask them nicely for things, they’ll help you out.  If you let them take advantage of you, they probably will.

Getting the most from your moving company requires knowing how to handle your moving company.  Here are the basics:

  • Be Nice – If you want to ensure that your movers ensure that your $500 vase doesn’t shatter, being nice to them is a good first step.
  • Ask for Supplies – Your moving company will probably have free moving supplies on hand. You’ll also probably need to ask for them.
  • Move at a Cheap Time – Do yourself a favor and lower your moving costs by .  You’ll get the same service, but it’ll be less expensive.
  • Avoid Hidden Charges – Get your services agreement into a written contract, and make sure you address all possible charges.
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Local vs. Long Distance Moving Companies

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Devie Lin

There are many different types of moving companies out there, but they are all either local or long distance.  When you’re deciding how to move, choosing local movers or long distance moving companies will be one of the first things you do.  But how do they differ?

Local Movers

Local moving companies service a relatively

small area, often between a couple hours and half a day’s drive away.  You can find a local mover in either the city you live in or the one you’re going to.

Pros:

  • Know the area well
  • Cheaper
  • More flexible charges

Cons:

  • Hard to find reputable ones
  • Risk of moving scams greater

Long Distance Movers

Long-distance moving companies are usually national chains with locations in many cities across the country.  They have the resources to help you move no matter where you’re going.

Pros:

  • More resources
  • Strong reputations
  • Easy to find

Cons:

  • More expensive
  • Lack particular knowledge about most areas
  • Difficult to get the “personal” feel common to many small businesses
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