uShip Blog : For Shipping Customers

Does “Fast, Cheap, or Good” still hold true?

community@uShip.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:14:00 GMT

The old adage says “fast, cheap, or good. Pick two”. You want it done quick and cheap? Well the quality will suffer. You need it good and fast? You better be willing to shell out the big bucks.

But does it really apply anymore?

Before the internet, it was hard to get competitive pricing for small shipments. With only a few freight companies in every town, it was hard to shop around for the best prices. If you needed something shipped, you have to wait until their trucks were ready. Need the shipment rushed? It can be done, but it will cost extra.

Then there’s the question of “good”. You can open the yellow pages and pick a carrier, but all an ad takes is money. Even after checking references or the better business bureau, you get a small sample of their service, not a good picture of their average customer.

The internet changes all of that.

Fast

Then: You had to wait for one of the local transport companies to have a truck available.
Now: You have access to thousands of trucks across the country that could potentially transport your shipment.

Cheap

Then: Unless you were big enough to negotiate contracts, you payed the standard rate.
Now: Multiple transporters can bid for your business, offering the best price possible.

Good

Then: You have to rely on their word, your instinct, and if you’re lucky, a few references.
Now: You can browse through literally hundreds and thousands of reviews, and choose the transporter that gives the best service to the average customer.

When a marketplace connects thousands of customers and providers “fast, cheap, or good”, becomes “fast, cheap, and good”.

How a Great uShip TSP Helped Deliver 500 books to the Troops

community@uShip.com — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:11:00 GMT

We love hearing our users’ success stories about uShip, but it’s even more rewarding when we hear that our Highway to Help program is helping generous people and service providers to work together for a good cause.

Recently we heard from Paul Malmont, who runs Operation Warrior Library, a group of authors that donate copies of their bestselling books to the troops overseas. The Warrior Library had collected 500 books and was ready to be ship them off to Afghanistan.

How a horseman and uShip helped us deliver 500 books to the Troops:

“That's where my favorite company, uShip, comes in… Now, what makes this company truly cool, is that they have a charity option. When you click that, wonderful people offer to haul for next to nothing. Dave (EllenwoodEquestrianCenter) turned out to be the right guy in the right place at the right time. “

We’re glad to be of service, but it is really the great uShip Service Providers we have on our site that go out of their way to make the Highway to Help program work. We were incredibly happy to hear that the books were delivered to Fort McPherson and are already on their way to the 278th Heavy Brigade Combat team.

On behalf of all of us here at uShip we’d like to thank EllenwoodEquestrianCenter and WarriorLibrary for giving us the chance to bring them together to help out the troops. Keep up the good work!

Finding a Household Mover -- Better Online or Offline? Part II: Fraud and Moving Scams

community@uShip.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:31:00 GMT

uShip CEO & Founder Matt Chasen takes a look under the hood of moving and shipping to see how it’s evolving and the innovations shaping how customers and transporters do business.

This series addresses the recent NPR Marketplace piece entitled, Online competitors move in on shippers, which posed the question, “Are consumers better off shopping online or offline for household movers?” In Part I, I attempted to distinguish uShip from other “online” ways to find a mover and also compared the 98% customer satisfaction ratings on uShip to those of the overall moving industry satisfaction rating of 80% according to a recent J.D. Power’s Study. In this post I discuss fraud and scams in the moving industry and explain why I believe that people are far better off using uShip to find a mover than any other on or offline alternative.

Unfortunately, fraud exists and the moving industry is not immune. The anonymity and lack of transparency make many places on the Internet especially vulnerable to fraud and scams. Phishing emails, fake cashier checks and money orders on craigslist, and spoofed and fake websites are common types of internet fraud according to the U.S. D.O.J. Last week, the FBI release an updated list of scams that are luring unwitting people. In addition to harming consumers, these scams also undermine consumer confidence in legitimate e-commerce and the Internet.

There are some websites out there where consumers can go to read and post reviews of movers –movingscam.com is probably the most well known. While these sites have undoubtedly help lots of people, they do have several important limitations when it comes to actually finding a mover.

First, the majority of posted “reviews” are from purportedly “scammed” customers and therefore negative (there is little incentive to seek out these websites and leave positive reviews) – so it is difficult for a person to get any sense for what percentage of a mover’s customers have negative experiences, which is ultimately what is useful.

The second drawback is that it is impossible to validate that these reviews are being left by legitimate customers. Anyone can leave one anonymously, and posts can be faked by competitors and others with ulterior motives.

Third, customers have to actively search for these reviews – they do not accompany quotes from these movers that customers might get from websites or offline.

What Makes uShip Different

One of our goals at uShip is to create not only the most efficient, but also the safest possible place online to find moving and transport companies. We’ve built a transparent, transactional marketplace where movers are rated by their actual, verified uShip customers. By comparison, the reviews site AngiesList.com, claims to verify reviews, but they actually charge a fee just to read reviews – something that is absolutely free on uShip.

In addition to real customer feedback, uShip has sophisticated fraud detection systems, detailed articles about how to avoid fraud and a dedicated Fraud Prevention and Support Team that works closely with government agencies and law enforcement to assist our users. All of these features make uShip one of the safest ways to find a mover, and almost certainly safer than Craigslist, directories or any alternatives, whether online or offline.

In fact, fraud is so rare on uShip that we are able to protect our users from most types of fraud with our “Ship with Confidence” Guarantee – which we actually just increased from $200 to $500, effective September 1st, 2009. Since launching our Guarantee two years ago, users have done over $70 million of business and we’ve only had 4 claims. Of course, as in any online transaction, it is critically important that users take basic steps to protect themselves (as outlined in our Fraud Prevention Guidelines).

Safe uShipping, everyone, and look for Part III of this series: Evaluating Moving Companies.

Making Your Next Sailboat Move a Breeze

community@uShip.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:12:00 GMT

see more Fail Blog

Maritime ventures need to be well played and wisely timed, especially during Hurricane Season. Erika, Fred, Grace and Henri and the rest of this season’s blowhards are sure to follow Danny, which is currently breathing down the neck of the Carolinas. No matter what time of year you make a seaward journey, make sure you are well prepared for the high winds, rough oceans, and have everything you need. And for Pete’s sake, look at a map.

For one couple, the voyage from Annapolis to Florida left them shaken and their broken boat beached in North Carolina – and later it was discovered they were unaware of a much safer route along the Intracoastal Waterway. Seaworthy magazine reported that during their trip (which was before Hurricane Season), the rough conditions caused the anchor to damage the prop and left the sails unusable, with the rough waves quickly propelling them to the sandy beaches. A surfer who saw the accident happen was surprised that the man had braved the ocean rather than using the Intracoastal Waterway, but the skipper had never even heard of it.

Crashing in to the shore can be one of the better scenarios. Not having the right communications equipment can leave you lost at sea for days, with the coast guard unable to track and find you. Two young boys learned the hard way, when they were stranded at sea for six days without food or water, and no way to contact the coast guard.

Of course, the safest way to get your ship to Florida from the North East is to ship your boat on uShip. With uShip tracking your boat will never get lost, and your carrier is unlikely to get stranded at sea. If you insist on making the journey, make sure you are well prepared for the high winds, rough oceans, and have everything you need to survive and get rescued, should the worst case scenario happen to you.

Finding a Household Mover -- Better Online or Offline? Part I: Customer Satisfaction

matt@uship.com — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:36:00 GMT

uShip CEO & Founder Matt Chasen takes a look under the hood of moving and shipping to see how it’s evolving and the innovations shaping how customers and transporters do business.

On a recent NPR Marketplace piece, Online competitors move in on shippers, the question was posed, “Are consumers better off shopping online or offline for household movers?” It’s a great question and one I wanted to weigh in on with more uShip perspective beyond what was in the piece.

First, I think it is important to distinguish uShip from other “online” ways people find movers such as craigslist or other online directories and venues that do not have uShip’s unique model and tools, such as feedback, customer-reviews and fraud protection. Therefore, I think it’s important to reframe this question a bit to “Are customers better off shopping on uShip or offline for household movers?

Some quick background… A core part of our mission at uShip is to empower both consumers and transportation service providers by creating the first transparent marketplace in an industry that has historically lacked accountability and transparency. Our unbiased feedback system is unique in the industry and helps people find the very best movers while also incentivizing movers to provide the best customer service.

I would argue that customer satisfaction is the best metric to look at when evaluating if consumers are better off using uShip vs. offline alternatives. The fact is that over 98% of feedback left on uShip is positive and less than 1% is negative (remaining is neutral). Compare that to the J.D. Power’s 2009 Full Service Moving Company Customer Satisfaction Study, where they found that “overall satisfaction with moving companies averages 804 on a 1,000-point scale” (for those of us that are mathematically challenged, that’s 80.4%). “Mayflower Transit improves substantially from 2008 to rank highest in 2009 with a score of 831”. Not to take anything away from Mayflower's impressive win here (many of Mayflower's agents and affiliates are actually members of uShip), but an 83% positive rating would put them in the bottom 10% of movers on uShip.

I encourage everyone to check out the article as well as the related mover ratings, press release and video – there are some pretty interesting and relevant findings. “Satisfaction with shipping estimates is nearly equal among customers whose estimates are completed in-person and online-averaging 807 and 805, respectively. However, shipping estimate satisfaction among customers who receive their initial quote over the phone averages 12 to 14 points lower than that of customers whose estimates were completed using either of the other two methods.” So, even among customers of the same movers, online quoting beats the very common “offline” practice of quoting over the phone.

When it comes to customer satisfaction, I do not know of any other online or offline alternatives that even come close to uShip's 98+% positive overall rating. Of course, we at uShip cannot take credit for the outstanding service that our members receive - so I would like to recognize and thank our thousands of household movers for helping to provide arguably the best customer satisfaction available anywhere. In Part II of this series, I will address the issue of fraud in the moving industry.

Ford Mustang and Honda Accord Most Shipped Vehicles in July.

community@uShip.com — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:28:00 GMT

The big three have just released their July sales numbers and they don’t look good. With the exception of Ford, which managed to grow 2.3% in sales over July 2008, American car sales continue to crash. Chrysler’s sales are down 9.4% over last year while GM saw a 19% decrease, despite the $4500 cash-for-clunkers credit to spur sales.

Although Ford definitely led the ‘Big 3’ in sales growth, Subaru and Hyundai saw the biggest increases of 34% and 12% respectively, while the biggest loser was Nissan, with a 25% decrease from last year’s numbers.And for consumers, all this means some pretty good deals. Perhaps the biggest effect of the Clunkers program is the Whitehouse’s estimate that the program has generated a 61% increase in fuel efficiency.

Jalopnik has compiled a list of the ten most purchased cash for clunkers vehicles that puts the Ford Focus as the most popular clunker replacement. While the most traded models in cash for clunkers are the Ford Explorer and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, these are also two of the most listed domestic vehicles on uShip, at 5^th and 6^th place respectively.

We thought we’d take this opportunity to look at our own numbers and share the most popular vehicles being shipped on uShip. While these numbers don’t necessarily reflect on the industry as a whole, we do think they show off our amateur Photoshop skills rather well.

Perhaps most importantly, the average price of shipping a vehicle on uShip has gone down significantly from July of last year, largely due to the price of diesel but certainly other factors are at play. According to data from uShip’s Transportation Price Index the cost of shipping car decreased 20% since this time last year, making it a great time to finally get that old VW Rabbit that’s been sitting in your garage and ship it to your nearest dealership for some great trade-in value.

Top 10 models shipped on uShip in July 2009:

Mustang
Accord
Camry
Civic
Corolla
F-150
3-Series
Wrangler
Grand Cherokee
Altima

Bid Options Help Streamline Bidding and Acceptance Process

community@uShip.com — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:07:00 GMT

uShip.com now gives users more options when placing and reviewing bids. Service Providers can now offer additional services to shipping customers through the new Bid Options feature. This streamlines the bidding process, allowing Service Providers to give different service options with one bid. Customers can then select the exact services they require.

Bid Options are currently available in the cars and light trucks, power boats, sail boats and motorcycles categories. Service Providers can add options to their bids from the bid form or from My Rates. Options may be offered for a flat fee or as a percentage of the bid. When a customer reviews the bid, they can select the options they would like to include, and the cost of these options will be included in the total bid price.

As an example, up until now, if a Service Provider wanted to offer a different price for open and enclosed vehicle transport, they would need to place separate bids for each service, maybe $400 for open and $500 for enclosed. With Bid Options, they can place one bid of $400 with a $100 option for an enclosed trailer and let the customer choose the service they need.

Going Green for Your Move

community@uShip.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:51:00 GMT

Summer is finally here – and it’s hotter every day. With record temperatures of over 100 degrees here at the uShip offices, it’s hard not to think of global warming and the environment. But as they say, we can all do our part to help keep the skies cool and the planet healthy. Here are some of our favorite tips to help reduce the impact of your move on the environment.

Reduce, Reduce &…err…Reduce!

One big step you can take towards reducing your environmental impact in your move is to move less stuff!Take this opportunity to get rid of as much “stuff” that you don’t need as you can. Make sure that you either sell it on Craigslist or donate it to an organization like the Salvation Army that will reuse it, so it doesn’t end up in a landfill. Some appliances may be cheaper to replace with new, more efficient ones at your destination rather than travel with them across the country.

Friends, Neighbors, lend me your…trash?

Shoot a quick e-mail to friends and neighbors and ask them to save newspapers, grocery bags, and any cardboard boxes they might have. You can shred the junk mail and newspapers, fill up the grocery bags with the paper, and you have a reused alternative to packing peanuts. Just don’t forget to recycle the bags and paper when you’re done unpacking!

Save the Cardboard and Save the world!

Ok, so recycling cardboard boxes by itself might not save the world, but it every little bit helps. Buying a new cardboard box isn’t usually necessary as there are a lot of places where you can get used ones in good shape. Search Craigslist and local recycling centers for free boxes or talk to the managers of local stores that get deliveries. There many places where you can get used boxes for free or as much as half off. Liquor stores, grocery stores, and retail shops all receive tons of boxes every day, and most are more than willing to give them away. And when you’re done with your move and are sitting atop a mountain of cardboard and dish pack, place a free ad on Craigslist that you have moving materials available – and you may be able to recoup some of your own costs.

Carbon-Balanced Shipping with TerraPass

uShip.com has teamed with TerraPass to give you the option of offsetting the carbon-cost of your move. Here’s how it works: by finding a TerraPass Service Provider, you can help fund alternative energy projects that reduce emissions proportional to the emissions created by your move. For more information visit our page on Carbon-Balanced Shipping with TerraPass.

Making a Green Audit

Moving gives you an excellent opportunity to find other areas of your home you can go green. As you pack up your home, look for easy ways you can go green: replace grocery bags with reusable ones, disposable paper towels with the washable kind. Even something as simple as replacing disposable pens with reusable ones can have an impact!

These are a few simple ways in which you can Go Green during your next move. If you have any suggestions of your own, please let us know in the comments!

Tips for Planning a Garage Sale

community@uShip.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:40:00 GMT

Today in the Summer Moving Series we’ll attack another crucial part of summer moving: planning a garage sale. If you’ve started the packing and sorting process, you’ve surely realized you have a lot of stuff you no longer want or need. Moving gives you a great opportunity to gather it all together and have a garage sale for some extra cash.

Getting a garage sale permit

Once you know you’re going to have a garage sale, you should investigate the local regulations for it. These can vary in each location. Make sure you call your local city offices and ask if there are any special rules for garage sales such as special permits for advertising, or restrictions on what items you can or cannot sell.

Choosing the dates

When choosing a good date to have your garage sale, try to avoid holiday or long weekends. Many people will be travelling or celebrating, and won’t be in the garage sale “mood”. Instead try to schedule it as close as possible after the 1st or the 15th of the month, which is when people have been recently paid and will have a bit more disposable income. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can try and coordinate with other neighbors to have a garage sale block sale. A large sale will attract larger crowds and help everyone be more profitable.
Make sure that you choose a firm starting time. Yard sales attract early birds, and no one wants angry customers at their door at 6 AM.

Selecting your items for sale

Furniture, clothes, and children’s toys in good condition usually sell well. However, when you’re choosing what you’re going to sell and what you’re not, make sure that you don’t trash anything that could be sold. Even if you see a flaw in the item, you never know what people are looking for. You can always trash or donate something you don’t sell afterwards. The only things you shouldn’t put up for sale are things that broken beyond repair, illegal, or dangerous. If you do end up donating items, be sure to get a donation receipt so that you can get a tax-credit.

Setting prices

As often as you can, try to set up prices for things before the day of the sale. If you’re not sure what something is worth, check auction sites like eBay or classifieds like Craigslist for similar items. Keep pricing simple increments of 25 cents work well. You don’t have to price every item individually. If you have a set of items that go together, have a price for the whole set or leave them open for bargaining. Remember that most people will try to bargain down the price you list, so leave yourself a bit of leeway for that when pricing your more valuable items.

Advertising your garage sale

There are a lot of free options for advertising your garage sale. A simple sign that gives your address, dates and times, and highlights a few key items you will have for sale can generate a lot of traffic. Take advantage of free advertising space on community boards, churches, local businesses and coffee shops. Placing an ad in the local paper is usually worth the money, but don’t forget to also list it online on sites like craigslist. A few days before your sale, make sure to put up signs around busy intersections near your neighborhood announcing your sale (just make sure you have permission to do so).

A few extra tips

•   When setting up for your garage sale, try to make your bigger items such as furniture or appliances visible from the street, as well as a sign announcing your sale, and big tags to make it obvious they’re being sold.
•   If you’re selling electronics, make sure you have an extension cord where people can try them and make sure they work.
•   Always have more than one person working at the sale. Not only will this keep you safe, but it will help when you’re answering people’s questions.
•   Any clothes that you are selling should be freshly cleaned. No one will buy dirty clothes!
•   Post “All Sales Final” and “As Is” signs.

You should be well on your way towards having a great garage sale and getting rid of unwanted items while making a little cash. For more tips on preparing for a big move, check out our articles on household moving.

Finding a Great Moving Company

community@uShip.com — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:59:00 GMT

So you’re done creating a moving checklist, and have taken an inventory of your home. It’s time to start contacting some moving companies. Being prepared and choosing the right moving company can help avoid a lot of stress and headaches later on in the moving process.
1.   Start looking for a moving company early. Moving is a time consuming process and can be very stressful if you rush it. The earlier in the process you find a moving company, the better. Not only will you avoid stress by taking care of it early on, but you may also receive discounts if you have more advance time and leeway on dates.

2.   Compare moving services. Traditional full-service movers will load, move and unload the truck for you at your destination, but it’s not your only option. You can also have a do-it-yourself move if you rent your own truck, but remember that on top of the rental fees, you’ll need to pay for mileage and gasoline, as well as do all the loading and unloading yourself. Another option is a “self-pack” moving service. These services will deliver a container to your location, which you then pack your belongings into over as much time as you need. The service will then pick up the container and drop it off at your destination, letting you unload it when it arrives.

3.   Find a licensed mover. The Department of Transportation requires all household movers to be registered and have a USDOT or MC number with which you can check their credentials and safety record. All legal movers can and should provide you with these numbers, which you can check against the info on safersys.org.

4.   Confirm insurance coverage. Although you shouldn’t expect your belongings to be damaged in transit, you should be prepared and know the process for making a claim in case they are. Legal movers are required to have liability and cargo insurance, though coverage can vary from mover to mover, so ask for specific details from each. You can also request a ‘Certificate of Insurance’ as written proof. After hearing the details of their coverage, you can ask if they offer additional insurance should you deem it necessary.

5.   Find company reviews. If you haven’t yet picked a moving service, ask friends and coworkers about companies they’ve used in the past. You can also call your realtor or apartment manager and ask what services their clients have liked in the past. A great source of information is the Better Business Bureau, American Moving and Storage Association, or the uShip Service Provider directory of course!

6.   Asking for quotes. When you ask moving companies for quotes ensure that you get a copy in writing. Quotes in writing will tend to be much more detailed and accurate, as well as have more legal standing. Request that they include estimates of any fees and surcharges that may need to be paid during the trip. Make sure that you get the quotes in writing and that you know the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate.

7.   Binding and non-binding estimates. All companies are required to give you a non-binding estimate. This is an estimate of the cost of moving based on weight and services but is not a binding contract, meaning that the total will likely be higher than the estimate. If your mover decides your move requires additional services, they must inform you before acting. A binding estimate is made before the day of your move but you will only be required to pay the quoted amount even if the weight exceeds the original estimate (within reason).

8.   Finding great uShip Service Providers. The uShip Service Provider Profiles provide a lot of information to help you make your decision. All uShip providers are feedback rated, so you can see what their other customers thought of their service. They also include their USDOT or MC numbers, insurance coverage information, as well as other options such as uShip tracking. Make sure you check the profile of TSPs that place bids on your uShip listing and ask any questions that you might have before accepting a bid.

Finding a great moving company to trust with your belongings may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By being prepared and diligent you can find a great company and go a long way towards making sure your move goes smoothly, and your belongings arrive safe and on time.

Preparing Kids for a Move

community@uShip.com — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:03:00 GMT

Letting go of home and embracing a new place can be very stressful for adults, and this is often magnified for children. Of course, moving across town is not as daunting as across the country, but for families with children it is important to take the time to help them through the process in either circumstance.

For children of any age, leaving one home behind for another can be scary. It is important to get them involved and aware of the move from the very start. This will avoid any surprise and keep them informed on what’s going on in their lives. While moving presents different challenges for a teenager than a toddler, both need help adjusting to the change in their lives.

Younger Children

Moving with younger children presents a unique challenge. As kids begin to gain awareness they become accustomed to their lives, build friendships and become increasingly in touch with the world around them. A move with a younger child can disrupt their routine, so it’s good to get them excited about the change of scenery and new house. Moving can be traumatic, so it is your job to guide children though it until they become readjusted.

Preteens and Teenagers

By the time children near their teens they have become much more self-aware. While the process of packing and moving will not be challenging, the fear of breaking ties to school and friends is often a major issue. It is important to talk with them about these fears and emphasize that relocation does not mean losing their friends. While it may be difficult, emphasize the positives and opportunities that the move presents.

No matter the age of your children, the best way to help them through a move is to get them involved in their new community once you arrive. Joining a club or a team can introduce them to new friends and mitigate the discomfort of relocation.

Packing Tips

community@uShip.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:57:00 GMT

With all the prep finished we are finally getting to the meat and potatoes of the Summer Moving Series. Your junk is all gone and your packing supplies are ready; now it’s time to box everything up. If you have hired a moving company to do the packing, your job is done. However, if you will be boxing yourself, take a moment to read our packing tips to help make your move as easy as possible.

Think About Frequency of Use

Obviously, you won’t want to pack your toothbrush and clean clothes until you are very close to leaving, but this same thought process can be applied to many other items around the house. You may want to leave the TV and coffee table out until the final days, but pictures, books and other infrequently used things can begin to be boxed further in advance. Attics, closets, basements and other storage areas can easily be packed well before the rest, saving you time and energy as the moving date approaches.

Pack Sensibly

Keep in mind that someone will have to carry the boxes that you pack. Try to keep each one at a manageable weight (probably no more than 50 lbs) so that they hold their contents and don’t break anyone’s back. Another thing to consider is how you pack each box. Like a grocery bag, heavier things should be placed at the bottom and cardboard, Styrofoam or newspaper should be used to keep things from banging into each other. Smaller items should be placed in smaller boxes, which can then go into bigger boxes. Try to pack rooms together and be sure to label every box. If you are packing any liquids, make sure to seal them tightly in water proof bags or containers.

Keep an Inventory

You should make a written inventory of the content of each box. Not only will this help with organization and unpacking, but it will also prove to be very useful if a box is lost or damaged by a moving company and you have to file a claim. You may also want to label boxes with more important items “OPEN FIRST.”

Quick Packing Tips

· If you take furniture apart, bag all screws and tape the bag to the largest piece.

· Leave clothes in dresser drawers and tape them shut.

· Leave silverware in the tray and bubble wrap the whole thing.

· Tape down all moving parts so that they aren’t broken or lost.

· Keep important documents with you or mail them separately.

· Wrap fragile items in newspaper or bubble wrap to prevent breakage.

· Pack electronics in their original boxes if possible.

· Clearly label boxes containing breakable items as “FRAGILE” and indicate “THIS END UP."

· Never pack flammable or unstable items.

· Don’t overstuff boxes, but try to minimize the amount of free space you leave.

While we are pretty savvy when it comes to moving and packing, there are certainly creative and useful tips that we haven’t heard of. If you would like to share any packing tips that we missed, please feel free to leave them in the comments area.

Finding Packing Materials

community@uShip.com — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:32:00 GMT

Continuing on with the Summer Moving Series, we now turn our focus to acquiring packing materials. This is important because, well, you can’t pack the boxes if you don’t have any boxes right? Although this step can easily be overlooked, having an adequate supply of packaging when you begin packing will help ensure a smooth move.

What You Need

Boxes – Probably the most obvious moving need, you can buy boxes online or from any local packing supplier, but you can also find them for free if you are willing to put in a little effort. Good places to find boxes include donation drop-offs and retailers. Just ask if they have any extra and they will be happy to let you load up. Be sure to get various sizes to accommodate different items.

Padding– You will be packing breakable items and it is important that they are adequately protected during the move. Dishes, glasses, pictures and electronics are just a few of the things you will want to cushion in a box, and for many others it’s better to be safe than sorry. Bubble wrap is a good option that can be found at any packing supplier, but packing paper and newspaper are suitable substitutes as well. Whichever you choose to use, get more than you think you will need. It goes fast and it’s much better to over-wrap a flat-screen TV than risk damage. Styrofoam peanuts can also be used to fill empty spaces in boxes and prevent items from shifting during the move.

Tape – Packing tape should be used to seal your boxes. Unlike other kinds of tape, it is specially designed to keep boxes sealed tightly and reinforced to keep your valuables safe. Pick up several rolls, as well as a dispenser so that more than one person can seal boxes simultaneously without constantly having to go back and forth.

Markers – A few large, permanent, black markers will make labeling your boxes easy. Label makers can be used too, but the process is slower than writing by hand and there is always the chance that the labels could fall off or be removed. Labeling boxes will enable whoever is moving them to immediately know which room in which they belong.

Friends? – There’s nothing that says friendship like calling in a favor. Moving companies are always a great option to help pack, but if you don’t have the budget for professional assistance friends are a good option. If they are hesitant, throw a cookout and bribe them over with food.

Additional Considerations

Your belongings will be only as safe as the boxes they are housed in. Bubble wrap won’t help very much if the boxes end up falling apart, so take your time when assembling them and be sure to securely tape the bottom of each. If you do enlist the help of friends, make sure that they take as much care with your items as you do. Gathering all of these materials prior to packing day will prevent impromptu trips to the store and keep everyone focused the task at hand.

Organizing for a Move

community@uShip.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:56:00 GMT

As we continue on with our Summer Moving Series we thought it would be a good idea to get back to the basics. Therefore, the second installment will focus on how you can get organized pre-move to help maximize efficiency and minimize your moving costs.

Formulate a Plan of Attack

Before you actually begin to sort and pack up your belongings you should identify which areas are going to be more tedious and time consuming so you can budget time accordingly. Places such as closets, garages and storage rooms can be full of items that require varying styles of packing. You will also probably need to go through these rooms more carefully to see what you want to keep and what to throw away. Less time can be allocated to bedrooms and community rooms where you know you will be keeping most of the stuff.

Make a Moving Inventory

While it is a bit tedious, making a moving inventory can actually save you time and money in the long run. Go room to room and write down which items you will be taking and what can be left behind. Keep in mind that the more you take the more expensive and time consuming a move will be, so it is often best to act practically rather than nostalgically.

Organize the “Stay Behind” Items

Once you have identified which items are going to stay behind they can be sorted out. While some things are simply trash and are not worth wasting time with, stuff such as old clothing, appliances and furniture can either be sold or donated. The best way to do this is to take everything into an open area and simply make a “trash” pile and a “sell/donate” pile.

Now that you have two piles, the “sell/donate” items should be examined a bit more carefully. Used clothes are often difficult to sell but are great to donate to charity. Not only will you clear closet space, but you will also help someone in need. Make sure that all clothes you plan to donate are free of holes, major stains, or other damage so you won’t be wasting a charity’s time.

You may want to attempt to sell the furniture, appliances or other items you plan to leave behind. Whether you hold a garage sale, list them online or drop them off at a charity, you can make a few dollars and possibly help out someone in need. Once again, this will probably be more time consuming for closets and storage, so plan accordingly.

Moving will be much easier and quicker once you have identified everything you will be taking. Completing this step before you begin to pack will save you time, avoid the cost of moving useless items and get a better understanding of everything you will be taking along.

Summer Moving Tips: Creating a Moving Checklist

community@uShip.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:07:00 GMT

If you know you’ll be moving this summer, you should prepare a checklist of everything you need to do for your move. Checklists are fantastic because they break a big unmanageable task – like moving all of your earthly belongings to a new home – into small, manageable tasks. Our uShip experts agree that two of the most satisfying activities in the world are crossing things off checklists, and destroying a checklist once you’re done with it. All in all, a checklist is a very good idea. Here are our suggestions for some things that should be on your checklist.

1. Make a checklist. Begin your checklist with “Write a checklist”. You must resist the urge to cross this off just yet, because you’re not quite done with it (though you’ve done an excellent job getting started).

2. Take a general inventory of your home. You can begin separating items into “stuff to move” or “Stuff to get rid of”. While you don’t need to categorize every little thing, getting a general idea of what you’re moving will allow moving companies to give you a much more accurate estimate.

3. Contact moving companies. The earlier in the moving process that you can arrange for shipping the better rates you will get, and the least stressful the entire process will be. Summer is a peak time for moving, and booking early can help you get the dates you want at a better price.

4. Acquire packing materials. Estimate the amount of materials you’re going to need, then double it. You’re going to need quite a few boxes, tape, markers, packing paper, extra cardboard to protect your furniture and plates, packing peanuts, etc. While it may seem like you have too much, you likely have a lot of little things to move that you won’t realize until you begin the packing process, and you don’t want the added stress as you get closer to moving day.

5. Hold a garage sale or donate unwanted ‘stuff’. When you move homes, especially if you’ve lived in the same one for a long time, you end up with a lot of stuff that you no longer want, need, or don’t want to move. A garage sale is a relatively painless way to get rid of all your unneeded items, and make some extra cash to cover your moving expenses.

6. Get packing! This is going to be the longest and most tedious part of the entire process: packing everything up. Make sure you start with things that you don’t need on a daily basis and give yourself plenty of time

7. Will you need a storage unit? Early on in the process you should be able to determine whether or not you will need a temporary storage unit during your move. These can also be booked in advance near your destination so that the moving company can drop off the boxes that will go in storage. Make sure they’re clearly marked when you pack them so that you don’t deliver them to the wrong spot.

8. Prepare your children for moving. Depending on the length of your move, you will want to put some time into preparing your kids for moving. You want to make them feel a part of the process and not just a bystander. Special considerations may also be needed if you’re moving with pets.

9. Set up transportation for yourself. While your stuff will be moved by the moving company, you’re going to have to get to your new home as well. Make sure that you prepare transportation for the big day, and get your cars ready for travel or transport.

10. Change your addresses. There will be a lot of other things to do as you get ready to move, from requesting that your mail be forwarded, to canceling or transferring utilities, changing newspaper, magazine, or rental subscriptions, and sending your new address to friends and family. Make a list of all of these and remember to start taking care of them as your moving day approaches.

Since most of these deserve more than a short paragraph, we will be expanding on each of these “checkpoints” in the coming weeks as part of our Summer Moving Series. Remember, the key to a stress free move is to be prepared and give yourself plenty of time.

If you have any suggestions for other topics we should cover, please feel free to let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to add it in. For more great articles on moving, check out uShip's articles on moving.

Have a great summer!