Here’s a List of Your Cheapest Cross-Country Moving Options

08/06/2019 Leave a comment

Long-distance moves can be a real hassle, especially when you see how much it costs to have your belongings moved across the country. The good news is, there are ways to make these long moves without spending a fortune. To help you with your next move, we’ve compiled this list of your cheapest moving options with the help of Kip’s Cross Country Movers.

1. Rent a truck

The traditional way to move is to simply rent a truck, pack up all your belongings and drive, and it’s also one of the most affordable methods. Renting a truck is routinely rated as the cheapest option to move across the country. Although you’ll have to spend a lot of money gas and the mileage you put on the truck, the cost will still often be cheaper than it would have if you hired movers. Not only is renting a truck for yourself a bit more affordable, but you also cut out a big portion of the cost by handling the actual moving labor yourself.

2. Rent a container

In recent years, portable moving containers have been an increasingly common solution for long-distance moves. What’s really cool about these containers is that they’re incredibly easy to use.

All you need to do is choose the size of the container you want, and it will be dropped off at your property shortly after. You can then fill your container with all your belongings and let the moving company know, and they’ll handle the rest. When you get to your destination, simply unpack everything from the portable container and let the moving company take it away for you. Not only is this one of the most efficient ways to move, but it’s also affordable since you don’t have to pay for moving labor or gas. However, it’s important to make sure you pack everything well, so there aren’t any accidents during the long drive.

3. Find free supplies

When it comes to moving costs, most of the cost comes from actually renting a vehicle or container and paying to take it across the country. Unfortunately, you’ll always have to spend a bit of money to do that. The good news is, you can save by looking for free packing supplies. Grocery stores often have extra boxes they don’t need which you can collect, as do liquor stores, bookstores, and anywhere else that uses boxes regularly.

4. Check with your employer

If you’re moving for a new job, there’s a chance your employer might help with or completely cover moving expenses as part of their relocation policy. Before shelling out money on a portable container or truck, ask your new employer if the company covers moving expenses. The worst they could say is no, so you may as well ask before wasting money.

5. Hire Movers

Yes, professional moving companies can be a bit more expensive than calling up your friends and convincing them to work for free. But, sometimes moving companies have available space on their trucks and they’re willing to cut a good deal for smaller cross country moves. Here’s a helpful resource to scout out the cheapest moving company for your next move.

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 The truth is, moving is always expensive. No matter what you do, you’ll probably have to spend a good chunk of change to move across the country. By making use of some of these helpful methods, though, you can make your next move a little bit easier and cheaper.

How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Moving Cross-Country

07/03/2018 Leave a comment

When you’re moving cross-country, it makes sense to put your vehicle to use. Shipping costs for vehicles can be expensive, especially if you already shelled out money on interstate moving companies. Furthermore, if you don’t drive your vehicle, you and your family members will have to pay an additional cost for plane or train tickets. Using your car to get across country can save you money in the long run. However, it is important to make sure that your vehicle is up to the task. Use these five DIY check-ups from Cheap Sacramento Movers (www.cheapsacramentomovers.com) to make sure your vehicle is prepared to hit the road.

1. Inspect Your Tires

Before traveling, you should take time to do a thorough review of your tires. A blow-out on the interstate can cause major problems during your trip. First, check that your tires are inflated to the appropriate pressure. Be sure to adjust the pressure to account for the increased load caused by packed items. Also, review the tread of each tire to make sure you’ll get proper traction on the road. If you see cracking or balding on the tires, you may want to invest in a new set before driving. Good tires on your vehicle are of the utmost importance for safe driving.

2. Pay Attention to Your Timing Belt

The timing belt, or serpentine belt, is part of your car’s backbone. If it breaks, your car will not work. When traveling long distances, it is important to make sure this belt is in good condition. There are no warning lights or outward signs that a timing belt is failing. Thus, it is crucial that you check the belt’s condition before you hit the road. You may want to have it inspected by a mechanic for a professional opinion. You are better off replacing a timing belt that shows signs of wear or cracking. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

3. Resolve Battery Issues

You can’t afford to get stuck with a dead battery in the middle of nowhere. Make sure your battery is carrying a full charge beforehand. Also, check for other problems such as corrosion or leaking. Your neighborhood auto parts chain can help you test the battery. If you see any signs of problems, purchase a replacement right away.

4. Check the Brakes

Your vehicle will need a reliable set of brakes when traversing the cross-country terrain. If your car hasn’t undergone a recent brake job, make sure to check the status of the brakes. Signs such as squealing noises, strange vibrations or moderate braking indicate that there is a problem. If this is the case, you’ll need to get a brake job before the move.

5. Examine Your Lighting Components

Finally, you should make sure that your vehicle’s front and rear lights are functioning correctly. Traveling across country means that you’ll probably spend a lot of time driving at night. As such, you’ll need effective lighting to remain safe. Activate your lights and walk around the vehicle to see if you notice any burnouts. Additionally, check whether your headlights are cloudy and need restoration. Lighting is your best friend on the dark, interstate roads. Don’t take it lightly!

Ready For The Road

If you follow the steps above, you can feel secure that your vehicle will get you to your destination. Once you arrive, you should perform these checks all over again. Driving thousands of miles can put a huge strain on your vehicle. Make sure to do a post-drive check-up to assess whether any damage has occurred. Having a successful road-trip means nothing if your vehicle breaks down a few days after you arrive.

Moving Company Dishes Out DMV Advice for New Houston Residents

05/29/2017 Leave a comment

Getting your driver’s license updated with your new address is an important step to take to make your move permanent and official. Typically, this step should be completed within a few weeks after you move, but you may want to make it a top priority. In some cases, the requirements that you must follow for getting a new driver’s license can be time-consuming, and you need to stay on top of this if you want to get your new license promptly. Whether you shipped your vehicle to your new home or drove it yourself, here’s the advice from cheapmovershouston.net on getting everything vehicle-related sorted out post-move.

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

The Texas Department of Public Safety is the governmental agency that issues drivers’ licenses in the state. You can visit the department’s website to determine what documentation you will need to bring with you to your local DPS office to obtain your new license. You generally must have identity documentation, such as a passport or a previous driver’s license. You also will need proof of residency, proof of citizenship and your Social Security number. There is an online application that you can download and bring with you to the DPS office. In addition, you will need to prove that you have registered your vehicle in Texas before you can get a driver’s license.

Register Your Vehicle in Texas

To register your vehicle in Houston, you will need to visit the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office. You will need to provide the office with proof of your current state’s registration as well as proof of insurance. Your insurance should meet Texas state insurance requirements, so ensure that you have updated your auto insurance policy before you visit the tax office. There are 16 locations throughout Harris County, so it is easy to find a branch location close to your home.

Determine If You Need to Take a Driver’s Education Course

After you have registered your vehicle, you will need to decide if you must take a driver’s education course. Drivers who are under the age of 25 may be required to show proof of completion of a course. There are many online and live courses available throughout the city, but they can take several weeks to complete.

Prepare to Pass the Vision and Driving Tests

New drivers in the state will be required to pass a vision exam and a written exam regarding state driving laws. While many driving laws are similar from state to state, there may be some differences with Texas driving laws. You may want to read through the state’s handbook before you visit the DPS office.

Find an Office Near You

There are multiple DPS offices located throughout the Houston metro area. You can use the DPS website to find an office. Some office locations have an online check-in feature, and you can also reserve a time online to take your driver’s test if needed. The last thing you want to do is to wait for hours at the DPS office. Therefore, take advantage of the online check-in option for the best overall experience.

Getting your official Texas driver’s license is a wonderful experience, and it can help you to feel more settled and grounded. While it can be a lengthy process to walk through all these steps, the process is nonetheless worthwhile and required of new residents.

 

How Formula 1 Cars Get Shipped to The Next Race

10/30/2016 Leave a comment

Formula 1 cars move fast around the track, but it takes a lot more work to get them from one race to the next. The races are spread over six continents, so it takes more than just driving them between the tracks. It’s a massive process that requires special care from several skilled individuals that have mastered a complex set of logistical tasks.

What Travels?

The cars are of course the focal part of the race, but they only make up a tiny portion of the cargo. Each team carries all the gear that it needs for the race, from spare parts to catering supplies. Some sources estimate that the total cargo comes out at about 50 tons per team. The teams need to pack everything that they could possibly need, since they almost never have time to go shopping for it at their destination before a race.

The teams also must put a lot of thought into how they get their personnel from one place to the next. Most of the teams have a crew of between sixty and seventy people, but not all of them need to work at every stop. The members that don’t need to be present at a given race usually go to the next one before the others so they can have as much time as possible to prepare. The racers keep a very tight schedule, so even a few extra days can make a significant difference.

How Do They Ship It?

Teams rely on different shipping methods for different races, but they all have a few things in common. For instance, unlike when you ship your car, the cars are never transported in one piece. Mechanics break the cars down to their basic parts after every race, pack them in special boxes, and wrap everything with bubble wrap. The cars get shipped in that condition, and then mechanics rebuild them before every race. They do that because it’s easier to ship a car in easily-stacked boxes than it is in a single piece, and the car is much less likely to suffer damage when it can be packed neatly.

Most Formula 1 teams are based in Europe, so they can rely on trucks to get to most of their races on that continent. Those are the easiest races to plan for, and the teams usually handle everything on their own for them. The logistics get much more complicated when they travel overseas.

The teams rely on a mixture of air and sea transport when they need to race on another continent. The most important objects, such as the cars, are shipped by jet. The jets are fast and reliable, but it’s impossible to carry all the bulky cargo by air. Relatively unimportant cargo, like furniture and appliances, are shipped by sea. Sea travel is too slow to get to every race on time, so some teams have as many as five separate, identical shipments out at once to make sure they have everything they need.