Storage Pod Costs

A sure way to get your friends to cringe is to ask for help moving your stuff to a new house or a storage unit. What a pain! First you have to rent a truck, round up some willing or not so willing friends, load the truck, drive to the new house or storage unit, unload the truck, return the truck, and then you have to buy everyone dinner. Fortunately with the advent of the storage pod there is an easier way.

A portable storage pod is a portable storage unit so to speak. The company that owns the storage pod will drop off the pod to you at your home. You then fill up the pod with your belongings and the company will come and pick it up from you whenever you are ready. You have the choice now of having the company store your pod at their facilities or they will take it to your new house where you can unload it before they pick up the emptied pod. Almost takes the hassle out of moving and storage doesn't it? But what is the cost?

The cost of a pod will of course vary from company to company, but with each company there are three rules that will apply that will determine how much your storage pod will cost you. The three rules are:

1.    Size: Just like with renting a moving truck or storage unit, the bigger the truck or unit, the bigger the cost. Before you rent your storage pod, you need to first determine how much stuff will go into it. You don't want to rent a pod that can fit all the belongings of a three-bedroom house if you are moving out of a one-bedroom apartment; that's overkill. If you let the storage pod company know exactly what is to be moved they should be able to give you an idea of how big a pod you will need.

2.    Duration: The longer you need to utilize your pod the more it will cost you. If you only need the pod for a couple of days to complete a cross-town move, then you will of course pay less than if you need to store your pod for several months. Some companies even offer specials such as your first month storage for a dollar or even free when certain conditions are met; so don't be afraid to ask if there are any specials that are going on.

3.    Location: Since the storage pod company is footing the bill for the gas to drive your storage pod to and fro, you can bet that the farther they have to drive, the more you will have to pay. If you are moving right around the corner, you won't pay much, but a move from sea to shining sea will ring the bill up in an awful hurry. If you are renting storage space on a monthly basis, then you should use a storage pod company that is in your area as most have the price of delivery and pick up built into the monthly rent.

All the bigger storage pod companies have toll-free numbers that you can call to get a quote of how much you can expect to pay. Knowing first though how big of a storage pod you need, how long you will need it for, and how far the pod will travel is key if you expect to get the most for your money.

You should also use a current pods promo code to save 5-10% off the cost of a Pods portable storage unit.

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Relocation Strategies 101 - 8 Tips to Get to Know Your New City

When you move to a new city, one of the most important things to do is get familiar with it.  Once you develop the familiarity, and knowledge of the closest supermarket, shortest way home, and how to get from any one place to another without looking at a map, it goes a long way towards feeling at home in that place. There's something comforting about knowing neighborhood restaurants, and where to go for anything you need, without having to look for directions or ask for a reference. 

Here are a few tips and ideas to help you navigate a new city:

1. Get a map and a guide book.  Ideally, do this before you leave.  This way, if you love a particular brand, say Fodor's or Lonely Planet, you are guaranteed to find it in the language you're most comfortable with. Take a look at the local points of interest, areas considered highly touristy (i.e. shopping centers), and parks and monuments.

2. Plot out and points of interest to you on the map.  Using the map with the guide book, you might want to highlight any areas on the map that you want to visit, or consider living close by.  If you are moving someplace with a subway/metro, you may want to try and figure out which stations match up to these points of interest.

3. Seek out people from your host city before you move.  Ask them for any tips about places to see, places to eat, and, especially, any areas considered dangerous. Again, highlight these on your map.

4. Become a regular.  If you find a restaurant, news shop, bookstore, or cafe, for example, that you absolutely love.  Make a point to go there at least a few times a week. Before you know it, the waiters or owner will be asking you how you are, and get into small talk with you.  It's an added bonus to feel recognized in a new city - takes away from that feeling of "anonymity" that can haunt us at the beginning.

5. Bring good shoes.  I know this may sound funny, but if you're moving someplace with lots of cobblestone streets that you plan to walk on, make sure you bring comfortable, flat shoes, with a strong sole.  If you only bring heels, or thin-bottomed shoes, you'll wear through them in a week!

6. Be a Tourist.  Yes, be a tourist with pride!  Dare yourself to take every double-decker bus trip in the city, boat trips, city guided tours.  This is such a great way to learn tips about the city, hot spots, you might not otherwise have found, and, if your tour guide is nice, you could tell them you recently moved to the city, and ask them for local tips on where to eat, drink, shop, etc.

7. Research nearby destinations.  Sometimes, you may want to get out of the city for a break, or change of pace.  Your guide book is one source of easily reachable day trips.  You could also go to the nearest train station and pick up some schedules to see what's within a one-hour train ride, and then research those cities online if your guide book doesn't list them.

8. Connect with nature. Sometimes the best way to "zone out", see how the locals relax, and enjoy some downtime is to go to a nearby park.  See if your guide book mentions any, or this is one of those tips you could ask for, from your tour guide, if you follow tip 6, or a new friend, if you've followed tip 4.

If you enjoyed these tips, feel free to download my free report with additional tips and strategies about successfully transitioning to a new culture.

To access the free report, visit http://www.culturetransition.com, where you can sign up for my free newsletter.

For more in-depth information about learning to feel at home after relocating, visit http://www.relocationsuccessguide.com where you'll have access to a core set of strategies to help you love your new life!

From Heather Markel, The Culture Transition Gal. Helping you learn to feel at home anywhere in the world.

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