Posts Tagged ‘Moving van companies’
August 4th, 2010 | 
Author: The Last Frontier. The Land of the Midnight Sun. Seward’s Folly. Whatever you call it, Alaska is an interesting place to visit. But what if you are planning a move there? It is also a great place to live; there are just a few things you need to know when planning that move. This short list should be helpful for you.
No matter where you are moving from in the US, it is a long way to Alaska. That means your shipping costs are probably going to be pretty high. Most everything is going to be trucked to the Seattle/Tacoma area, and then put on a ship to go up the Inside Passage to Alaska. Prices are obviously going to vary depending on how much you ship and from how far you are shipping it.
You have a pretty large selection of companies that ship up north, and you can save yourself money by shopping around. You also have access to many of the big name shipping companies, but they may be a bit pricey.
One other thing to keep in mind is that in Anchorage, and even the smaller towns, you can get most anything you can get in the lower 48, and even if buying it in Alaska is more than buying it elsewhere, you may still end up paying less when you factor in the shipping costs.
You might even use that same philosophy when purchasing a car. In Anchorage especially you can get just about any car you want, and it might just be cheaper than shipping the one you own now. Even if you go on the ferry, you still could add around $1000 to your shipping cost.
As always, use common sense, shop around, do the math, and have fun moving to a great state. Bon voyage.
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Moving can be a lot of work, and be really expensive. Unfortunately a necessary move can come up at the most inconvenient times. What am I kidding moving house is never convenient. When it is time to move be sure to check a few of the moving van companies. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Convenience
You will need to use a moving van company that has the kind of truck or van that you want, so make sure it is available on your dates. Also unless you are just moving across town, you will need to find out how close they have locations to where you are moving from and to. You will probably be charged by the mile and you will be buying the gas so the closer the better.
Here is a trick to use. Ask for prices at different locations. The price difference could be worth paying for the extra miles and the gas. My mom used this trick to save several hundred dollars by dropping the truck off in a different town. So the above is not always the rule.
Reliability
Not all moving van companies are created equal. Check out the one you choose with the better business bureau and in online forums for complaints. Always take the complaints with a grain of salt. Some people will complain about anything. After reading the complaints you will have a feeling if the company is probably going to be ok or not. Word of mouth is truly the best way of finding a reliable moving van company, so always take note of what you hear from friends and family.
Cost
If you are looking for a moving van company and not a full service moving company, then the cost is probably a big factor. Call several companies to compare. If you are moving in the summer months then be prepared to pay more. Here are a few things to ask when you call regarding cost; Is the mileage included, what is the gas mileage of the vehicle, how much gas does it hold, Does the price include pick up and drop off, and don’t forget insurance. Check your insurance policy; it might include coverage on a rental. When you are adding up your grand total don’t forget to include what the gas should cost.