Moving to a new place can be exciting, but it's understandable if you forget that excitement in the momentary hassle of dealing with movers. If packing everything into a U-Haul yourself isn't an option, you may still want to look into alternatives to professional movers. One possible alternative is shipping your items from your old home to your new one.
Shipping Companies
The two best-known shipping companies are UPS and Federal Express, or FedEx. (DHL, another well-known shipping company, will no longer accept domestic shipments within the United States after January 30th 2009, but you can still use them to ship internationally.) How much you pay will depend on the weight of your package, the distance it has to travel, and the speed with which you want it to arrive.
You can also use the United States Postal Service, although the USPS's rates are most competitive for shipments of five pounds or less. You can look up the various shipping companies' rates online:
Another option is uShip. You can post a description of your shipping needs and receive bids from independent companies, or browse uShip's directory of professional transporters. There's also a section for "special care" movers who specialize in moving difficult items, such as cars, boats, or even pianos.
Packing Tips
Just because you are trusting your goods to a shipping service rather than a moving van doesn't mean you don't need to take precautions. Pack everything very carefully, with plenty of padding. Since your renter's or homeowner's insurance may not cover an item in transit, you may want to pay extra for shipping insurance, and take pictures of the item before you pack it.
The Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute has a series of suggestions for caring for fragile items, including, in some cases, moving and shipping. If it's absolutely irreplaceable, even if it's just an old hat or some letters, pack it in your suitcase or pay extra to have it shipped more quickly -- the less time it spends in the shipper's system, the fewer opportunities there are for mistakes.
Scheduling Your Move
If you're shipping large or heavy boxes, you'll want to schedule a pickup, which can usually be done online or over the phone. Otherwise you can take the packages to an authorized retailer or to a third-party store, such as an office supply store. Be sure to get a tracking number for your shipment.
There is one tricky detail with shipping items: your packages may get there before you or the movers do. If you know and trust your new neighbors, you might be able to trust the package to them; if you're moving into an apartment complex, the management may be able to sign for and store your packages. If not, you may have to have the shipping company hold the item until you can sign for it. That can be a hassle, but it's worth it when your stuff arrives safely at your new home.