Month: May 2019

All across America, summer is peak moving season. Just how busy is it? Of all moves that happen annually in the United States, roughly 80 percent occur between April and September. Of course, the motivations for relocating at this time vary. In much of the country, summer months have ideal weather for being outdoors and driving long distances (not quite the case in North Central Florida if you want to stay cool).

Gainesville still subscribes to the summer moving craze, though, but mainly because of its student population. When the spring semester ends, many students either graduate or move home temporarily, and return in August for fall semester along with first-year and transfer students who arrive for UF move-in day and orientation.

What are the effects of consolidating this many moves in a season? There are actually two: one good and one bad. On the upside, moving is usually viewed as a stressful activity, but it is less intimidating if you know there are other people doing it. If you have friends who are moving, for example, you could help each other pack. On the downside, lots of people moving around the same time means they’re all vying for the same resources. And what happens when stores run out of boxes, or you’re on a waitlist for movers in Gainesville?

Here, UF Mover Guys offers ways to avoid the pitfalls of peak-season moves while also taking advantage of its opportunities. Use this guide with a standard moving checklist for the easiest move this summer.

Hire Movers First, Not Last

Waiting until you’re packed to hire movers could leave you scraping at the bottom of the barrel of moving companies in Gainesville. Instead, choose your moving company first. By doing so, you can find experienced movers who have positive reviews and competitive prices and will be available when you need them. Most professional movers allow customers to schedule services up to three months early. So if you’re planning to move in June, start searching online for movers in March.

Transfer Utilities As Soon As Possible

Sometimes, new residents pick up keys to their homes or apartments a few days before they move in. If this option is available to you, take advantage by transferring over your utilities immediately upon gaining access to your new abode. It’ll be hot outside, so you’ll want to have the electricity turned on and the A/C unit working. Also, cellular data can be patchy in Gainesville. Have the Internet hooked up early in case you need to search for moving company contact info, find helpers for unloading boxes on the fly, or most critically, order lunch.

Get Inventive With Packing Supplies

During peak moving season, cardboard boxes, tape, and even packing peanuts are often in short supply locally. If you have spare cash and storage space, you can buy these packing materials early and horde them. Alternatively, you can make do with the items you own already. Using suitcases, backpacks, and even plastic bags as storage vessels not only saves you the ruthless competition for supplies. It also reduces your moving expenses. Sweatshirts, pillows, and socks make great buffers for fragile items in boxes, and blankets, sheets, and towels can be used to wrap furniture to avoid scratches.

Be Safe, Stay Hydrated

The average daily highs in Gainesville during June, July, and August are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. With the high humidity levels, caused by the fact that one-third of those days experience rainfall, you could be dealing with a swelter on moving day. For the sake of your health, keep a cooler of electrolyte-enriched beverages in the back of the moving truck to stay hydrated. You can’t go wrong with Gatorade, which was invented in Gainesville in the 1960s by a doctor at UF’s College of Medicine (much to the benefit of the Florida Gators football team of that era). Or, if you’re not a fan of sweet drinks, try bottled water with electrolytes. Stay away from beverages with high amounts of sugar or alcohol, which can leave you feeling thirsty and dehydrated.

In addition to your standard moving checklist, these tips for moving in the summer will help you make the most of your relocation. And for local and long-distance residential moving services for families, businesses, and students; packing supplies or climate-controlled storage for rent; or help with packing or loading and unloading; turn to UF Mover Guys. Contact us today to schedule moving services!

Summer is the busiest moving season of the year, but May, which is the last month of spring and when many people start preparing to relocate, is National Moving Month. Here’s everything you need to know about this month-long holiday along with tips for how you can make the most of it for your upcoming move.

What Is National Moving Month All About?

As the busiest time of the year for home sales, summer is also when the most moves occur for houses, apartments, and dorms alike. Altogether, out of the 11 percent of Americans who move every year, more than one half — nearly 6 percent of the population — do so between June and September.

Summer moves have become so prevalent, in fact, that the federal government was prompted to designate May as a national holiday. But this month isn’t so much of an occasion to move (although you certainly can, if you want to) as much as it is a month-long, summer moving kickoff. Throughout May, students, renters, homeowners, and others who will soon be moving can find loads of tips, advice, and resources to help them set everything into motion.

So, if you’re thinking about changing your address this summer, whether by moving within Florida or across multiple states’ lines, use National Moving Month as a time to plan and prepare. To help get you started, our movers in Gainesville have put together the following moving tips. Apply these to your situation, or call us today to schedule moving services!

Summer Moving Tips For Gainesville Residents

What drives summer moving in Gainesville? It’s a mixture of necessity and choice. Since most college dorms close in the summer, and many off campus housing rental contracts end around then, students who are involved in summer athletics, camps, or courses or planning to work a summer job usually have to move. Meanwhile, many homeowners choose the summer to move because the real estate and job markets are hot, while parents also need time to enroll their children in school before the fall.

Whether you’re relocating to Gainesville or starting a new life outside of the area, use these tips from our professional movers to have a successful move this summer.

Call The Movers In May

If you’re moving in the summer, May isn’t too early to call your local moving company in Gainesville. Demand for moving services spikes in June and July as students vacate dorms and apartments near the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. (This trend contrasts with what would be typically a steady demand for moving services in a non-student town.) Therefore, if you want to make sure and secure the movers you want, schedule them in May.

Sell Your Unwanted Items In May, Or Wait Till August

To cut down on moving costs, lighten your load by selling the items you no longer need, such as clothes, furniture, or electronics. Downsizing reduces both the size of your moving job and the costs of packing and delivery. If you’re trying to make a few extra bucks, a good time to sell is in May (before students leave the campus) or August (after they return). Students are among the largest consumers of secondhand products, which they buy to save money or accentuate their image with vintage flair. During the summer, however, the buyer-market shrinks considerably.

If You’re Moving Bulky Items By Car, Try For July

When most of Gainesville’s student population is gone in July, local traffic is lighter, which creates a window for moving bulky items. Sure, driving on Archer Road with a mattress on the roof of your Camry is like tempting fate when the roads are congested during the school year, but this maneuver becomes easier to pull off during the summer slowdown. That said, renting a moving truck or hiring professionals to move bulky items is always a safer choice, both for pedestrians and your belongings.

Whether it’s May, January, or October, UF Mover Guys is available to help you out with residential moving in Gainesville. We handle local moves as well as long-distance moves, and we offer both single moving services and full-service packages. Call us today for a free, no-obligation price quote!