Author: Jordan Speisman

How to Pack Small Appliances

Tips for Packing Small Appliances Before You Move

Knowing how to pack small appliances can make a big difference for your move. While most people never notice, appliances such as coffee makers and microwaves often have delicate parts made of glass and plastic that can break during transport. For this reason, you will want to take the following steps to make sure your favorite appliances arrive at your new residence in tact.

Clean and Inspect Your Appliances

It is important to carefully wash and dry your appliances before packing to ensure that no bits of food or water are left behind to create rust or mold. In Gainesville, movers also recommend using this time to carefully inspect your appliances for signs of damage or wear to ensure that they are in top condition before the move.

Remove Intricate Parts

Blender blades, coffee filter holders and other little parts on your appliance can tumble around and break if they are not packed securely. For this reason, you will need to disassemble any removable parts and pack them separately. If you are worried about being able to reassemble your appliance, then write the steps you take down on a notecard and tape it to the appliance. This way, you can work through the steps in reverse order when you set up your new home.

Choose the Right Box

The ideal box for shipping small appliances is the original one that it was packaged in, however, a sturdy small to medium sized box should do fine. Just make sure that the appliance fits snug in the box with enough room to add packing paper or bubble wrap. A quality Gainesville moving professional also performs an inspection of each box to ensure that it can bear the weight of the appliance and has sturdy tape applied to the bottom seam.

Wrap the Parts & Add Cushion

Begin packing your appliances by wrapping the cards and securing them with a twist tie. Then, add some packing paper to the bottom of the box, and use the same paper to wrap the appliance. If your appliance has bowls, then you should fill these with crumpled pieces of paper as well. Finish up by adding more crumpled pieces of paper or packing peanuts to fill in any gaps, and secure the top of the box with packing tape.

Correctly packing small appliances takes time, but it is worth the effort to do everything you can to prevent breakage. Fortunately, a Gainesville moving company can make it easier to know that your appliances will arrive in perfect condition with their professional packing services. Whether you need to move a few appliances or an entire household, using some extra care will protect your belongings.

Ask These Questions To Avoid Surprises in Your Moving Bill

How to Avoid Changes in Your Moving Bill

Preparing for a move always brings about a lot of questions. “How will we get our stuff to our new house?” and “How many boxes do we really need?” usually come to mind, not to mention the hows, whos, and whats of packing, cleaning, and repairing. But what should people ask movers before committing to a moving company?

What are all of the base and potential extra costs to hiring Gainesville movers?

This is a pretty obvious question to ask, but it’s the second part about extra costs that is most important. Local Gainesville moving company services are nearly always charged by the hour. Therefore, think realistically before signing on the dotted line. Unforeseen circumstances could make the move take longer than expected, and extra costs associated with over-time can add up.

In addition to over-time costs, there may also be fees for mileage, wardrobe box usage, or even double drive time. Make sure to fully analyze how much there is to move and what tools are needed to get the job done. That way, there will be no surprises.

Are my valuables going to be paid for in case of an accident?

Gainesville moving experts agree that while most moving companies are insured, it does not mean a customer’s belongings will be paid for in the event of breakage. Potential Gainesville movers should be asked not only what their breakage ratio is, but also if they offer any sort of protection for their customers’ valuables. Often times, when an expensive item is dropped or destroyed, it’s current value is estimated by the mover’s insurance company and may be valued for less than a customer thinks. Check to see whether some sort of damage insurance is included; it may be tacked on in the fine print of an estimate and not charged until the day of.

What are the payment terms?

Always ask how payment will be taken on the day of the move and only pay once all of your items are safe and accounted for. If a company tries to charge a large deposit or payment in full prior to the move, it may be a red flag. The same goes for exorbitant credit or debit card fees — most movers have card readers nowadays and can take plastic with ease.

When searching for the perfect Gainesville moving company, there will be many questions. Ask the questions outlined above to help avoid any surprises on the final bill and to ensure protection of your belongings. Additionally, many movers have restrictions on transporting certain items (such as medications, firearms, etc.). It is important to take note of any transportation policies to avoid a headache come moving day.

Mover Profile: Prue

Meet a Member of UF Mover Guys

Name: Prue

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

The people I get to work with are great. The owners /operators take good care of us.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Working on my dad-bod, hanging out with family and friends, matching MMA fights, boxing, wrestling and Jujitsu.

What brought you to Gainesville?

My sister went to college here. Momma moved the whole family.

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would move Derek Jeter, because it’s Derek-freaking-Jeter.

What is your favorite moving story?

We moved a customer from Savannah, Georgia, to Gainesville and I became great friends with him.

How to Move Items from Your Garage & Shed

Moving Tips: How To Pack Up Your Garage & Shed

A garage or shed is a convenient place to store dangerous or messy items, but it is often the most difficult room to tackle when packing for a move. Typically, these rooms are filled with objects that are heavy, mechanical, oddly shaped, sharp, or filled with combustible or toxic fluids. The sort of items should be handled delicately and with special care. Sometimes the services of dependable Gainesville movers are needed to handle the job properly.

How to Pack Tools & Machinery

The first recommended step is taking a basic inventory. Take note of items that can not or should not be transported or shipped. This includes gasoline, paint thinner, pesticides, charcoal, fertilizer, motor oil, and other messy or hazardous materials. Discard these items before packing or calling your Gainesville moving company.

It may also be helpful to take stock of objects that need to be disassembled. Power tools, for example, often come with attachments that should be packed separately. Any oil or gasoline within them should also be drained to prevent leakage. Being mindful of removable parts will reduce the risk of damage during transport.

Another benefit to disassembling items is convenience. Bicycles, for example, are large and difficult to move when fully assembled. By taking such items apart, they can be stored in smaller containers and easily fit with the rest of your packed belongings.

Many items in your garage or shed my have blades or sharp edges. If improperly packed, these can tear through boxes or damage other items. It is also a safety hazard when handling. Be sure to carefully wrap them with soft material such as old towels or rags.

Moving Items from Garage/Shed Storage

Some of your most fragile belongings may be found in the garage. This includes things like old toys, pottery, glassware and holiday decorations. Be very liberal with cushioning material when packing these items. Materials such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and tissue paper will prevent delicate items from breaking. A common rule of thumb is to take the worst case scenario and plan accordingly. If your box and its contents can survive a fall down the stairs, it is safely packed.

Items that are sensitive to dust and moisture, such as electronics, should be sealed and protected from the elements. Polyurethane bags, or “poly bags”, are a cheap and effective solution.

Of course, the best tip for packing your garage for Gainesville moving is to leave it in the hands of professionals. Our movers specialize in carefully handling dangerous and fragile materials. To ensure that your belongings safely arrive to their destination, with nothing left to chance, give our company a call.

Mover Profile: Kenny

Meet a Member of UF Mover Guys

Name: Kenny, a.k.a. “The Old Man”

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

My favorite part about the company is my coworkers. It’s a different adventure with each individual.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like helping my friends and family with car issues.

What brought you to Gainesville?

I have lived in Gainesville for almost my whole life. Born and raised right here.

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would move Johnny Knoxville. His humor is so out there, I believe it would be a non-stop laugh episode.

What is your favorite moving story?

My favorite move was when we got to help Willie Jackson load equipment from the University of Florida and deliver it to his school’s athletic department in Jacksonville.

Weird But Useful Packing Tips for Moving

Lifehacks for Packing You Never Knew Existed

There is no denying that moving can be stressful, especially if you have a large number of items to pack. While our Gainesville moving company can always help you pack your items safely, there are certain items that you may want to pack yourself. Even though packing up your entire home can feel like a big job, there are several weird but useful tricks of the trade that can make packing easier.

Be Creative When it Comes to Packing Delicate Items

Part of the frustration with packing is that packing materials can be expensive and you’ll most likely be tossing the materials once your move is complete. Instead of pouring money down the drain, get creative when it comes to protecting your fragile items. Socks make great packing materials for fragile glasses and stemware. Sheets can be wrapped around your furniture to prevent nicks and scratches, and can be used to pack around plates, vases and any decorative items that could break in transit. This is also a great way to cut down on the amount of moving supplies you’ll need and saves bubble wrap.

Get Colorful

Everyone knows that labeling your boxes will make unpacking a little bit easier. However, adding a splash of color can also make the unpacking process go much smoother. By color coding your boxes, your Gainesville movers will know exactly where to take your boxes when they unload them from the truck. This way, you won’t have to searching through all of your boxes to find your work clothing or a set of dishes to use as you unpack.

Use Sandwich Bags for Your Small Items

Taking apart large pieces of furniture can make moving houses a little bit easier. However, there’s also a chance that you can lose the hardware that you need to put your furniture back together again. To avoid this, putting your screws and nails in zip-lock bags can help you keep all of your pieces together. For extra security, you can tape your hardware baggies directly to a piece of the furniture or use a permanent marker to write on the baggie itself.

Plastic Bins Make Day-to-Day Life Easier

When it comes to moving, there is no set method that Gainesville moving companies require. Although boxes are usually preferred, you can use clear plastic bins to help you move the stuff that you’ll need right away. Using clear bins allow you to see what’s inside, so finding things like trash bags, power strips, phone chargers and even toilet paper will be a breeze. This way, you’ll have all the items that you need to make your first night in your new home as comfortable as possible.

Mover Profile: Hank

Meet a Member of UF Mover Guys

Name: Hank

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

I love my co-workers and meeting new people every day.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I play rugby.

What brought you to Gainesville?

The University of Florida. Go Gators!

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

If I could move any celebrity it would be Coach Mac. I’d love to get a chance to talk with him and pick his brain.

What is your favorite moving story?

I have too many favorite moving stories. Most of them involve Bill.

Unique Challenges Florida Movers Face

Moving Challenges Only Floridians Will Understand

If you are trying to move a large amount of furniture or office material in Gainesville, then you should understand some of the unique challenges that Florida movers face. If you do not plan on hiring a Gainesville moving company, then you should understand what kind of problems you will face without this professional assistance.

The weather in Florida is always unpredictable.

The number one reason that Gainesville moving is so hard is the weather. Even if the sun is shining brightly in the morning, you never know if you will run into mid day winds or a short rainstorm. Depending on what you are moving, you may have a problem getting a particular item into a new building safely without damaging it.

The traffic in Florida never lets up.

The great thing about hiring Gainesville movers is that they are also well versed in how to navigate Florida traffic. If you are going to a relatively remote place, then you may have to deal with the traffic conditions in the area. This can be frustrating and tiring. By the time that you get to your destination, you may not have the strength to actually unload and unpack all of your belongings. This can get incredibly frustrating if your truck rental has a time limit on it.

If you run into traffic, you may also spend more on gas money than you originally thought. Stop and go traffic is murder on gas mileage in Florida.

The Florida heat can sap your strength very quickly.

Even if you make it to your destination without a great deal of traffic, you still have to move all of that heavy furniture inside. The Florida sun can sap your strength more quickly than you might think. If you only have enough manpower to barely move your furniture and equipment, you may find yourself the victim of dehydration. Again, if you are on a schedule, this can cause you to incur late fees.

Mover Profile: Clay

Meet a Member of UF Mover Guys

Name: Clay

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

There is a great brotherhood here at UF Mover Guys.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like reading books, grilling, and fishing.

What brought you to Gainesville?

I came to Gainesville for school.

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would move Donald Trump because he would probably tip well.

What is your favorite moving story?

My favorite moving story is the time that Eric and I were called for a load swap in Tampa. The trucks never showed up, so we just fished the whole time.