Smart Unpacking Tips


Parents Packing With Their Daughter

Once the truck is unloaded and the movers have left, it’s time to start unpacking. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you feel like you’re surrounded by a sea of unopened boxes, so Gainesville movers with UF Mover Guys have compiled this list of tips to make unpacking a breeze.

Smart Unpacking Starts With Smart Unloading

When unloading, if boxes were placed randomly around the home, unpacking will become complicated and frustrating. This is why it’s important to take the time while packing to clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in. This way, professional movers can unload the box straight from the truck to the proper room, saving time and effort in the long run. Remember, when it comes to moving, a little organization goes a long way.

Start With Your Priority Box

It’s always a good idea to pack a “priority box.” This is a box containing essential items needed for the first night or two in a new home. This generally includes items such as medications; toiletries; entertainment objects such as books or games; and enough clothes for the first day or two in the new home. This will save you from the frustration of tearing into boxes looking for that one item that you really need.

Go Room By Room

Create and stick to a plan of action, rather than moving back and forth between rooms. Start with the rooms that are used the most, which usually means the kitchen. Hook up any small appliances such as the coffee maker and microwave, and get the dishes, pots and pans, and utensils into drawers and cabinets. Remember that this doesn’t have to be where they live forever; you can always go back and rearrange in a day or two.

After the kitchen, tackle the bathroom, starting with important items such as medications, toilet paper, and towels. Next, unpack the bedrooms. Families with older children can put children in charge of their own bedrooms, saving the adults the effort and helping kids feel like active participants in the move.

Take Your Time With The Peripherals

Once all the most important areas have been handled, it’s time to slow down and enjoy the rest of the unpacking process. Items such as artwork, books, and other decorative objects should be the last items unpacked.

If space is available, lay out all the artwork and decorations on a table and take some time to envision where each should go. Try out different locations before settling on a final position. Remember that there’s no hurry to get everything just right — there will be plenty of time in the new house to figure out where everything goes and feel at home.

The first step to ensuring a smooth unpacking process is finding the right moving company in Gainesville. For a free estimate, contact UF Mover Guys today.

8 Effective Ways To Move Out Quickly


Couple Moving Out Of Their Gainesville Home Quickly

Sometimes an event comes along that requires you to make a residential move in short order. Perhaps it’s a new job offer or you want to be closer to the family. Whatever the reason, there are some ways you can speed up the process — and maybe save a little money, too. Here’s a to-do list before moving from the Gainesville movers at UF Mover Guys to make everything as fast as possible.

1. Hire Local Home Movers

When there isn’t much time to organize, a Gainesville moving company can respond to your needs faster than a national moving company. Gainesville residential movers at UF Mover Guys are professionals who will give your valuables superior care and attention, freeing you up to handle all the last-minute details.

2. Get Your Packaging Supplies Organized

Before you spend all that time and money at a moving supplies store, take a look around your home for materials to help you pack in a hurry. You can wrap fragile items such as large plates and glass in a towel or blanket, instead of bubble wrap. Other breakables, such as glassware and ceramics, can go into boxes padded with bedsheets, pillowcases, and socks.

Speaking of boxes, look for some extras sitting around in your garage. If you need more, visit your local grocery store and ask the manager for eggs boxes from the dairy department. (Eggs boxes are built strong, and they’re free for the taking.)

3. Start Packing Early

If you put off packing, you’ll be rushed at the last minute. As a result, you might leave something behind or forget to do an important task. So, begin packing as soon as you have your boxes ready. Label each box as you go, listing what’s inside and which room it belongs in.

4. Ask Friends & Family For Packing Help 

Putting stuff in boxes all by yourself is hard. Fortunately, you have plenty of assistance waiting in your neighbors, coworkers and family members. Why not invite them to a moving party? Offer them food and drinks in exchange for their packing labors. Play some great music and have lots of laughs. Before you know it, everything will be packaged, labeled and ready for the moving truck.

5. Donate Or Give Away Unwanted Stuff

Do you really need to take everything, or are there some items you don’t need anymore? Before the packing party, look through closets and storage spaces and separate out unneeded clothing, knickknacks, and gadgets. Also, look for items that:

  • Are damaged
  • Belong to someone else
  • You use only one time of the year, such as seasonal decorations

Toss the broken stuff, and pack the rest to donate. Then, take the items to a local charity where they can be put to good use, or give them to friends. The less you put on the moving truck, the more time and money you’ll save.

6. Plan A Pre-Move-In

Does your lease start before moving day? Take some things over to the new place early, if you can. Bring small items that you might not need right away, such as spare clothes, collectibles or kitchen tools. If you can make multiple trips, do it. The time you invest now will pay off in a faster move on the big day.

7. Have Your Move Ready The Night Before

The night before the movers arrive, double-check to make sure everything is ready to put on the truck. Did you:

  • Clean out the refrigerator?
  • Inspect the bathrooms for unpacked toiletries?
  • Peek under sinks for stray cleaning products?

Finally, put personal items like prescriptions and important papers in a small tote or other container. Pack them in the car a few minutes after the movers arrive in the morning.

8. Do Your Last-Minute Cleaning Before Moving In

Now it’s morning, and the truck is here. To help complete the moving in one day, clean up while items are being removed. Wipe dirt off windows or shelves as boxes get taken off them. When everything is out of a room, vacuum the floors and look for any items you may have missed. Then put the cleaning items in the truck and you’re ready to go.

Call Gainesville, FL Movers Now

For more than 10 years, Gainesville residents have depended on UF Mover Guys to handle last-minute moves. With our expertise and friendly service, you can expect a well-planned and organized move, even when time is critical. Contact UF Mover Guys today for moving services in Gainesville, FL, and let’s get this move on the road!

Moving? Leave These Items Behind

Girl Donating Clothes Before Moving In Gainesville

When it’s time to move, you may become overwhelmed by the number of things you own. But as you browse your inventory of items, you’ll probably find several items worth leaving behind, either because they’ve outlived their usefulness, or because they’re not worth the time, hassle, or expense of transporting them. But we get it — it can be difficult to know whether to toss something for fear it may be useful in the future. To help you discern keepers from non-keepers when it comes to your belongings, UF Mover Guys offers this handy list of things you shouldn’t be afraid to ditch when moving.

Hazardous Chemicals

Many of the cleaning and household products that people use on a regular basis qualify as hazardous chemicals. These include obviously toxic substances such as bleach, drain cleaners, and pesticides, as well as seemingly innocuous products such as air fresheners, dishwasher detergents, and carpet shampoos. In your everyday life, these products pose health risks only when they are ingested (either by small children or pets) or exposed to bare skin. When you’re moving, though, the danger posed from hazardous chemicals is that during transit they could spill in the moving truck and ruin other items.

If you’ve hired a moving company, you can ask the movers to pack any chemicals they find in plastic bags or containers that will contain a spill. However, it’s probably worth having the movers focused on heavier and more valuable items since you’re footing moving the bill.

Where To Go For Hazardous Waste Collection

To be environmentally responsible, dispose of hazardous waste only at designated waste collection sites. In Alachua County, you can drop household chemicals at the main waste collection center, located at 5125 NE 63rd Ave., in Gainesville, or at any of the county’s five rural collection centers.

Over- Or Undersized Furniture

Before you move, get an estimate of the size of your new home or apartment. The layout and square footage of the new floor plan can help you determine which furniture to bring with you. If a couch, dining table, bed frame, or any other piece of furniture isn’t the right size for your new home, don’t be afraid to move on from it.

How To Donate Furniture

Unless your furniture is completely trashed, you can probably sell it online to somebody locally — most pre-owned furniture buyers only pursue items near their homes. If the items are moderately stained, dented, or scratched, though, consider donating them to a worthy cause instead. The Habitat For Humanity ReStore in Alachua County specializes in selling used furniture to fund charitable initiatives; the organization will pick up donations in greater northeast Florida, and it also has a drop-off open during regular business hours at its Gainesville location. Furniture that’s too dirty or damaged to even donate, though, should be brought to a waste management facility, such as North Central Solid Waste Collection Center. If you need a vehicle to transport furniture, appliances, or other large items, UF Mover Guys has some of the most affordable truck rentals of any moving company in Gainesville.

Unfashionable Threads

Nobody’s saying you have to be a fashion icon. But we are saying those torn, stained, and funky-smelling T-shirts have got to go. Any clothing that you haven’t unpacked from your last move, or that has not been worn in a year or more, aren’t worth folding, packing, and shipping to your new place. Instead, ditch your less useful threads prior to moving.

How To Participate In A Clothes Drive

Sometimes, worn out shirts and pants are no better than disposable dish rags. Other times, such articles of clothing can be worth a fortune to vintage collectors. It all depends, but one place to find answers is Plato’s Closet. This store buys and sells clothing of all styles and sizes. If your wardrobe is worth a pretty penny (or just a penny), they’ll be the ones to let you know. And if you can’t sell your old clothes for a small fortune, don’t fret. You can earn some good karma by taking the clothes to local nonprofits, such as Goodwill thrift stores.

Once you’ve decided which things not to keep, UF Mover Guys can help you pack up the rest and safely transport your property to your new address, whether it’s in Gainesville or across state lines. Receive a free, no-obligation moving quote today!

Your Guide To Summer Moving

Unpacking Boxes After Moving In Gainesville, FL
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!

May Is National Moving Month: Here’s What To Know

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.

May Is National Moving Month: Here's What To Know

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!

Settle In With This Post-Move Checklist

Moving day ends when you unload the truck at your new house or apartment. However, the moving process continues for several days as boxes need unpacking, furniture needs arranging, etc. In order to help you settle in faster, our movers in Gainesville made this easy-to-follow, post-move checklist divided by timeframes — feel free to add or subtract tasks per your situation!

Unpacking New Home After Moving In Gainesville, FL

Moving Day Preparations

1. Set Up Utilities

Before moving into your new home, be sure to set up the utilities, so you don’t have to spend the first night with no electricity or (gasp) Internet.

If you’re moving to Gainesville, here are links to local utility companies.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) provides electric, natural gas, water, and other services. Check with your landlord or realtor to confirm which services are your responsibility.

Cox Communications offers cable, Internet, and phone services. It takes a few days to process a new account or transfer your services (and longer if you’re not doing self-installation), so call in advance!

If you’re changing your cellular plan to get a local number, AT&T and Verizon purportedly have the best cell phone coverage in Florida according to WhistleOut. As for the cheapest cell phone plans, NerdWallet reports that Sprint ranks high for non-prepaid plans while T-Mobile ranks high for pay-as-you-go plans. And when you need to buy, sell, trade, or repair a phone in Gainesville, a popular location is Re-Tech in Butler Plaza.

Lastly, before you move, don’t forget to cancel the utility accounts for your previous address. You don’t want the new residents filling their backyard swimming pool while your name remains on the water bill.

2. Inspect Your Furniture & Other Belongings

Once your belongings arrive at your new home, inspect individual pieces of furniture and fragile items. We’re not saying it’s necessary to use a magnifying glass to find hairline scratches, but you should take a quick look over each item as it comes off the truck to ensure the item is in the same condition in which it was loaded.

Professional movers accept liability for damaged items. They also take care not to damage items when moving them. But if you spot any scuffed or broken items, let the movers know.

3. Unpack The Essentials

You’ll have time in the coming days or weeks to finish unpacking, so get to the essentials first. If you planned ahead, you may have set aside boxes with special items to get you through the next couple of days. These might include toiletries, shower items, clothing, and food.

If you didn’t pack a first-day box, hopefully, you at least labeled the boxes. Check which ones contain your toiletries, especially towels, clothes, and kitchen items for cooking.

Steps For The First Week

Now that you’ve gotten through moving day, your attention should turn to tasks that should be completed during the first week.

4. Finish Unpacking

There’s not much to it but to do it. Grab a box, pull out the contents, and put them in their correct places. Finish unpacking one box before moving to another, and always throw away or recycle packing materials to avoid a mess and save the planet.

Not everyone has the stamina to unpack a full house. If that’s the case for you, check with your moving company for packing services. They also can help with assembling furniture, transporting items to storage containers, or carrying bulky items up stairs.

5. Map Out Your Commute

Many of us have to move for purposes related to work or school. Whether you came to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida or Santa Fe College, or you moved here to start a job, it’s helpful to plan your route before your first day’s commute. The best route might not be the shortest distance. Sometimes, preferred routes have the least traffic or the fewest tolls or potholes.

In addition to giving you the shortest route, Google Maps also has filters you can set to find the fastest route and spot traffic well ahead. iPhone users can take advantage of Apple Maps, which lets the user avoid tolls.

Both apps are free. But if you’re willing to cough up some dough, MotionX GPS Drive is another highly rated paid app that gives directions in multiple voices and even remembers your parking spot.

The First Month

After a week, you should be settling into life in your new home. Before you call the move over and done with, you’ll want to address a few final tasks.

6. Head To The DMV

Most states have laws requiring residents to update their driver’s licenses within 10 or so days after changing addresses. If you’re a Gainesville resident, you’ll want to head to the nearest office of the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

To save time and avoid standing in line, you can take care of new licenses, tags, and plates online.

7. Throw A Housewarming Party

A housewarming party is a great way to meet your new neighbors — once your home is fully unpacked and presentable. If you’re in a residential neighborhood, try going door-to-door to meet your neighbors. Just be mindful of the fact that some people are less welcoming of drop-ins.

If you have friends in the area, be sure to invite them, as well. Having a few familiar faces in the crowd can help to cut through any lulls in conversations between new people who are just getting acquainted.

Whether you’re planning a move, in the middle of one, or finishing up the last steps, UF Mover Guys can help. We offer everything from full-service moves to individual services, such as packing, loading and unloading, and even temporary storage. We also handle local moves within Gainesville as well as long-distance relocations. Contact us to schedule your move!

Three Tips For An Easy Move

Moving Services In Gainesville, FL

Whether you’re transferring for a job, preparing for the end of a lease, or you’re planning to live with a romantic partner, the process of relocating personal belongings can quickly create stress. At UF Mover Guys, we know a thing or two about moving. Whether your objective is to vacate a dorm room, an apartment, or a house with great haste, or you want to simplify the moving process, the following tips will help make your upcoming move a breeze.

1. Declutter Before Packing

Even those with the tidiest living spaces have some degree of clutter. Whether it’s one small drawer filled with different kitchen utensils or a smorgasbord of household goods, clutter is no match for the decluttering process created by our movers in Gainesville.

Create Item Categories

Before you’re waist-deep in a collection of your personal belongings, pull out a piece of paper and a pen or open a spreadsheet on your laptop. Next, detail categories which describe the types of items you own. Add items to each category to simplify the decluttering process. Consider the following example or create your own to accommodate your needs.

Clothing

This should include every garment, article, or accessory in the home that you could wear, such as pants; dresses; suits; pajamas; jackets; shoes; handbags; socks; underwear; hats; and athletic clothing, among any other type of clothing, accessory, or footwear.

Books

Even if you’ve embraced the digital age, you’re bound to have a few books laying around the house. Our Gainesville movers are accustomed to packing-up textbooks and other types of books, such as cookbooks; magazines; cookbooks; kids’ books; photo albums; and more!

Documents

Some documents are sentimental, such as old birthday or holiday cards, personal journals, or school assignments. Other papers are essential, such as tax documents, birth certificates, social security cards, and any papers related to work that you may need in the future.

Kitchen

If there’s one area of the home that presents difficulty while moving, it’s the kitchen. Practically every individual has a kitchen in their home, with a range of foods; cookware; spices; herbs; silverware; dishware; and different types of portable kitchen appliances.

Bedroom

Items that don’t fall within the different categories you’ve established, such as clothes or books, might include bedding — such as sheets, pillows, and comforters — artwork on the walls, and electronics, which include TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles, home audio systems.

Group Items Into Categories

This step consists of going through each room of the home, gathering all personal items, and placing each item into the respective category to which it belongs. To avoid complications while grouping, Gainesville moving professionals recommend keeping items from the same rooms together. This will make unpacking a much simpler, faster, and more organized process.

Get Rid Of Excess Belongings

Even if you hire a moving company to help with the relocation, reducing the number of items you plan to bring with you to the new home can help facilitate a quick moving day process. Once the items are categorized into neat piles, put into a box all of the belongings you no longer need, want, or use. This can include clothes you’ve outgrown, electronics from which you’ve since upgraded, and multiple sets of the same kitchen items.

Throw Away Unusable Items

Items you plan to throw away can be put in the nearest trash can or dumpster, or you can make a round trip to any of Alachua County’s Rural Collection Centers.

Donate Excess Belongings

If the items you no longer want may be of use to others, consider donating them to charitable organizations, such as Goodwill Industries of North Florida, Inc. or Alachua Habitat for Humanity. Contact the organization ahead of time to note the days and times in which donations are accepted.

List Online Items Of Value

As a local moving company started in Gainesville, UF Mover Guys also understand that some people have an entrepreneurial spirit regarding their belongings. If you’d like to try your hand in selling your unwanted items, eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace are all good options.

2. Pack Smarter, Not Harder

As a rule, packing is easier when you have less stuff. After completing an exhaustive decluttering process, what remains is preparing for transport the items you plan on bringing along to the new home. Go room-by-room and pack your belongings into boxes, finishing one area before moving on to the next. You can buy cardboard boxes, heavy-duty tape, packing peanuts, and a wide range of other moving supplies from UF Mover Guys. We can also provide you with tips for cutting moving costs by using the items you already own.

Packing is a step that you can avoid altogether by hiring movers to do it for you. Our team can provide full-packing or partial-packing services, as well as disassemble any large furniture that doesn’t fit through the front door. Among the advantages to hiring professional movers for packing is the ensured safety and security of personal items throughout each step of the moving process, from start to finish, including packing-up, transport, and delivery.

If you decide to pursue a do-it-yourself move, ensure the safety of your personal items by remembering to pack and move from heavy-to-light and from large-to-small. This pertains to the manner in which items are packed into the boxes as well as the order in which the boxes are loaded onto — and unloaded off from — the moving truck.

3. Start Planning Early

This tip may seem somewhat obvious. However, the lead-up to a move can be a busy, preoccupying time, as you focus on the number of things you have to do besides moving, such as dealing with a realtor, finishing up school or preparing for a new job. It’s possible, even understandable, that a few details regarding the relocation may slip your mind. But planning ahead for the move by several months can help you ensure that all details regarding your move are accounted for. Three to four months prior to moving day is the optimal time to schedule services with a moving company and create a to-do list. You can also avoid feeling stressed and overworked by creating an early timetable for decluttering and packing — distribute the moving tasks across multiple weeks and set aside a few hours to perform the tasks on designated days. Following these tips will help you make easier your upcoming moving day. For additional help or to schedule moving services with UF Mover Guys, contact us today!

How To Have A Successful Garage Sale

If you’re preparing for a move and have a surplus of unused or unwanted items, organizing a garage sale may be your solution. Here are some tips provided by UF Mover Guys — the moving company Gainesville, FL, residents trust.

Yard Sale Before Moving In Gainesville, FL

Start Planning In Advance

Choosing a date is one of the first steps to pulling off a successful garage sale. Planning the sale a few weeks in advance gives you plenty of time to identify unwanted items, price the items appropriately and advertise the sale.

Pick A Date & Time

The majority of garage sales occur on both Saturday and Sunday. Gainesville movers suggest scheduling a weekend sale to increase the chances of more business — which will ideally generate more success.

Another detail to determine is how many days the sale will run. If you’re downsizing from a modest apartment, a one-day event on Saturday — the busiest day of the week for garage sales — should be sufficient. On the other hand, if you have a surplus, the best option may be a multi-day sale.

Bargain hunters typically begin early in the day to find the best deals. Scheduling your sale early means you’ll see a wider range of participants. Also, know your location — as a Gainesville moving company, UF Mover Guys understand local weather is finicky. Afternoon showers put a literal damper on garage sales, so scheduling an early sale may bypass a storm.

Advertise Wisely

When it comes to advertising, there are several dos and don’ts. Things to do include writing a compelling ad that portrays the garage sale as an event worth attending. Listing a few of your best items for sale is a great way to drive in traffic. Advertising it as a moving sale implies that you’ll have great deals or that everything must go, which typically attracts more visitors. Movers recommend posting your garage sale ad on social media, local online classified sections and in the newspaper.

It’s suggested not to run the ad too many days in advance as people may forget by the time the sale date arrives. And be careful not to target your ad to areas that are too far to travel.

Presentation Is Everything

One detail that you shouldn’t lose sight of throughout the day is the presentation of the garage sale. Before the sale begins, arrange belongings in an organized and appealing manner. As your items sell, rearrange the remaining items to maintain an impressive presentation.

To keep everything organized, use moving boxes and packaging labels to sort items into categories, such as kitchen utensils, books, and clothing. Using boxes and labels also allows shoppers to find items they’re interested in easily and quickly. Note that you can purchase all of the moving boxes and materials you need for your garage sale from UF Mover Guys!

Find Local Movers In Gainesville, FL

Around the time you begin to plan for the move-out garage sale, you can also schedule moving services with UF Mover Guys. Whether you’re a student leaving the dorms or a family vacating a multi-story home, our team is adept to handle all sizes of moves. We have a fleet of moving trucks to transport both within Gainesville and across the country. We also offer temperature-controlled storage facilities and individual moving services, including full pack-ups as well as loading and unloading services where we do all of the heavy lifting. To schedule moving services, contact us today!

Don’t Make These Post-Move Mistakes

Man Moving In Gainesville

For renters moving is as inevitable a part of life as waking in the morning. However, just because renters move often doesn’t mean it comes easily to them. Quite the opposite: many renters still make the same moving mistakes, some of which cause them trouble and aggravation when it’s time to move out. Here, UF Mover Guys, a team of movers Gainesville renters trust, lists common post-move errors and how renters can avoid them.

Over-Customizing The Interior

The apartment isn’t yours to own; by definition, it’s a rental. However, you still can decorate however you want — up to a degree. Keep in mind: the alterations you make must be undone before you move out. Otherwise, you’re financially liable for repair costs. If you take customizations too far — painting rooms a color that’s hard to paint over; swapping out ceiling fans and appliances; attaching wall hangings with big nails that create gaping holes — that will cost you later. Instead, stick to ephemeral decorations — like sticky putty for wall art — and refrain from altering things that can’t be easily brought back to their original appearance.

Letting Your Guard Down

During all of the excitement of moving, it’s easy to let down your guard. You’re so focused on what’s in front of you, you forget about the dangers around you. But even if the area itself is safe, an Instagram post depicting your truck-full of belongings on the street side could post a security risk. Other lapses of security include leaving doors and windows unlocked, which can invite in intruders, vandals, or thieves. To deter theft at your apartment, you should remain vigilant: lock up when you’re not home, even if it’s only for a few minutes, and have a trusted confidant keep tabs on your stuff.

Cleaning The Wrong Way

Landlords ask tenants to clean their apartments before moving out — that’s standard practice. But this policy is a double-edged sword. It’s beneficial to you when you first move in: the apartment is freshly cleaned and in pristine condition. However, after you’ve settled into the apartment, you have to clean regularly to prevent things from quickly going downhill, at which point you’re left with a sizable clean-up on moving day. Worse still, if you don’t get things cleaned up, the landlord keeps your security deposit (usually one or two month’s rent). As a workaround, have the moving company put your belongings in storage for a few days. This gives you time to deep clean the apartment while its empty.

UF Mover Guys understands the needs of renters. Our movers in Gainesville assist every tenant from students in dorms or off campus housing to families or professionals in high-end condos and townhouses. We charge no travel or fuel fees for local moves, and we have small and large trucks, climate-controlled storage, moving supplies, and anything else you’ll need to get the job done. For help moving, contact us today!

Life Hacks For Packing & Moving

Woman Labeling Moving Box In Gainesville, FL

Life hacks are clever shortcuts that increase the efficiency and ease of everyday tasks. During a move, a few simple hacks can go a long way. While employing the services of a Gainesville moving company, you should expect your movers to use professional packing techniques and proper tools and materials. However, for the portion of the job that you’re responsible for, the following life hacks can make things much easier.

Everyday Items To Use For Packing Materials

Packing is a skill that comes naturally to many. However, when it comes to delicate and hazardous items, people often get hung up wondering about the safest and most cost-effective ways to pack these. Here, we suggest some easy packing tips for challenging objects you might encounter during a residential move.

Conceal Cutlery With Potholders

Just about everybody owns kitchen knives — unless you’re one of those ambitious people who cut up food with the edge of a fork — yet many people don’t know how to safely transport them.

Figuring out how to pack up a collection of unsheathed blades certainly is a perplexing dilemma. But there’s a progression of solutions you can go through until you find the answer that works for you. The main goal is to conceal the edges so the blades don’t scratch anything or, even worse, someone. If your knives have plastic protective covers, use them. If no covers are available, insert the blades into a knife block and wrap a piece of tape over the handles to secure them in place.

If none of those options is available, reach for your cloth potholders. (Everybody has a few of these lying around the kitchen.) Insert the sharp ends of the knives into the pot holders and then wrap the whole thing with tape or a rubber band. Now your knives are secure and can be packed in a box with other kitchen items.

Protect Stemware With Socks

Stemware is something else people struggle to pack. Most glasses have some degree of durability. But wine glasses are on the lower end of that spectrum because of their fragile stems, making them trickier to pack up and transport. But have no fear, our movers have a solution: socks.

To keep stemware from shattering, head to the bedroom dresser and ransack the sock drawer. Grab one pair of clean socks for each wine glass. Roll up the first sock and put it into the glass. Then pull the second sock over the entire glass. Hosiery might seem like it’s out of place in the kitchen, but using socks in this manner can mean the difference between you arriving at your new home with intact glassware versus a box of broken shards. Socks, and clothing generally, also can take the place of bubble wrap for packing mugs, plates, and other delicate pieces of dishware.

Use Pool Toys To Pack Wall Hangings

Because swimming pools are so prevalent in Florida, many people have access to foam pool noodles. These aren’t just life-savers in the water but also when it comes to packing up mirrors, pictures frames, and other flat wall hangings.

Grab a few pool noodles and make sure they’re the ones with holes through the center. (You should also check that nobody will miss them later.) Slice each noodle down the center, leaving you with two halves. Then cut these into pieces the same lengths as the width and height of the wall hanging. Fold one piece over each side of the picture frame or mirror until all four sides are covered. The noodles will protect the hangings items from dents in case of an impact with any other items on the moving truck.

Other items that can receive the pool-noodle treatment are your flat-screen TV and laptop. Meanwhile, if you plan to stack the wall hangings on the moving truck, lay a towel in between each of them for added padding. Even better is to use beach towels, which complete the pool theme!

Avoid Wall Damage With Rubber Bands & Soap

Life hacks also can help you prevent and mitigate damage to the walls of your home or apartment. Before you start packing up to move, take a look around and observe all the objects on the walls: TV mounts, shelves, posters. Chances are most of these are attached with nails, and you’ll need a hammer to remove them. One way to do this while inflicting the least amount of wall damage is to wrap a rubber band in a crisscross where the hammer’s head and handle meet. This creates a buffer between the hammer and the wall to prevent scuff marks and dents.

Whether you’re removing nails, screws, or thumbtacks, something else you can count on is them leaving behind small yet conspicuous holes. Best-case scenario: the new homeowners are displeased. Worst-case: your landlord charges you to repair the damage. Either way, it’s better to take corrective action before moving out.

One moving tip is to keep a bar of ivory soap handy while you’re packing. Every time you come across a pinhole in the wall, break off a dab of soap and insert it into the hole. If the damage is still noticeable, or you don’t have soap to match the wall color, you’ll have to use a proper repair technique: sanding, spackling, and then repainting the wall.

Use Labels To Stay “Organized”

Once the boxes are taped shut, it can be a mystery as to which items are inside which container. But not knowing the contents of the boxes makes unloading and unpacking take much longer. Keeping track of which items are inside of which box, on the other hand, allows you to stay organized and complete your move much faster.

When you know which boxes contain kitchen utensils or bedroom knick-knacks, for example, you can take them straight from the moving truck to the area of the home where they belong. To achieve this level of organization, put a written label on each box describing its contents. You can keep things general (“kitchen” or “bedroom”) or get meticulous with an item-by-item checklist. The latter takes more time upfront, but it allows you to keep track of everything much more easily.

Another way to take inventory of your belongings is to snap a few photos of the insides of each box before you close it. If you print out the pictures and tape them to the boxes, these can take the place of written labels.

As a full-service moving company in Gainesville, you won’t find UF Mover Guys cutting corners on packing techniques or materials. Everything we do is to the highest level of professionalism and quality. But while we don’t use life hacks ourselves, we’re happy to pass them along to you — anything to make your move easier! Call us to schedule moving services today!