Category: Gainesville Florida Moving Tips

These Tips Will Make Your Move Easier!

Make Moving Easier

People move a surprising amount of times. We may relocate for a job, to be closer to family, because we favor a different atmosphere or we merely want to try something different reason. Whatever the reason, moving is an involved and time consuming process. Any tips that can make moving easier should be considered and implemented. Here are several tips that you may want to keep in mind.

Begin Early

The sooner you can begin moving, the better. Coordinate with movers or friends and your new housing in order to create a concrete schedule that works for all involved. Spend time sorting through your possessions and sell, donate or dispose of any damaged items or belongings that you no longer use. This will help speed up the actual packing process because you will have less to do and you will not waste time or energy bringing items you do not truly love.

Organize Items

The packing and unpacking processes will go quicker if you create zones. Gather materials that go together. This could be in categories such as décor, specific rooms, items for storage, or things that go in closets. Keep your future home in mind. Are you planning on combining two rooms or are you going to have a new home office? If so, you should reorganize the items that would go in these sections. Then clearly label each box so that your Florida movers will be able to deliver boxes to their correct rooms. When you need to unpack, you will be able to focus on each zone at a time without being distracted by items that are going to be in a different room.

Use the Right Materials

Whether you are moving your belongings yourself or hiring a Gainesville moving company, you will want to acquire the correct materials that will keep your possessions safe. First, you will want to consider how far you are moving. If you are merely transferring your items down the street or across town, you will not need to secure items as securely as if you are moving across the country. Gather sturdy boxes, plastic bins, packing tape, permanent markers and bubble wrap.

Prepare Space

When you begin unpacking, it is similar to opening Pandora’s box; there is no stopping it and pandemonium can quickly ensue. Before you start, take advantage of the absence of obstacles and clean the area thoroughly. Check the floorplan, if available to determine where all furniture will be placed. If you do not have one, make one of your own by measuring walls, windows and doorways and then use graph paper to draw the layout. This will make organizing your new home much easier.

Hire a Moving Company in Gainesville, FL

Though you may feel stressed merely thinking about moving, it is a task that you can overcome. When in doubt, hire movers who can provide you with as much assistance as you need from packing your possessions to loading them in the truck.

How to Move “Ready to Assemble” Furniture

Make Moving “Ready to Assemble” Furniture Easy

Buying furniture can become expensive and can be difficult to assemble. “Ready to assemble” furniture is an easy and cheap alternative to other types of furniture and it looks nice too! However, before your Gainesville movers come, you should consider necessary extra steps you will need to take with any “ready to assemble” furniture.

Disassemble Furniture

Furniture from Ikea and equivalent stores may be useful but they can be easily damaged during the Gainesville moving process. In fact, it is often more expensive to repair pieces than replacing them completely. Therefore, it is best to take furniture apart before you move.

Store Hardware

These pieces of furniture use various small types of hardware that can easily become lost. Be sure to remove all of the fasteners, dowels, handles, pins, screws and cams completely. Place them in an individual plastic bag for each furniture unit and label it with a marker so you will be able to sort it easily when you are unpacking without losing any critical fragment.

Load Pieces into Moving Truck

If you have multiple types of “ready to assemble” furniture, you will want to keep track of them properly. Worst case scenario, you arrive at your new home and you are left with a variety of planks of wood and tons of small hardware pieces without a clue of what goes together. Avoid this complication by sorting your wood into the sections that go together and then wrap them in a large towel or blanket. This will keep the parts from getting mixed up and it will also prevent any scratches or marks while they are in the moving truck.

Choose a Superior Moving Company in Florida

If you are looking for a Gainesville moving company who will take care of your disassembled furniture to prevent it from getting damaged, choose UF Mover Guys. Our team strives to provide you with the best service possible with our attention to detail. In the unlikely event that something is damaged, we are licensed and insured so you can remain stress free. When you decide to move, call UF Mover Guys.

Create a Floor Plan Before You Move

Creating a Floor plan

Have you ever gone through the dreadful process of rearranging furniture into many different arrangements in order to find the best one for the space? Have you ever found that one of your pieces of furniture does not fit through a doorway or up the stairs? If you want to simplify the process, take the time to make a detailed floor plan before you begin your Gainesville moving process.

How Will a Floor Plan Help You?

A detailed layout will give you an accurate estimate about how everything will fit in your new apartment before your Gainesville movers arrive. It takes all of the guesswork out of the process. When you look at a room without any of the furniture, it may appear bigger than it really is. If you take measurements of the walls and windows, you will be able to develop a drawing to scale for your new place. Once you see how your pieces fit, you can see if the arrangement works or if you will need to get rid of anything before you go through the hassle of moving it. With the assistance of your floor plan, you may discover that you will need to get additional furniture that will look better in the shape of your new living room. Overall, this method will save you time and effort because you will be able to rearrange the room to your hearts content without needing to actually move heavy pieces of furniture.

Wondering How to Make a Floor Plan?

There are several methods to create your layout design. If you opt to do it yourself, you can use graph paper and divide room, window and furniture measurements in half and then use each square to represent one foot. For a much more efficient method, you can use online software to do it for you. One possible tool is a website called floorplanner where you can use a map to recreate your home with a large variety of walls, windows flooring and furniture. If you prefer a software that is extremely customizable, use SketchUp. You can program the room dimensions and furniture in to produce a 3D model with notes. However, Room Sketcher may be more attractive to you if you prefer something a bit more simple but you will have a less ability to customize it.

Provide Your Moving Company with Your Floor Plan

Your detailed floor plan will not only assist you, but your movers as well. Once you complete it, give it to your Gainesville moving company who can use it to know where to put everything in your new apartment. At UF Mover Guys, our licensed and insured team works hard to safely move all of your possessions and personalize your moving process to your needs.

What to Pack Last When Moving

The Last Thing You Should Pack for a Move

Once you finally motivate yourself to being packing, you may just want to move from room to room until every box is filled. However, this method may lead to complications further down the line. Instead, before you begin packing, you need to consider which items you will need first and they should be stored separately.

Items You Need While Moving

Whether you are moving down the street or out of town, you will want to have access to several items during the Florida moving process. Most likely, you will find a few pieces that you have forgotten to pack. Therefore, you should be sure to bring an extra couple bags or boxes, tape and marker to store them. If you take any prescriptions or have allergies, pack your medications in a small bag so you can use them as needed. The Florida heat is particularly harsh so pack some snacks, water bottles and Gatorade to keep your movers refreshed. Other items you may need include phone chargers, paper towels, toilet paper and speakers for music.

Possessions You May Need Immediately

When you are packing boxes, be sure to load one box with essentials. Find this box immediately after your Gainesville movers bring it in so you will have access to various things you will require on your first night without needing to rummage through multiple boxes. In this box, you should include a change of clothing, towel, toiletries, bedding and clean sheets, basic cleaning supplies, flashlight, small tool kit and several kitchen utensils.

Pieces That Will Satisfy Your Office Needs

If you have a commercial property and are moving to a new location, you will need to box with items that you need immediately. Consider what files you will need to help current clients and do not place them with older paperwork. It may take a while for your computers and internet to be set up so you will want to find some work that your employees can work on without a computer. For your everyday office needs, pack some toilet paper, paper towels, paper, pens and of course the resources necessary to make everyone a round of coffee.

Moving Companies in Florida

A professional Gainesville moving company will make all the difference during your move. If you need assistance for a commercial or residential move, UF Mover Guys is here to help. We strive to make the process as simple as possible for you or your business. Contact us today for a free quote.

How to Pack a Desktop Computer

Everyone has a computer and when you move, you need to take it with you. However, it is very easy for computers to get damaged during the process. The best way to protect your computer is to take it with you personally. That way, you will be more likely to save it from excessive movement. However, this is not always possible and when it is not, you need to know how pack it before you give it to your Gainesville movers.

Preparation

First, you need to get insurance for your computer. On the off chance that it does get damaged, you want to make sure that you will have the finances to repair it. Also, computers hold many important documents and pictures. Take the time to back it all up on an external hard drive so you will still have access to your important information if something happens to it. Next, you should remove the wires. If you are not sure you can put them back correctly later, it might be best to take a picture of them first or label the wires.

Placing it in the Box

In order to safely pack your desktop, you will need a large box, tape and bubble-wrap or packing paper. If possible, use the box your computer came in, but if you no longer have it, a normal box will do. Begin by reinforcing the edges of the box with tape in order to better stabilize it. Wrap your computer’s tower in bubble-wrap and place it on the bottom of the box. Then, tape bubble-wrap to the front and back of your monitor and position it on top of the tower. Fill remaining gaps with bubble-wrap and packing paper to prevent parts from moving too much. Fold the cords for your keyboard and mouse then cover them both with packing paper. Place both into the box and again, fill all empty spaces with paper. Then put the top of the box down and securely tape it.

Before you hand your desktop computer to your Gainesville moving company, make sure that it is packed properly. There is no guarantee, but the better you pack it the less likely the chances are that it will get damaged. Choose a company with movers Gainesville, FL, trusts.

Five Things to Find When Moving to a New Place

Moving to a new place is both exciting and stressful for the same reason: you do not know where everything is yet. This means there is a whole new city for you to explore! At the same time, it means that when you need something, you may not know where to find it. Gainesville movers have helped you with the hard part; now It is important to take the time to locate different places that will meet your various needs before you move there.

1. DMV

Everyone knows it takes forever to stand in line for assistance at the DMV, but it is necessary. If you are moving to another state, you will need to get a new driver’s license and license plate. While it may not be the most exciting adventure, it is better to get it over with.

2. New Health Services

Emergencies can happen at any time, so it is important to find the different businesses you might need. This includes the nearest hospital, a dentist and a general doctor. Hopefully, you can find great service close to your home. It might help to ask for recommendations from other people if you know anyone in this new city yet.

3. Stores You’ll Visit Weekly

You will need to go to these places very frequently so it is crucial that you find them quickly. This list may consist of grocery stores, drug stores, or any other place you go often. Learn the quickest routes and shortcuts in order to make these trips as convenient as possible.

4. Different Social Scenes

When you know everyone in a small town like Gainesville moving to a new city can be somewhat isolating. You have left all of your friends behind and you may not know anyone else yet. Most likely, your mind has also been consumed with the stress from the move. Take some time to look for different social groups to join. Consider your interests and then look online for options. Perhaps you want to go to a regular trivia night, or maybe you want to take pottery classes. Whatever you choose, take advantage of the time and try to meet people who share similar interests.

5. Local Restaurants

Now that your Gainesville moving company has helped you move everything into your new home, leave the stress behind. Spend time eating at places you have never heard of; who knows what new favorite place you might discover? Perhaps even ride your bike or walk to really enjoy the atmosphere. Fall in love with your new home and establish regular eateries.

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.

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.

Tips For Packing Your Pantry

How To Pack A Pantry When You Move

Many people dread the thought of moving simply because they don’t want to deal with packing up their home. Yet, moving doesn’t have to be a nightmare of chaos, stress and tears. Take for example the task of packing up the pantry. If you follow a few simple tips, you’ll not only have the job done in record time but also ensure everything arrives at your new home safe and sound.

Packing Perishable Goods

You might think you can get away with packing a few perishable goods, but the unexpected happens even under the best of circumstances. Worse yet, the stench and mess of spoiled food will make your move more difficult for both you and your Gainesville movers. Instead, plan meals to use up any perishable goods in your refrigerator, freezer and pantry. If you’re unable to do this, rather than throw food away, offer it to family, friends and neighbors.

Re-Seal Open Food Items

Perhaps the biggest problems you’ll come across when attempting to pack up your pantry are opened boxes and products packaged in paper bags. After all, you don’t want to open a box to find out flour spilled everywhere. To avoid a mess, place open food items like cereal, flour and sugar in baggies or plastic grocery bags. Sealing the baggie or plastic bag with tape or plastic wrap is an added measure of security that’ll guarantee your pantry goodies remain intact through your travels.

Don’t Pack Too Many Cans Together

Canned goods are easy to pack and travel easily without fear that they’ll spill. Even so, canned goods can be troublesome when packed in bundles because of the weight. That said, spare your movers and yourself a strained back by spreading out your can goods. UF Mover Guys recommends placing a few cans in the bottom of all your kitchen boxes. It helps prevent the boxes from tipping over and they’ll be light enough to carry.

No one can deny there is a certain degree of chaos involved with any move. However, these tips can help ensure your pantry is packed up with ease. Remove all the stress of moving and give UF Mover Guys a call for quality moving.

 

Preparing for Movers Before Moving Day

Moving is something that many people dislike to even consider. This is especially true when there are several years of accumulation and everything must be removed prior to properly cleaning the property. People who move often, such as people in the military or large corporations, have found that careful preparation will help avoid personal and family stress.

Things To Do Before Moving Day

Confirm with your Gainesville Moving Company

Of course, the first thing you must do is contact someone such as UF Mover Guys to determine the total cost of the move as well as any special considerations, such as insurance coverage to provide for any damage to the belongings being shipped. Such a company is more than willing to provide advice on packing, the type of boxes to use, how large a transport vehicle will be needed, length of the haul and other pertinent information.

Pack One Room at a Time

It is much easier to handle one room at a time. Look through it carefully, discard damaged or unusual items, and select things to go to a thrift store or other charitable institution. Always use good boxes, either furnished by the movers or purchased from another company. When a box is carefully packed, the box should be labeled so it is put in the right place upon arrival. This avoids having to go through a number of boxes to find something that is immediately needed.

Can’t Pack Yourself?  Hire Us To Do It

Many transport companies can supply packers who will expertly pack your belongings. In this case, they will usually furnish the boxes and any needed packing blankets. However, again, it is important to discard unwanted items ahead of time, as they will pack whatever is there, even an empty plastic butter tub.

Purge the Unnecessary Items and Donate to a Local Thrift Store

Moving entails other things besides packing and disposing of things no longer needed. It is extremely important to notify the post office of your new address and inform your landlord, if you have one, that you are leaving. You should also notify your bank, have utilities shut off, cancel any regular events you attend and so forth.

Gainesville moving companies should be able to provide a checklist that will help immensely in doing all the things that are necessary when one changes residence. A contract will be drawn up that states the cost of the move, the mileage and dates for pickup and delivery. Whether relocating across town or to another city, it is important to deal with someone who has the experience in the field and a good reputation for their customer’s concerns.