Category: Moving Tips

How To Move On A Budget

Budget-Friendly Moving in Gainesville, FL

The moving process can be quite expensive due to packing supplies, moving services, the down payment on your new home and the first month’s rent. Fortunately, there are some concrete steps that you can take in order to cut down on the costs. If you’re in need of a Gainesville moving company that’s trustworthy and dependable without breaking the bank, be sure to reach out to UF Mover Guys.

 

5 Moving Tips To Save Your Money

Before you make the big move, it’s helpful to know how to best prepare for the process, so you don’t spend too much money. Here are five easy ways to move on the cheap.

Cut Down on Your Belongings

When it comes to transporting all of the things you own, the more stuff you need to take with you, the more expensive it will be. One of the fastest and most effective ways of reducing your moving costs is by getting rid of everything that you don’t need to take with you. You can either give the stuff away to friends, donate it, or even sell it on sites like Craig’s List. What’s more, by hosting a garage sale, you can significantly cut down on your belongings and earn some cash in the process.

Don’t Buy Boxes

Boxes are essential when packing for a move, which is why the price for them is often quite high at many packing stores. But there are many other ways for you to get boxes without having to pay for them. You can ask friends or family for boxes, save boxes from packages you’ve received, ask local stores for boxes or bring home empty boxes from your workplace. Reusable plastic storage bins can also be used and reused whenever you move, eliminating the need for boxes all together.

Move in the Off-Season

While not everyone is able to move during the off-season due to their individual circumstances, if you have the ability to do so, it is highly recommended. The off-season is between fall and winter, and Gainesville movers are usually much less busy then than during the summer. This not only allows you to have more dates to choose from for the moving company, but it can reduce the cost of a Florida moving company by as much as 30 percent!

Plan Your Utility Shutdown Dates

Many utilities have a billing cycle, meaning that they will not stop charging you whenever it is that you decide to move. If you don’t want to pay for an extra month of utilities that you won’t be using, plan your moving date accordingly or cancel your services early. While some utilities such as electricity are necessary up until the day you leave, you can do without others, such as cable, for a couple of days or weeks.

Use a Professional Moving Company

People often believe that by forgoing a professional moving company and doing everything themselves they will save money. Oftentimes, however, this is just not the case. Professional companies have the necessary experience and materials to pack your belongings as fast and efficiently as possible, while ensuring for their safety. Since well-packed belongings take up less space and use fewer boxes, you will save more money. You can also choose a moving package that includes multiple services for a lower price to further reduce the overall cost.

Moving Company Gainesville, FL, Residents Can Trust

The moving process is often considered quite time-consuming and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be that way. At UF Mover Guys, we can provide you with all of the moving services you need to make the process a snap, including packing, unpacking and transporting your items. Contact us today for movers in Gainesville, FL you can trust.

4 Tips For Moving Out In A Hurry

Here’s How To Move Out On Short Notice

While some activities are fun to do in a hurry, moving isn’t usually one of them. When preparing for a move, your planning and packing often start months in advance. That way, when the big day comes, things go smoothly. However, you never know when an unexpected event — a job promotion, natural disaster, family emergency — will force you to move with little-to-no notice. If this happens, the trick is not to panic; instead, stay calm and do these four steps.

1. Create A Timeline

Even if the timeframe until your move consists of days or even hours, it’s important to make a schedule for preparations. This’ll let you have an idea of how much you can accomplish. A well thought out list also will keep you from forgetting important tasks. As you complete each task, cross it off your list. Acknowledging your progress provides much-needed reassurance. Meanwhile, if you need advice on how to prepare for a move, UF Mover guys, perhaps more than any other movers in Gainesville, FL, is willing to dish out advice to our customers.

2. Use Packing Materials You Own Already

One of the first steps involved with packing is usually a trip to the supplies store for tape and boxes. But when you have limited time, you may need to skip this step. Instead, begin packing with the materials you already have.

Fill your plastic tubs and luggage and use garbage bags to bundle clothing still on the hangers. Instead of purchasing packing peanuts, use towels, linens, and socks to protect fragile items in transit. (This also saves you time on packing your wardrobe!) Once you’re in a rhythm, head to the store for extra cardboard boxes, tape, bubble wrap and anything else you’ll need to finish the job.

3. Pack Up The Essentials First

Situations involving abusive households and natural disasters may prevent you from any type of formal moving process. Remember that your safety is the most important in this scenario and even your most beloved possessions are not worth dying for. If you do have a bit of time, focus on items that are difficult or impossible to replace.

  • Wallet
  • Important paperwork (birth certificates, insurance policies, social security card, medical records, vehicle registration, passport)
  • Medications
  • Family photographs & sentimental heirlooms
  • Cell phone & charger
  • Major electronics (laptops)
  • Minimal clothing

4. Hire A Fast & Reliable Moving Company

Once you know your move-out date, contact UF Mover Guys, a moving company Gainesville, FL, residents trust. Professional movers have plenty of experience moving and will be able to load and unload your truck much faster than you will. In many cases, we’re available for last-minute moves, and our help can make all the difference!

How to Manage Stress During a Move

Make the Gainesville Moving Process Less Stressful

Everyone knows that even with help from one of the best Florida moving companies, the moving process can still feel chaotic. You must ensure that everything from your old house is loaded on the truck, everything is brought to your house in one piece and you have time to unpack your belongings. With so many moving parts, it can be easy to get lost in the process but there are several different tips that can help you through the move.

Be Flexible

As you are searching for local moving companies Gainesville, FL residents trust, you should also be formulating a detailed plan to make sure that your old house is clean and you will have access to your new house when the moving truck arrives. Beyond that, it is important to accept the fact that things will come up. Perhaps new construction will cause you to be stuck in a traffic jam or you will have to stop at a pharmacy on the way to pick up medicine because one of your children are sick. Whatever the problem, plans can be adjusted to accommodate it.

Find Ways to Relax

When you chose which moving services you were going to use, you most likely selected them because they were well experienced and had a great reputation. Therefore, you should trust them to do their job. Let them do the heavy lifting on moving day. Consider starting off the day with yoga before the moving process begins. If you have to spend a long day in the car driving, take several breaks to stretch your legs, stretch and refocus. When you feel yourself worrying about what could go wrong, take several deep breaths and instead be in the moment with your loved ones.

Make the Experience Memorable

Contrary to popular opinion, moving doesn’t have to be miserable. Look for opportunities to make the experience fun. Keep your family entertained in the car by playing word games or the license plate game. When you feel yourself getting tired, turn on a playlist of your favorite music and dance it out. If you have a long drive ahead of you, don’t hesitate to make stops along the way. Your Gainesville movers will take care of unloading the truck, so stop at that enticing ice cream shop or visit that park you always wanted to take your children but never had time to before.

Your Guide to Moving With a Pet

Help Your Pet Adjust to Your Move in Florida

Regardless of how much planning goes into your Gainesville moving process, this time can still be stressful. But during this hectic period, consider how frightening this situation must be for pets. They do not understand what is happening and their environment is quickly shifting around them. Here are a few ways you can help the transition occur a bit more smoothly.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Gainesville Vet

Before you begin your Florida moving process, meet with your local veterinarian. If you are flying to your new location, you will need to provide the airline with a health certification verifying they have been examined within the past 10 days. At this time, you will want to inform your vet that you are moving and ask for records of prescriptions and other medical forms that you can bring with you to your new vet’s office.

Crates Will Simplify the Moving Process

During the move itself, your goal should be to help your pets remain as calm as possible. Keep your pets in kennels or carriers to keep them safe while the movers Gainesville, Florida residents recommended are loading and unloading the moving truck. In order to help them feel secure in their crate, leave it open in your house for about a week with a couple of their favorite toys so they have time to adjust to it. While you are actually moving, attempt to maintain their daily routine as much as possible. Keep a bag with necessities such as water, food, a leash and grooming supplies. Make sure they are well fed and hydrated throughout the day and allow your pets to stretch their legs when you have downtime.

Help Pets Acclimate to New Surroundings

Once you arrive, leave your dog or cat in their crate. Even though you might be tempted to let them explore their new home, this sudden change might be too overwhelming. Instead, try to set up the major pieces of furniture in at least one room before you bring in your pet. Then, allow them to adjust to its new surroundings before you open up the rest of the house.

How to Assist Various Types of Pets

If you have a bird, be sure to transfer them in a cage. Even if they typically spend time outside of their cage, they may have difficulty behaving again until they adjust. If you have fish, you will want to take extra precautions to keep the bags stable. However, if you are moving a long distance, even with one of the best Florida moving companies, the journey may be too dangerous and it would be better to leave your fish with friends and buy new fish once you arrive.

Deducting Moving Expenses

If you are moving to a new house to be closer to a new workplace, you can deduct moving costs from your taxes. These apply whether you are self employed or an employee of another company. In order to take advantage of these tax breaks, it is important to learn about what expenses are eligible.

Requirements to Qualify for Deductions During Your Gainesville Move

In order for your moving expenses related to storage, Gainesville movers and travel to qualify as deductions, your new house must be a certain distance away from your old one and you must continue working at your new job for a set amount of time after your move.

Distance

For the costs of lodging and Gainesville moving companies to be subtracted, your new primary office must be at least 50 miles farther from your new house than your original home was. This will be determined by the distance of the shortest route from your job site to your house. For example, if your current house is 10 miles away from your job, your future workplace must be at least 60 miles away from that same house. If you did not work while you were living in that home, your new job must be 50 miles away from your house.

Time

To prove to the IRS that your move is related to your job site, you must continue to work full time in the area surrounding your new office for at least 39 weeks during the next year after your move. If you are self employed, not only will you need to work 39 weeks in the next year in the area, but you will also be required to work there for 78 weeks during the next two years. In order to understand exactly what costs are deductible, IRS Publication 521 has a thorough record of possible expenses and Form 3903 can help you calculate the total amount that you can subtract.

Deductions for Your Moving Process in Gainesville, FL

When you are selling or buying your house, your deductions are not limited to the cost of movers in Gainesville, FL, and lodging. You can make claims on the actual sale or purchase of the building on your tax return as well.

Selling Your House

When you are putting your house on the market, you will be able to retain up to $250,000 from your tax return. However, in order to qualify for this deduction, you must be the legal owner of the property and be considered your primary residence for a total of two years out of the last five years. If you are married, file separately and both meet the eligibility requirements, you can claim up to $500,000. For more information, review the IRS Publication 523 for details on deductions when selling your house.

Purchasing Your House

Frequently, those who own their homes benefit from itemizing their deductions on their tax returns. Itemized deductions are preferable when the total amount of your deductions is more than the standard deductions. Your itemized list will include costs such as donations to charities, tax payments and casualty losses. As a homeowner, money that you use to pay off your mortgage or property taxes qualify as well. Publication 530 has more information on deductions related to your house while Publication 17 will help you decide whether you should itemize your tax returns or not.

Efficient Gainesville Moving Companies

If you are searching for a moving company Gainesville residents rely on, choose UF Mover Guys. Our team strives to ensure that all of your belongings arrive intact and on time. Contact us today to learn about our moving services.

How to Help Your Children Cope with Moving

Moving to a new house, city or state is difficult for anyone. From the search for reliable moving companies in Gainesville, FL, to setting up new utilities, the checklist never seems to end. For children, it is a whole other battle. Frequently, your children may not understand the reason why they must leave their house and school so it is important to try to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Difficulties of the Gainesville Moving Process

When children have to switch schools, leave their friends and live in a new home, they often experience high levels of stress and isolation. This is especially true if the transition occurs in the middle of the school year, causing them to fall behind in academics and feel like an outsider amongst the other students. For younger children, they may just be learning how to developmentally become separate from you, as their parent, and the move may cause them to become much more dependent again. Teenagers may have difficulty moving because so much of their stage of life is related to their social ranking and group of friends. It is important to be aware of the common indications of depression such as irritability, loss of appetite, sudden drop in grades, and increase in sleep so you can seek professional help if necessary.

Tips for Making Your Gainesville Move Easier for Your Children

Though your Gainesville movers will make the moving process simple, helping your children adjust might be more difficult. Here are a few helpful tips to make it easier.

Communicate Clearly

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to open a dialogue with your children. Clearly and calmly explain to them why the move is necessary for the family and why it is important for everyone to be supportive. Be sure to invite them to ask any questions and express any feelings they may have. If a child or teenager understands why the move is beneficial and feels heard, he or she may be more willing to accept the change.

Make the New City Seem Attractive

When a child first hears that they will be moving, most likely they do not know much about the area they are moving. Instead, the new city simply represents the place they do not want to be. While you are looking for Florida moving companies, spend some time researching what the surrounding area has to offer in order to help them to be excited about the prospect of their new home. For example, it might be close to an amusement park or the home of their favorite sports team.

Help Your Children Get Connected

When your children are resistant to the moving process, it is most likely caused by their desire to remain with their friends. Therefore, the sooner they are able to develop new friendships, the quicker they will begin to feel at home. Help them find sports teams, organizations and religious communities they can become involved with depending on their interests. If they are older, encourage them to try out for school teams, join an after school club or get a part time job.

Gainesville Moving Companies

If you are looking for efficient and reliable movers in Gainesville, FL, call UF Mover Guys. Our team will be efficient, honest and respectful to you, your family and your property. Contact us today to see how we can simplify your next move!

Tips for Investigating a New Neighborhood Before Moving

Finding out that your new neighborhood feels unsafe or too rowdy the night after your Gainesville movers leave is one of the worst things that can happen. That is why it is important to try to learn everything you can about your future neighborhood before you make any final decisions.

Exploring Your Future Gainesville Neighborhood

While your real estate agent is required to inform you about any factors of the surrounding area, he/she may not be aware of all aspects. Instead, you must take the initiative to learn about the community for yourself. Here are several steps you may want to consider before you finalize plans with your moving services in Gainesville.

Track Crime Rates

One of the common indicators that the neighborhood is less than ideal is the number of crimes committed in the surrounding area. There are several websites you can check such as myLocalcrime.com and Crimemapping.com. These sites have a list of all of the recent crimes that have been committed. Plug in the address of your new house and then a record will appear detailing what the charges were and on what date the incidents occurred.

Check Local Newspaper Stories

While you are looking for Florida moving companies, remember that newspapers can be another helpful resource. Most newspaper databases allow you to search according to the names of streets and neighborhoods. Here, you will find information about everything in the area from anniversaries and weddings to missing persons and unsolved murders.

Look for Registered Sex Offenders

The law requires all sex offenders to be registered on a list. Various websites such as the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Family Watchdog let you search the database with your address. Though these people must live somewhere, it is helpful to keep these facts in mind.

Spend Time Driving Around in the Neighborhood

Another helpful step during your Florida moving process is to spend time in your future neighborhood. Drive down the surrounding streets at different times throughout the day and night and be sure to go on both weekdays and weekends. Look for people jogging and children playing throughout the neighborhood, which are signs that the area is safe and has a sense of community. If you notice suspicious characters, run down houses, or a lack of people, it may be a sign that the area is not ideal. Make sure that you trust your gut. If you feel like something if off, take that into account.

Moving Companies in Gainesville, FL

Once you find the perfect house for you in the right neighborhood, you will need to find a moving company Gainesville, FL, residents trust. UF Mover Guys offer efficient and reliable services to make your moving process easier. Let us do the heavy lifting for you! Contact us today to learn how we can help you.

Smart Moving Hacks

Tips to Make Gainesville Moving Quicker

Let’s face it, no one enjoys packing, it is monotonous, time consuming and hurts your back. However, it is a task that must be completed one way or another. If you have to do it, you might as well look for ways to make the Florida moving process as seamless as possible. Here are a couple tricks that might speed things up a bit.

 

Utilize Towels and Sheets

Your linen will need to be packed anyway, so why not use them to protect your fragile items? Wrap vases and other breakables in these large pieces of fabric to keep them from breaking during the move. Not only will these items be protected, but you will save space by not needing to pack them separately. Additionally, it is environmentally friendly because you will not need to acquire as many other packing materials.

Color Code Boxes

When you are unloading boxes at your new residence, it can be confusing to figure out where each box goes. If you write the name of the room in a permanent marker, it can be difficult to find and read the label as you are carrying heavy boxes. Instead, color your boxes different colors according to their corresponding room. You can even use a variety of different colored packing tape to make the label more obvious in order to speed up the Gainesville moving process.

Pack Plates, Mirrors & Artwork Vertically

Traditionally, when we attempt to pack plates and other valuables, we stack them just like we do it in the cupboard. However, they are stronger and more stable if they remain vertical. Wrap objects like plates, mirrors and artwork and then place them in a large box so they are able to stand up. For mirrors and pieces of art, consider wrapping them in packing paper just as you would a present for superior coverage and support.

Keep Clothing on Hangers

It is quite time consuming to remove all of your clothing from their hangers, organize them in a box, pack the hangers separately and then rehang all of your clothing when you get to your new home. However, there is a much simpler method. Simply tie a group of hangers together with the clothing still on them. Then use plastic wrap or a garbage bag to secure all of the clothing, which your Florida movers will then be able to easily load into the truck. When you are unpacking, you can simply put the hangers in your closet and remove the plastic.

Use Soap to Fill in Holes

If you have several holes in your walls, but do not want to make the extra trip to the store for spackle, use household products. Take plain, white bar soap and scrub it over the holes in your walls. They will become filled quickly without the need for an unnecessary purchase.

Professional Gainesville Moving Companies

One of the worst parts of the moving process is attempting to carry heavy furniture out to the moving truck, especially in Florida. However, your move will be made much simpler if you allow Florida moving company to do it for you. Our team at UF Mover Guys will safely and efficiently move all of your belongings so you don’t have to.

Give Notice Before You Move Out

Properly Notifying Your Apartment Manager

No matter how much you enjoy your current apartment, unexpected life events happen. Do you suddenly have to move out of town for a job or family? Are you getting married? Whatever the reason, you will need to learn the proper way to notify your landlord in order to maintain a positive relationship and ensure a positive Gainesville moving experience.

Importance of Giving Notice

If you leave your apartment in negative terms, you may feel the effects for many years to come. In many ways, a negative experience with a landlord is similar to being fired from a job. Future prospective housing options will call your past landlords to determine whether you are a trusted tenant. However, if you leave a poor last impression with management, they will tell your new apartment manager negative facts that will greatly decrease your likelihood of getting your desired apartment. Notifying your landlord of your move with plenty of time will provide them with time to find a replacement and they will be less frustrated with you.

Review Your Lease

The key to renting from someone is to remember that your lease is a binding legal contract. Whenever you want to take a new step in regards to your relationship with your landlord, you must look over the fine print. Most likely, it will clearly state their policy on getting out of a lease early and how long your current contract is for. Also, be sure to keep track of rental cycles. Often, notice must coincide with the cycle so that if you provide notice in the middle of a month, it may take the remaining two weeks for the actual notice period to begin. It is always beneficial to provide more notice than necessary in order to be safe. Then you are free to begin scheduling with your Gainesville movers without fear of tension with management.

How Do You Give Notice?

In any relationship that involves the exchange of money or services, you must keep everything in writing. Therefore, you need to write a letter clearly describing your intentions. Be sure to write your full address with your unit number. One of the most important details is to write the date. This will help document when you provided notice. Then add the address of the management office. In the main part of the letter, you will want to include when you are planning on moving out, if you know of another tenant who wants to move in and whether you are going to thoroughly clean your unit in hopes of getting your security deposit back. At the end, you will want to provide your new address so they will be able to forward your security deposit to you. In order to give it to them, you can choose to do it in person, get delivery confirmation or send it by certified mail. Make sure that you keep a copy for yourself as proof.

Moving in Florida

When you want to end a rental lease for an apartment, it is not as easy as a simple conversation. You must follow your contract, keep everything in writing and do it in advance. Once this is completed, you will be free to hire a Gainesville moving company and begin packing without fear of repercussions.

Moving Out? Fix Any Damage First

Fix Any Damage Before Moving Out

Understandably, when you live somewhere for an extended periods of time accidents happen. You knocked over an entire glass of red wine on your carpet, your friend punched a hole in the wall during a dance off or you made a huge scratch in your flooring while moving your sofa in. While landlords will be understanding of minimal wear and tear, they will be less tolerant of other forms of damage. Here are several tips for repairs you can utilize before your Florida movers arrive.

Remove Scratches

If you have scratches in your hardwood flooring or scuffs on your baseboards, there are steps you can take to make them look like new. Use walnuts to wipe the scuffs away on your wooden surfaces. If this proves to be ineffective, you can purchase a wood colored marker from your local hardware store. Then use it to fill in the scratches until they disappear. In order to make your baseboards look like new, use Mr. Clean’s Magic Erasers. Wet them with water and watch the dirt and grime quickly disappear.

Repair Blinds

Blinds are quite fragile and can easily break. Begin by using a wet rag or paper towel to remove any dust or debris that have built up on the surface and you will be immediately surprised at the difference. If any of the blinds are bent, try your best to straighten them as much as possible. If you are unable to make them look nice, go to your local hardware store and purchase another set that are the same color and style. It will be cheaper to purchase them yourself rather than if your landlord does it for you.

Clean Stains

Hopefully, you have been trying to remove stains as they occur. After all, they are much easier to clean if they have not set in completely yet. However, you may have missed a couple stains once your Florida moving company removes all of your furniture from the area. Begin by applying baking soda to the stain and scrubbing it clean. If this fails, you might want to consider renting a carpet cleaner. You will be surprised at how nice your flooring will look when you are finished.

Fill Small & Large Holes

The majority of apartments and houses have a variety of holes from accidents or nails that held up décor. If the holes are small, there is a simple fix. Use spackle to fill them in, allow it to dry and then use sandpaper to make it flush with the surrounding wall. You can also use a bar of white bar soap as a cheaper alternative by rubbing it across the hole until it is filled in. If you have a larger hole, your job becomes a bit more complicated. Visit your local hardware store and purchase a repair kit. Place the patch on the hole, then apply spackle and sand it down.

Perform Repairs Before Your Gainesville Move

Remember that the more repairs you are able to perform yourself, the less your landlord will have to do. Any cleaning or repairs he makes will cost more than if you attempt to do them yourself. It may take time to thoroughly inspect and fix issues at your residence, but it will be worth it when you receive your security deposit back in full when you move out. To make your moving process as successful as possible, allow a Florida moving company to safely move your belongings for you.