Category: Moving Tips

The process of moving from one house to another is a significant undertaking. This rings especially true for parents planning to move. Between managing schedules for work and school and planning and executing a move, all the responsibilities of daily life and the impending relocation fall on the hands of parents. However, one way to help streamline the moving process is to make your kids a part of the moving process. Providing kids with moving responsibilities — that accommodate their respective skill sets — not only keeps them entertained and busy, but it can also help comfort them in the face of this significant life change. If you’re a parent planning a move, consider these four tips from movers in Gainesville with UF Mover Guys for the best ways your kids can help move.

Contact us today to request a free quote and to schedule local moving services.

Downsizing Belongings

A cardinal rule of moving is getting rid of excess. Relocations are great opportunities for paring down what we own and only keeping the things that serve a necessary function and the items that matter to us. Parents not only have to edit their belongings, but they also must tackle all their kids’ things too. Involving your kids in this organizational stage of moving is both an excellent way to delegate responsibility and help teach children the importance of living without excess and giving back to their local community. Offer kids a box and ask them to go through their belongings and to put into the box the things they no longer play with or need that another child might enjoy. Before dropping off the items for donation, sift through the collection to ensure nothing particularly important — like car keys — accidentally gets donated.

Labeling Boxes

If your child can and enjoys writing or drawing, consider handing over to them the important job of labeling your moving boxes. Labeling boxes can do a lot for moving families, especially when it comes time to unload the moving truck and decide where to put each box in the new home. In addition to labeling boxes based on where they should go in the new place, your kids can decorate the boxes by drawing the items included in each box or just doodle as they please. Delegating the task of moving-box labeler might save a small amount of time during the moving process, but it can also serve a larger purpose by keeping your kids busy and involved while you focus on packing up and moving.

Packing Their Essentials Bag

When it comes to moving, not everything should be packed in moving boxes. Each member of your family should have an essentials bag set aside. This bag should contain everything each person might need in the days leading up to and following the move. By having an essentials bag handy during the move, you can avoid digging through already packed boxes to find everyday essentials. For kids, essentials can include their toiletries, pajamas, favorite blanket or toy, books, and any other regular necessities. For children who can read, we recommend providing them with a checklist of items detailing the items they should pack. If your child isn’t old enough to read just yet, hand them a bag and tell them to go for it. In this case, you might need to make some adjustments to the bag’s contents, but it serves as a way to help kids feel included in the moving process, and some of the work will be done for you.

Mapping Our Their New Room

Relocations are a big deal for kids. Some kids might feel anxious or scared about giving up their old room for a new one. One of the best ways to help your child adjust their ideas about your move is mapping out their new room before your planned moving day. Outline what their new room will look like and ask them to illustrate how they want to arrange it. This can include where they want to put their bed, desk, or other furniture pieces, among other items. You probably won’t end up with a detailed blueprint that you can follow directly, but you might get a good idea about how they envision their bedroom set-up. Once they are finished with this project, consider sitting with them and discussing additional ideas, such as designating a space in the room for a special reading nook or a craft corner. 

Like any major undertaking, moving takes a considerable amount of planning and organization. Unfortunately, not everyone is an expert planner. Some even prefer to wait until the last minute to begin planning, organizing, and packing. So, if you’re one of those people who struggle with organization, does that mean you’re doomed to have a stressful, chaotic move? Not at all! In fact, you can get the ball rolling on moving prep by using the following packing cheatsheet from the expert movers at our Gainesville moving company.

Contact UF Mover Guys today to request a free quote on any of our local moving services!

Storage Items

The items you have stored away in your garage, basement, attic, and deep in the back of your closets should be some of the first items you pack up. Considering that many of the items in these places may already be packed into storage bins, this should be an easy place to start. Just make sure to take some time to purge items you no longer need and consolidate space by combining things into fewer boxes.

Fine China

It’s unlikely you’ll be hosting any fancy dinner parties right before you move, so go ahead and start packing up that fine china. Go ahead and pack up any other dishes you rarely use as well. Remember to label any boxes that contain breakable dishes as “fragile” and ensure they’re packed very carefully. 

Wall Art

Leading up to moving day, your house probably won’t be the tidiest it’s ever been. So, you might as well go ahead and pack away decorative pieces like artwork, family photos, and any other ornamental wall hangings intended to liven up. Packing up wall art early on also gives you a chance to make sure you have enough time to pull nails out of the wall and fill any holes if you live in a rental.

Knick-Knacks

Knick-knacks, trinkets, and gewgaws are next. Knick-knacks could be old souvenirs, tabletop decor, your kids’ toys, or even your garden gnomes. Go ahead and pack them up now, as these items are small enough to be easily forgotten later on. 

Out-Of-Season Clothes

If you’re moving in the summer, there’s no reason you can’t go ahead and pack up all those heavy winter coats. Luckily, clothes are easy to pack. You don’t even need to take them off their hangar! Just grab a trash bag, bundle a few clothing items up next to each other, slide the trash bag around the bundle, and tie the trash bag off with the hangars poking out of the top. This way you can just hang them up and pull the bag off when you get to the new place.

Books

Books are heavy, especially when a bunch of them are packed into a single box, so you might as well get them out of the way first. If you’ve got one or two books you’d like to keep out to read during the move, that’s fine, but go ahead and pack up the rest of the library. Also, make sure to comb through your collection and look for any books you may have borrowed. The last thing you want is to make off with a buddy’s book, especially if returning it means you’ll have one less book to transport.

Moving can quickly zap anyone’s drive, but there are few extra steps you can take to maximize your energy and even find new sources of motivation when your reserves are running low. Don’t struggle through another minute of moving without checking out these energy-boosting tips from UF Mover Guys. And if you need a little extra help, request a free quote from our Gainesville moving company!

Get Enough Sleep

You can’t maintain energy levels if you aren’t providing your body with enough sleep to begin with. But, we know, sleeping regular hours during a move can be difficult. You might be stressed or overwhelmed by everything you have to do, or you might be physically over-exhausted. Either way, it’s not uncommon to be stuck counting sheep during a life change as significant as moving. Still, getting proper amounts of quality sleep will help keep stress in check and better prepare your body to cope with all of the extra work. If you’re finding it difficult to sleep during a move, try meditating 15-minutes before sleep. You can also take natural sleep aids, such as melatonin and chamomile, to ease you into a restful slumber.

Nourish Your Body

In addition to getting enough sleep, your body requires nutrients and hydration to meet the extra demand. Even though you might be busy, it’s important not to skip meals. Make mealtime a moment to relax and regroup. Also, avoid heavy or fatty meals that will weigh you down and cause bloating. Instead, enjoy lighter meals that are packed with vitamins and nutrients to keep you feeling your best. It’s also important to drink plenty of water. Hydration is vital for maintaining high energy levels under normal circumstances, and it’s crucial during increased physical activity such as moving.

Avoid Alcohol And Excess Caffeine

When it comes to drinking during a move, stick with water. When your energy dips in the afternoon, it may be tempting to brew another cup of coffee or make a quick trip to your favorite café. Still, caffeine can actually have the opposite effect of what you’re intending. Drinking too much caffeine, whether from energy drinks or coffee, can dehydrate you and send your energy levels plummeting fast after that initial jolt of stamina. And while indulging in a cold beer or two might make the monotony of packing or unpacking seem more bearable, alcohol also dehydrates you, slows you down, and negatively affects your quality of sleep, producing an avoidable cycle of sleepiness. Save the celebratory drinks for when the move’s over!

Get The Music Going

Whether it’s funk, pop, classic rock, hip hop, country, or electronic, play some music that really gets you going. Not only will it provide a tempo to match your work to, but it can also make a dull experience more enjoyable. Play moving karaoke while you pack the dishes, and you might be surprised to find that you’re having fun. Who knows, the next song that comes on could be your second wind to unpack those last few boxes.

Take Breaks With Purpose

When you’ve been lugging around boxes and furniture all morning, you probably want to do nothing but stare at your phone during a break. However, this can be counterproductive because once you stop moving, it can actually take a whole lot more energy just to get the ball rolling again. Instead of checking out during a break, try doing something that allows you to break away from moving but still keeps you active. Take the dog for a walk, head to the store for more packing tape, or cool off with a nice shower. If you absolutely must have a break where you’re doing nothing, limit the time to 5 or 10 minutes.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

It’s understandable to want to do it all yourself, but you’re just one person. Even if you’re moving with family members, a significant other, or a friend, moving is a lot of work, especially when you’re not used to it. Seeking out the services of professional movers can make all the difference between burning out or enjoying setting up your new home. Many moving companies can even help with junk removal so you have fewer things to move.

Sometimes, people may have to move before selling their house or before the lease on their apartment comes to an end. No big deal, timelines between new and old tenants rarely align. However, it can be worrisome being responsible for two properties at once, especially since vacant properties are more susceptible to break-ins, vandalism, and other forms of criminal activity. So, what’s the best way to protect your vacant home or empty apartment in the days, weeks, or months you’re still responsible for it?

No need for a property-wide electric fence or alligator-filled moat — instead, just follow these seven simple security tips from the UF Mover Guys!

Contact us today to request a free quote on any of our local moving services!

Make It Look Like Someone Still Lives There

One of the most effective ways to protect your empty home is by making it look like someone still lives there. The reason vacant properties are targeted in the first place is the lack of human presence, so simulating occupancy will naturally deter criminals by erasing any perceived opportunity. A couple of good ways to simulate presence is by leaving a car parked in the driveway and scheduling indoor lights to turn on at certain times. Also, an overflowing mailbox is a dead giveaway that a home is vacant, so stop by and empty the mailbox now and then.

Don’t Leave Any Spare Keys Outside

It sounds obvious, but it’s not uncommon for people to leave their spare key underneath the welcome mat, in a potted plant, or above the doorframe of their vacant home in case they need to come back inside at a later time. Never do this, as those are the places a would-be intruder would check first. Instead, leave the spare key with a trusted neighbor or friend. Even if you believe you’ve found the perfect hiding spot, don’t leave your key outside — it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Double-Check All Windows & Doors

Amidst the hustle and bustle of move out day, you may forget to lock and secure all of the home’s windows and doors. To help avoid this, make sure the last thing you do on move-out day is to go through the house and double-check that every window and door is locked and secure. Also, a few weeks ahead of time, ensure that all the home’s locks hold strong. If any locks have been compromised, replace them before moving out. The last thing you want to do is leave the house wide open to intruders.

Keep The Alarm System Running

The more protection you have in place, the better, so hold off on ending the contract of your vacant home’s security system until necessary. Also, be sure to have anything that advertises the security system, from window decals to yard signs, prominently displayed. If you do decide to disconnect the home’s security systems on move-out day, at least leave the decals and signs up to convince criminals otherwise.

Ask Someone To Check On The Home

Moving too far away to check on the house yourself? Have a friend, family member, or even trusted neighbor stop by the property a few times a week and report any suspicious activity. Ask them to empty the mailbox, park their car in the driveway occasionally, and do anything else they can to make it look like people are still living there. Having watchful eyes on the property is worth it just for the peace-of-mind.

Install Motion Detector Lights

Motion detector lights are more than enough to discourage would-be intruders from entering a vacant home and make for cost-effective alternatives to a home security system. If you’re worried about someone lurking around the vacant home at night, install motion detector lights over the garage door, front door, backyard, and sides of the house. This strategic placement greatly reduces the number of ways an intruder could approach the house.

Take Care Of The Yard

An overgrown lawn is a telltale sign of a vacant home. For as long as the house is under your ownership, keep up with the landscaping. If you’re moving too far to stop by and give the grass trim, hire someone to do it for you. No need to keep every bush and tree trim and manicured; just ensuring the grass is cut regularly will suffice. Plus, having lawn care professionals stop by regularly is the kind of frequent activity that would deter criminals.

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Moving soon? Check out more of our moving tips or contact our moving company to schedule residential moving services!

Here at UF Mover Guys, we know you probably have a mountain of things to do before moving into a new place. Between packing, decluttering, and scheduling moving services, you may not have much time to thoroughly inspect your new residence — let alone make any repairs before you move in. However, there really is no better time to make certain home improvements than when the house is empty, free of furniture.

If you find yourself with enough time on your hands, consider making the following repairs and home improvements before moving into your new home. And, as always, contact our moving company, UF Mover Guys to request a free moving quote.

Interior Painting

If you’ve ever had to paint a wall, you know how much of a hassle it is to remove whatever is in the way, especially sofas and other bulky items. Not only do you run the risk of damaging your furniture and shelving when painting around them, but the paint’s smell may stick around your upholstery for weeks. On the other hand, if you thoroughly inspect your new home’s interior walls for blemishes and uneven paint jobs before hauling in your furniture, you won’t have as many problems. On the contrary, you’ll likely be better able to spot issues and do a better job painting when the room is clear of any obstacles.

Flooring

Flooring is similarly easier to survey, repair, and replace when nothing is in the way, perhaps more so than walls. Regardless of their material, floors sustain a lot of wear and tear over the years (and unrelenting pet smells as well, especially carpeting.) If your new home dates back more than half a century, we highly encourage you to update the flooring. Vinyl is increasingly becoming popular among homeowners thanks mainly to its durability, affordability, and customizability. Are you worried about scratching your floor while hauling in furniture? Hire professional movers with UF Mover Guys. We’ll take care of your new home like our own.

Popcorn Walls & Ceilings

If your new home dates back before the 1990s, chances are it has at least some popcorn ceilings and textured walls. These were favored in years past, but they are now largely unpopular and might even pose serious health risks to you and your family. The reason being that popcorn ceilings and textured walls often feature outdated construction materials, such as asbestos. Removing the textured part from walls and ceilings is now relatively straightforward but will require you to remove all furniture and belongings from the room. Save yourself the hassle, schedule a thorough inspection, and remove any popcorn ceilings before moving in.

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Need help downsizing and decluttering before move-in day? Check out our decluttering guide and contact us to schedule junk removal and hauling services.

If you’ve ever had to relocate for school or work in a pinch, you probably know how quickly moving costs can add up. Whether you need to buy more packing supplies, hire professional movers, or get a pet sitter for move-out day, there always seems to be one more thing to do on the moving-day list, especially if you didn’t get much time to plan your move. So, how can you stay within budget next time you need to move? Your safest bet is to start making plans as soon as you know you’ll be relocating, that way you’ll have plenty of time to weigh all available options.

Fortunately, moving doesn’t have to break the bank. With enough preparations, you can cut down on costs. Follow these simple tips from UF Mover Guys to ensure your move stays within budget.

Looking for affordable movers in Gainesville, FL? Contact us to get a free quote!

Downsizing Is Key

You’ve probably heard this before, but it’s worth reminding — there’s hardly a better time to downsize than during a move. Not only will you save time and money by having fewer items to pack, load, move, and unload, but you also have an opportunity to make a bit of extra cash by selling unused items. Less things to transport also means you can rent a smaller van, hire movers for less time, and run less risk of damaging your belongings on the way to your new place.

Know Where & How To Sell Unused Items

The best place to sell used items nowadays is online. Use marketplace applications and reply to inquiries right away to encourage buyers and use verifiable forms of payment like cashier’s checks or direct payment applications to avoid scams. If you can’t wait to find a buyer online, consider selling to a local thrift store instead. Just make sure to look at their online reviews to ensure they are a trustworthy business.

Be Mindful Where You Leave Trash

Need to get rid of bulky items? Be careful when leaving items like furniture on the side of the road, even when next to a dumpster. Depending on your area’s regulations, you may be subject to illegal dumping fines. To be safe, contact our local movers for junk removal services and guarantee that your trash is disposed of properly. Back at your old place, make sure to go through every room looking for any trash that might prevent you from getting your security deposit back.

Store Expensive Items For Later

Deciding what to keep is not always easy. Some things, like an extra bed set or dinner table, may be in the way now but might come in handy later. If you’re not ready to part with some of your belongings or think you’ll need them in the future, find affordable storage services in your area to keep them secure and out of your way. While it may seem tedious to relocate furniture, replacing big items like couches or beds is usually far costlier than simply storing them away.

Find Cheap & Free Packing Supplies

Packing supplies may not be the biggest threat to your wallet when moving, but they can make a dent nonetheless. If you plan your move ahead of time, you may have a better chance of finding cheap or even free packaging supplies. Ask around. Your friends and family may have some leftover cardboard boxes they wouldn’t mind donating. Check local grocery stores and ask if you can take any extra boxes while checking out. Slowly but surely, you’ll gather enough.

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For the best value in town, trust our moving company to deliver affordable and reliable residential moving services. UF Mover Guys is fully licensed, insured, and ready to help you transition into your new home stress-free. Contact us to request a free, no-obligation quote.