How to Move Kitchen Utensils and Appliances

The kitchen is one of the most difficult areas to pack. Image is from 4homeinterior.com.

The kitchen is one of the most difficult areas to pack. A wide variety of things must be packed: appliances, glasses, utensils, etc.

How do you move a kitchen? Make sure you are ready to dive in before you actually do.

Grab a pencil and some paper, sit down and make a list. This list should include what you want to pack immediately, what you want to wait on, what is breakable, what you are going to get rid of, and the timeline you want to achieve all of this in.

After you finish your list, gather the supplies you need. The supplies should include your packing boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper, tape, labeling supplies, blankets and anything else you anticipate needing to pack.

Obtaining your supplies will keep you motivated. Having them on hand will prevent unexpected road bumps while packing.

Start With the Big Appliances

If you were to hire UF Mover Guys, we would likely start with the big appliances. Once these appliances are packed, you can fit the small utensils around them to save space in packing.

Also, large items are quicker to pack and will present the appearance of having the kitchen further along than it is, which helps you stay motivated to keep going. Then you can start with the breakables.

Packing fragile dishes will take a long time because you will want to wrap them carefully to make sure they don’t get damaged during the move.  You need to stack them carefully in the boxes, and you need to make sure the boxes are stacked appropriately in the truck the way professional movers would stack the boxes.

You could always just hire us to do this for you.  We will have the supplies to pack appropriately, the expertise to do it right and the experience to do it fast and efficiently.

When packing your kitchen, unless it is moving day, you will want to keep the things you will actually continue to use until the move unpacked.  The last thing you will want is to be unpacking your boxes to pull out items you need to use.

Common items to pack are serving dishes, all-in-one makers, even toasters and blenders if you don’t use them daily.

Always make sure you label your boxes with words like fragile, breakable, kitchen, and this side up.  Lack of labeling has resulted in many broken dishes over the years.

What about the Food?

Food is the one area everyone has a hard time with.  If you aren’t going to consume your food before the move, get it packed.

One place people often struggle with is canned items.  Pack these in small boxes because they will get heavy and fast.  You will find yourself unpacking cans if you don’t follow this advice because you won’t be able to lift the box, and even if you can the box is likely to break.

Start using items that will go bad, and stop buying refrigerated and frozen items until the move. You will be shocked at how much food you throw away if you don’t consider this process immediately.

Cookbooks are just like cans; be careful not to back too many of them in one box.  How much can paper weigh?  If you don’t follow this advice you might find out in an unpleasant way.

UF Mover Guys have this technique down and are ready to help you with any questions you have.

Lastly, remember that you still have tables, chairs and possibly other large items that you won’t necessary pack in boxes but you need to account for when loading the truck.

Source: Packing and Moving a Kitchen — All Tips in One List

How To Properly Wrap And Pad Furniture

The No. 1 rule to remember is that all of the items should be carefully wrapped and padded. Image is from customstoragesystem.com.

Few people look forward to the work, preparation and planning involved in moving. You can make the day less stressful if you approach it in a thoughtful and strategic way.

The first step is to hire a reputable company. UF Mover Guys is one of the most respected moving companies in Gainesville.

Our company is a full service company that will take care of all your needs. One service that we take pride in is offering tips and advice for our customers.

In this article, we will give you a short but thorough overview about how best to protect your furniture during your move. Furniture and heavy items should be properly padded and protected before being moved in a truck, trailer or automobile.

The No. 1 rule to remember is that all of the items should be carefully wrapped and padded. This is the best way to prevent injury or damage to the item as it is being moved from your old home to your new one.

All furniture should be wrapped with blankets and plastic stretch wrap. Bubble wrap, pads and blankets provide the best protection.

Moving blankets are expensive, which tempts some people to use regular home blankets and towels. While these are better than nothing, ordinary home towels much less protection than moving blankets.

Professional quality blankets can be rented, and they are worth the money. You want to make sure that you have enough blankets to fully cover and wrap all of your furniture.

The number of blankets obviously depends upon the number and size of the items. At Gainesville Moving, we have found that the typical customer usually requires 30 to 100 blankets.

As a general rule of thumb, 30 blankets are usually sufficient for a small one-bedroom apartment. Most items require two to five blankets for full coverage.

The first step in padding and wrapping furniture is to secure any movable parts such as drawers, doors and the legs if they move back and forth.  We suggest that you should always stop at the top of the furniture item and work downwards when covering it with furniture pads.

The pads should completely cover the furniture. Make sure that no part of the furniture is exposed. Any exposed area is at risk during the moving process.

Coverage also makes loading the furniture quicker and more efficient for the movers. They do not have to worry about nicks, scratches or other injuries to the furniture as they carry and load it onto the truck or trailer.

Wrapping the covered furniture with stretch wrap provides additional security and protection.  The plastic should be tight as you wrap it.  Avoid leaving any space between the wrap and the item you are wrapping.

Inspect all the items once they are wrapped.  Make sure that all the surface areas are covered and protected.

Take your time and do not rush. Properly covering and wrapping all of the furniture takes a little additional time to, but you can move it with much more security and confidence.

If you have any additional questions about heavy furniture contact us. UF Mover Guys will be happy to answer all your questions.

Moving to an Apartment in Gainesville, Fla.

Take advantage of the exceptional online tools available for coordinating your move. Image is from lambertrelocation.com.

Before you can even worry about getting a Gainesville moving company, you have to find an apartment in Gainesville, Fla. There are a lot of choices in town to choose from, and it can be a bit overwhelming trying to find your new perfect home.

Fortunately, there are sites dedicated to helping you find the perfect Gainesville apartment that fits your budget and desires to remove a little bit of stress in finding a new apartment.

Whether you have a particular budget, features and amenities, bedrooms or perhaps a combination of it all, you can utilize easy to use filters on these sites to browse through numerous Gainesville apartments.

You’ve done some searching and have it narrowed down to two or three but can’t make up your mind? Try using this tool that lets you compare Gainesville apartments and put the prices and features side by side.  It makes it a lot easier to see it all in on one page of what each apartment complex has to offer.

Still not sure which apartment you want to move to? Take your favorites and read up on the reviews for Gainesville apartments and see what people have to say who are living there or have lived there in the past.

Quickly and easily browse the reviews left by real tenants. Read multiple review sites to get a better feel for the community and understanding of what to expect.

Found an apartment and ready to move?  

Great, that’s where we come in! We will finish the process for you here at UF Mover Guys to continue to make your move as stress free as possible.

We’re here to help you move to your new apartment in Gainesville.  Don’t let the name fool you, we’re a complete Gainesville moving service regardless of whether you live in an apartment near UF or a house somewhere across town.

Contact us today about our moving specials for Gainesville!

Items Movers Can and Should Not Move

You should be aware of the certain items that movers will not transport due to safety, ethical laws or state laws. Image is from chemistry.about.com

While it’s always great to have the help of a moving company to transport your possessions from one location to another, you should be aware of the certain items that movers will not transport due to safety, ethical laws or state laws. UF Mover Guys can help clarify how particular items can be moved if they won’t do so. Somethings are just better moved personally as opposed to having someone do it for you.

Law states that pets can not be transported in a moving truck over any length of distance. Therefore, you should make arrangements to transport your pet in a personal vehicle while in a carrier or cage for safety.

Most states prohibit transporting plants over a certain distance, typically over 150 miles. So, if you’re relocating across a town, Gainesville Movers can transport your plants. However, if you’re relocating to somewhere over 150 miles away, they won’t be able to.

Hazardous items, which is anything that’s flammable, corrosive, or explosive, will not moved by movers who by law, are required to refuse transporting such items. Any acids, weed killer, bleach, nail polish and remover, gasoline, matches, charcoal, batteries, loaded weapons, fireworks, ammunition, car oil, and anything of that sort should be properly disposed of.

Any item that’s perishable also may not be moved by Gainesville Moving, however they may do so if the perishable items are properly packed and will require no servicing. You’ll have to discuss whether or not they’ll transport your perishable items.

Although it’s not law, you should keep yourself responsible for transporting items that can not be replaced, such as personal records, photos, keys, medications, anything of sentimental value and so forth in case the items get delayed, lost, or damaged in transport by Gainesville Moving.

Companies will also usually not move such items as cash, jewelry, or other items of value. These kind of things are best being moved in a personal vehicle where you know where they are. If you happen to have a lot of valuables that needs transporting, there are specialized companies that can provide security officers for that service.

Whether you’re just relocating a few miles away to another part of town, or venturing off to a new state, laws and regulations can determine what can and can not be transported by a company over a certain distance or not at all. It’s also best to find out this information before making the move and know how to be prepared.

Becoming a Moving Company Detective

Because relocation has many potential pratfalls, our Gainesville Movers believe it is important that consumers become moving-company detectives. Image is from manchester.edu.

Moving is one of the most fatiguing and time consuming processes. While many people decide to tackle the task on their own, they often run the risks of hurting their backs, threatening the well-being of their property and taking massive amounts of personal time away from work. Moving-companies can be a life-saver in both expediting and easing the massive undergoing of moving. Regardless, outsourcing to paid movers has its own set of headaches.

We’ve all heard the horror stories; boxes full of precious property gone missing, cracks in 60 inch LED flat screen televisions and irremovable dirty footprints on plush new carpeting. Often times, such stories can be true despite whatever dollar-figure is paid for a mover’s services. In the end, price is secondary to the level of customer service provided by a given company. Because relocation has many potential pratfalls, our Gainesville Movers believe it is important that consumers become moving-company detectives.

Simply browsing a series of web listings, comparing prices and reading company websites is not going to be a enough to make a truly informed financial decision. Instead, customers should arm themselves with important questions, ensuring potential prospects are closely interrogated before one pounces upon a business’s self-proclaimed “hot-deal.” In addition, consumers should always follow up questioning by asking former customers about previous experiences. Reputable companies may swear upon a clean track record and choose to omit instances where their services were not great. In comparison, other customer’s are more willing to be honest with fellow consumers. Ask each business for references that you can follow-up with.

Be sure to use questions similar to these:

  • Did the former customer receive a binding or nonbinding estimate? If the estimate was nonbinding, how much did the mover exceed the quote by? Why did the quote change?
  • When signing the contract, did the reference have the option for any insurance or promised compensation for damage incurred to the customer’s possessions? If so, did the customer find they were good on their promise if damage was incurred?
  • Did the contractor show up at an agreed upon time, as per their contract?
  • How well did the company adhere to the estimated time-line for service?
  • Did the company have the necessary equipment needed to wrap items carefully and provide safe transportation?
  • Did the hired crew have clear directions to the new residence, ensuring their was no wasted time on the road?
  • If any unexpected delays arose, was the reference contacted with an explanation of why they were held up? If so, was the reference charged additionally for the unforeseen issue?
  • Did any of the customer’s belongings suffer damage as a result of the mover’s mishandling any time during the transportation process? If yes, how extensive was the damage?
  • Was the crew enthusiastic, friendly and willing to work hard without complaint? Was the reference met with verbal obstacles and delays? Examples could include, “This item is too large” or “We aren’t hired to take furniture apart”?

Often times, companies similar to UF Mover Guys may offer fantastic service; however, it is still crucial that people ensure every mover investigated is licensed with the Department of Transportation and/or Interstate Commerce Commission of a given state. Contacting the Better Business Bureau can provide a wealth of knowledge on likely moving-company options, including licenses, customer complaints and unethical employee treatment.

Once a consumer has fully researched about four to five companies, one can begin narrowing down choices. From those four to five companies, two or three viable prospects should standout. Only now should a customer begin receiving quotes from moving-companies. Comparing customer service with the offered quote will provide a fully informed prospect. As a detective, costumers can ensure a smooth and affordable relocation process.

Helping Area Families Have a Great Holiday

Helping Area Families Have a Great Holiday

food4kidsbackpackprogram

 

Today, UF Mover Guys lucky enough to be able to support a great local charity.  We picked up and delivered 6 pallets of food for the Food4kids Backpack program North Florida.  Today’s delivery will help fill boxes going home to lots of local families in need of some support for their holiday meals.

About Food4kids Backpack program North Florida:

CAM00185

This program was modeled after the National Feeding America Backpack Program.  The national initiative has been successfully implemented locally, regionally, and nationally by individuals who saw a need and acted!

In March of 2010, with

guidance and mentoring provided by Food4Kids of Alachua, Jennifer Moore started a Food4Kids Backpack Program at Terwilliger Elementary in Gainesville, Florida.  This program would not exist today without Jennifer’s commitment and the help provided by Food4Kids of Alachua.

In 2011, the Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, Inc. was founded after a local parent and volunteer, Todd Morrone, became aware of the program and partnered with Jennifer to make a difference in the life of a child.

Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization with the State of Florida and is 100% volunteer run.

Moving To Help The Community

Moving To Help The Community

ami kids

UF Mover Guys recently helped AMIKids-Gainesville move to their newly built facility in Gainesville.  AMIkids Gainesville is one of more than 50 programs across the country affiliated with nationally-recognized AMIkids, headquartered in Tampa, Florida.  They are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing our community’s kids an opportunity to transform into responsible young adults.  We offer kids a promising future through positive and motivating programs that inspire learning, leadership and personal growth..  The organization holds a special place in the heart of UF Mover Guys manager, Brad Stumpff.  Stumpff said, “AMI was where I had my first teaching job and where I developed my love for helping at-risk kids.”  While working there Brad developed a lifelong friendship with AMI’s executive director, Dan Bacallao.  “When Dan called and talked to me about their upcoming move, I knew we had to get involved and help!” said Stumpff.

Here, Stan Travis and Kenny unload the items going into the new building.
Here, Stan Travis and Kenny unload the items going into the new building.

UF Mover Guys donated over $1,000 in labor and materials to help AMI move from their former campus in Micanopy, to their brand new facility in Gainesville.  We try to give back to the community when given the chance.