Places to Meet People After Moving to Gainesville

Sometimes, moving to a new place can be isolating and you may find yourself cooped up in your apartment by yourself on a Friday night. In addition to getting accustomed to navigating your way around a new city, and unpacking your plethora of boxes delivered by your Gainesville movers, you must also form new social connections. This may be particularly overwhelming if you do not know where to go.

School or Work

This may seem obvious but if you are a student you will regularly see the same people in your classes and if you work you spend the majority of your time at your job. Do not be afraid to be outgoing and strike up a conversation with someone you do not know. You will automatically have something in common to talk about and they may be interested in spending time together outside of that environment. Take advantage of that time together and do not let yourself be a hermit in those situations.

Volunteer

There are many places that require a lot of help. A great way to fill your time is by finding ways to make a difference in your community. There are many different places you can volunteer in Gainesville depending on your passions and what you might enjoy doing. While you are volunteering, you will interact with other people and it has the potential to be a great way to meet new friends.

Student Life

If you are a student, take advantage of organized events. Gator Nights is held every Friday night at the University of Florida. They show new movies that have been recently been released, and have free food, crafts and other activities you can participate in. The best part is it is all for free! Many UF students attend this event so it is a perfect way to socialize.

Joining one of UF’s 1,000 organized clubs is always another option. This is preferable because there are so many options, you are guaranteed to find one that corresponds with your interests. These smaller groups also facilitate the growth of friendships and they also look good on your resume.

Community Events

If you find yourself with free time on a weekend, do not spend it in your apartment curled up on couch. Instead, look up activities occurring in the community. For instance, in the summer, there are periodic festivals with musicians and artists that would make an entertaining outing. Downtown Gainesville offers a variety of coffee shops, restaurants and nightlife spots which are other great ways to meet people.

After your Gainesville moving company leaves, you are left with the task of making new friends. In general, the key to meeting people in a new area is to be friendly. If you initiate conversations with people you do not know, eventually you will find someone who is also looking for a friend. If you stay in your apartment, nothing will ever change and you will not meet anyone new. So, be brave and build lasting friendships; you never know who you will meet!

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.

What You Need to Know About Moving Insurance

The Truth About Moving Insurance

There are many costs that are associated with moving and they all start adding up; maybe you want to cut down the cost by removing certain expenses. Sometimes, you may not even know which services are worth keeping. Moving insurance may seem like an add on that may not be worth it. However, even the best Gainesville moving company can make mistakes. Here is some information that might help you make this decision.

Important Details Regarding Moving Insurance

One important factor to be aware of is that moving insurance is offered by a third-party and not necessarily by your Gainesville moving company. Your moving company may be partnered with an insurance business who can assist you, but you may choose someone else in order to compare prices.
There are different levels of moving insurance: full replacement value protection and released value. Full valuation provides compensation for the total cost of the item that was damaged, but it costs more money. Released value insurance is coverage that is based on the weight of the items rather than the cost of replacement.

It is necessary to know that after all of your belongings are in your house, you should examine your possessions for damages. If there are any, you must report them immediately. You have up to nine months to file your claim, but the sooner you report it, the more likely you will be to receive compensation. In fact, if you are able to report harmed items on your receipt that you give back to them, you will have a stronger case.

Benefits of Having Moving Insurance

Depending on the form of insurance that you choose, you may receive the full value of any lost or damaged items. This is helpful not only because you will be compensated, but also because otherwise you would have to spend even more money on replacing your items along with the regular cost of moving in Florida.

No matter how much you trust your Gainesville movers, you might still have anxiety over the thought of your items becoming destroyed. Insurance may help to put your mind at ease. You can rest easy knowing that you will receive some form of compensation if your possessions become damaged.

Drawbacks of Insurance

Another downside to insurance is that insurance can be extremely expensive service. Especially if you decide on the full value insurance, you may end up spending exponentially more money. During the moving process, you may want to save money so you may need to count the cost of buying insurance.

While it is always beneficial to prepare for the worst, the worst may not happen. There is a chance that none of your items will be harmed during the moving process and you have spent unnecessary extra money during an already expensive process.

Mover Profile: Austin

Name: Austin

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

My favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys is the schedule.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy playing guitar, lifting, and going to the beach.

What brought you to Gainesville?

I came to Gainesville to start a new life.

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

If I could move any celebrity, I would move Kevin Hart. He’s hilarious.

What is your favorite moving story?

My favorite moving story is when we moved a couple to St. Pete. After the move they let us take a shower in their outdoor shower and gave us some refreshments.

Mover Profile: Tim

Name: Tim

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

My favorite part of moving is that it allows me to stay active and not be stuck inside.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy playing basketball and playing video games in my spare time.

What brought you to Gainesville?

I came to Gainesville for school and for the opportunities the city has to offer.

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

If I could move any celebrity, I would move Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He is my favorite wrestler of all time and a great role model.

What is your favorite moving story?

My favorite moving story is probably the day it started snowing in Florida. It was a super chill move with 6 people and 3 trucks full. I had been to Alabama, Utah, Michigan and Vermont, and hadn’t seen snow fall until that day.

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.

Mover Profile: Jake

Name: Jake

What is your favorite part about working for UF Mover Guys?

Every day on the job, there’s a new challenge to overcome. Every day is new and different, you meet new people and get exercise while working.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

As a full-time student I study most of the time, but I enjoy playing music when I do have spare time.

What brought you to Gainesville?

I came to Gainesville to go to UF.

If you could move any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I’d move Kanye. I hear he’s broke, so he shouldn’t have too much to move,

What is your favorite moving story?

Sometimes we get surprised with lunch. Every time that happens, it’s a good day.

How to Pack Small Appliances

Tips for Packing Small Appliances Before You Move

Knowing how to pack small appliances can make a big difference for your move. While most people never notice, appliances such as coffee makers and microwaves often have delicate parts made of glass and plastic that can break during transport. For this reason, you will want to take the following steps to make sure your favorite appliances arrive at your new residence in tact.

Clean and Inspect Your Appliances

It is important to carefully wash and dry your appliances before packing to ensure that no bits of food or water are left behind to create rust or mold. In Gainesville, movers also recommend using this time to carefully inspect your appliances for signs of damage or wear to ensure that they are in top condition before the move.

Remove Intricate Parts

Blender blades, coffee filter holders and other little parts on your appliance can tumble around and break if they are not packed securely. For this reason, you will need to disassemble any removable parts and pack them separately. If you are worried about being able to reassemble your appliance, then write the steps you take down on a notecard and tape it to the appliance. This way, you can work through the steps in reverse order when you set up your new home.

Choose the Right Box

The ideal box for shipping small appliances is the original one that it was packaged in, however, a sturdy small to medium sized box should do fine. Just make sure that the appliance fits snug in the box with enough room to add packing paper or bubble wrap. A quality Gainesville moving professional also performs an inspection of each box to ensure that it can bear the weight of the appliance and has sturdy tape applied to the bottom seam.

Wrap the Parts & Add Cushion

Begin packing your appliances by wrapping the cards and securing them with a twist tie. Then, add some packing paper to the bottom of the box, and use the same paper to wrap the appliance. If your appliance has bowls, then you should fill these with crumpled pieces of paper as well. Finish up by adding more crumpled pieces of paper or packing peanuts to fill in any gaps, and secure the top of the box with packing tape.

Correctly packing small appliances takes time, but it is worth the effort to do everything you can to prevent breakage. Fortunately, a Gainesville moving company can make it easier to know that your appliances will arrive in perfect condition with their professional packing services. Whether you need to move a few appliances or an entire household, using some extra care will protect your belongings.

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.