Tag: gainesville florida moving companies

How to Protect Your Valuables During a Move

Moving can be exhausting just as it can be exciting. Relocating to a new home involves hours of sorting through belongings, packing, labeling, carrying, loading, unloading and maintaining contact with Gainesville moving companies. If this process can be stressful even when everything goes right, imagine how much of a buzzkill it would be to finally arrive at your new home and discover that a precious item did not make it in one piece. Although no amount of planning can prevent accidents, there are certainly some safeguards you can take to protect your most valuable stuff before and during the big day. Here are some of them:

Define “Valuable”

When most people hear this word, they think about their most expensive and luxurious belongings. However, the term should encompass anything and everything that holds sentimental value and is difficult or impossible to replace. This could be old photographs, children’s favorite stuffed animals or family heirlooms such as jewelry and vintage furniture. Some items close to your heart may look insignificant to those who don’t know their story, so remember to set valuables aside early in the sorting and packing process and warn whoever is helping you move to be especially careful with them.

Leave Big or Special Items to the Pros

Some valuables, such as antique dining tables, sculptures, orthopaedic mattresses and heavy musical instruments, are too big for you to transport alone and may even need special packaging. Let professional movers in Gainesville assist you with packing and carrying these items. Make sure to do enough research to find a trustworthy company whose staff has successfully transported items of the same kind before. Moreover, it’s never a bad idea to consider moving insurance.

Pack Strategically

Labeling all boxes meticulously and clearly makes unpacking significantly easier. However, when it comes to valuables, you may want to be a little less specific. If you don’t know how many people will be handling the boxes between point A and B, avoid labeling them with attention-grabbing phrases such as “Gold Jewelry.” Also, if you know some valuables will have to go in the same vehicle as the rest of the stuff, pack them in the smallest boxes so they can go on the top of the load.

Keep Small Valuables at Hand

That said, the best option is to keep valuables off the moving truck entirely. This can prevent them from being bumped or crushed by other shifting objects in the vehicle. Transport them in your car or inside carry-on luggage if you are flying. To avoid leaving them unattended, toss the most important things in a backpack to take them to gas stations, restaurants and other places where you may have to stop along the way. The following items are generally better off not put in the moving truck:

  • Important paperwork/documents
  • Small but expensive electronics
  • Cameras
  • Jewelry
  • Photo albums
  • Unsealed or perishable food
  • A small tool kit
  • Cash
  • Prescription medications

Take Inventory Before & After the Move

Before packing and loading, write a list of all your valuables and take pictures of the state they are in. Then, after unloading the truck at your final destination, do a final walk-through to ensure everything arrived in the same condition. If you find damage long after your Florida movers have left, it may be harder to identify how and when things went wrong.

Find a Gainesville Moving Company You Trust

At UF Mover Guys, we understand how stressful moving can be and are determined to simplify the process for you. Providing licensed and insured service that includes packing, loading, unloading, transportation, assembly/disassembly and convenient scheduling, our professional movers are trained to handle your valuables with utmost care. Call our office today for a quote!

Moving on Short Notice? These Tips Will Help

How to Handle a Last-Minute Move

Life throws us unexpected curve balls sometimes. When it comes to moving, time to plan is one of the most important factors in the process. But sometimes life does not pan out the way we want it to. If you find yourself needing to pack up all of your belongings and move on short notice, you will want to be as efficient as possible. Here are several tips that might help you during the Gainesville moving process.

 

Remain Calm

The key to adapting to your circumstances is to avoid excessive stress. Even if you are completely overwhelmed by your lack of time, tell yourself that everything will work out and you will get through this tough time. If you feel panicked, your ability to make wise decisions will be compromised. Further, your thoughts will be consumed by questions about how you ended up in this situation rather than what you can be doing to remain productive.

Create Timeline

Whether your timeline is for six weeks or six days, making a timeline is crucial. It allows you to clearly see everything that must be accomplished and prioritize different tasks. A well thought out system will also ensure that you did not forget anything. Each time you cross something off the list, you can feel relieved that you are making progress.

Declutter as Much as Possible

There are plenty of items that we all own that are damaged or are no longer used. When you are working on such a short amount of time, you need to be as efficient as possible. You do not have time to pack, transport and unload unnecessary items. Therefore, it is best to go through your items quickly and donate or dispose of any possessions that you do not use. Though you may think this is a time consuming process, it will save you time and effort in the long run.

Seek Help From Reliable Friends

When you are limited on time, you will need to acquire as much help as possible. Contact dependable friends and tell them of your dilemma. See if they would be available to help you in anyway during the process such as packing, cleaning or transporting your belongings. The more people you have, the less time it will take. Make sure that you thank them for their time and effort by providing food and drinks.

Hire a Florida Moving Company

Professional help will go a long way in speeding up the process. Whether you ask Gainesville movers to load and unload the moving truck or hire them to pack and unpack as well, you will be surprised at how efficient they can be. They have completed these tasks countless times so they know how to get them done much quicker than you can.

Moving Companies in Gainesville, FL

When you are in need of a Gainesville moving company, choose UF Mover Guys. We offer a variety of moving options so you can choose the one that will be most helpful for you. Our team is hardworking, dependable and friendly so when you hire us, you can trust the job will get done right. Avoid the stress you are feeling about your quickly approaching move and call UF Mover Guys today.

How to Have a Smooth Transition After Moving

Transitioning After a Move

There are a lot of steps involved in the Gainesville moving process. If you do not handle them properly, a somewhat complicated process can quickly turn into a difficult mess. Therefore, it is best to take care of everything correctly in the first place so that you do not have to continually fix mistakes.

Gather Materials

Before you begin the actual moving process, you will want to make sure you have all of the proper supplies necessary for a smooth move. In order to pack, you will need to get plenty of boxes, packing tape, permanent markers and bubble wrap. You can go to any large hardware store to purchase boxes or you can usually get some for free from grocery stores if you ask. Use the markers to clearly label each box with what room each one belongs in and what contents are inside. This will help you find items easier once you arrive at your new residence. You may want to rent or borrow a dolly to help you transport boxes in and out of your house.

Find Assistance

There is no conceivable way for you to consider moving by yourself. Therefore, you have the choice between asking your trusted friends to help or hiring a Gainesville moving company. In most cases, you will not need to pay your friends, but you should provide food and drinks while they are working. The advantage to hiring Florida moving professionals is that they are experienced. They know how to properly move your belongings quickly and safely. You can relax while your movers do the heavy lifting.

Take a Day Off Work

When you move to a new place, you may want to get right into the swing of things by focusing on your career. However, it is beneficial to take an extra day off of work after your Gainesville movers leave to get settled. Spend the day unpacking and making your new place feel more like home. If you have any extra time, spend it decompressing from the move or exploring your new area. While you may feel like this is unnecessary, you will be extremely grateful for it later. Once you are working, it will be almost impossible to find the time to unpack boxes when you are tired at the end of each day.

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 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.

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.

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.

Using Social Media to Plan a Move & Find a Moving Company

Plan Your Move With Social Media

If you are like 65 percent of Americans, you use social media often. It is easier than ever to find out the latest sports scores, check in on a friend’s vacation, and shop without leaving your couch. As you prepare to move to a new place of residence, look to your favorite websites to help you along the way.

Look for Suggestions

Log on to Pinterest to look for a variety of helpful suggestions as you start packing. Type in keywords such as “moving lists”, “moving tips”, and “moving hacks” to find all kinds of moving advice. You will find many tricks such as using foam plates between your breakable plates during transport or ways to keep cables from becoming a tangled, confusing mess. Print the lists that will help you and leave the decorating ideas until you are settled in your new home.

Sell What You Don’t Need

Use your move as a time to clean out your house. Before packing, go through closets and drawers and remove items you no longer use. Use a social selling site such as Varagesale or Facebook yard sale groups to post your ads. Meet up in a public place to complete the sale. If you have lots of items for sale use a title such as “moving sale” to get more attention.

See What Your Neighbors Suggest

Open up a review website such as Yelp to see what Gainesville moving company is recommended. Look at specific reviews to see what kind of service you can expect from Gainesville movers. Don’t forget to find a couple good places to eat near your new home. Plan on eating a few meals out until you can stock back up on groceries and get your kitchen unpacked.

Ask Your Friends

Now that you have suggestions from people you don’t know, turn to Facebook to help you make up your mind. Ask your friends for their suggestions about Gainesville moving companies. If you belong to any local groups you can post an ad looking for moving boxes. Often people will happily give those boxes away when they are done.

With these simple tips for planning your move using social media, you can expect a less frustrating process all around!