Tag: gainesville moving tips

What You Need to Know About Holiday Moving

You already most likely know how stressful moving can be. It takes so much time, work, money, and thinking; you will definitely be worn out in the end. Moving during certain parts of the year can be even more complicated.

For example, if you have a family, relocating during the holidays is a very serious hassle. It’s one that you will most likely want to avoid if at all possible. So, before you make the decision, take some time and think about it. Do you really absolutely have to move during the holidays or could you put it off for a week? If you have no other choices, then here are some tips that you can use to retain normalcy and still enjoy a celebration even when everything is in boxes.

Hire Movers Early

Many moving companies will actually only work with a half-staff during the holidays because so many people want time off to spend with their families. That means they can get booked up very quickly. Because of this, if you wait until the last minute, you may not find anyone available. If you know you are going to have to relocate during the holidays, then be sure to find a company as early as possible and get them booked right away.

Find an Empty Space

You will obviously want to still celebrate the holidays even though you are in the middle of moving. This is so important for families, especially with small children. If you want to still have that experience, then find a spare room that is away from all of the boxes and packing materials. Make sure you know where the tree is with at least some of the decorations. You can get everything set up in the extra room and you and your family can have a mini celebration right there, away from the rest of the activity.

Feel Free to Splurge on Food

If you are following a healthy diet, then it may be time to fall off the wagon for a few days. If you try to celebrate the holidays, stick to a diet, and move all at the same time, this is a recipe for a bad mood. Enjoying those holiday foods can boost your mood and help you feel more in the spirit of the season even if your decorations are packed away and loaded on a moving truck.

Get Someone to Stop By

Moving to a new house can seem so empty and cold, and you may have trouble making it feel like a real home when everything is still packed up. Try to find a friend or family member who could stop by for a cup of hot cocoa or to watch a seasonal movie with you. Just having someone else familiar in the house for a short time will make it feel more like it’s your place.

Moving on its own is so stressful. Dealing with the holidays makes it even more difficult. If you have a family, make sure you take simple steps so that you can still celebrate the season even when you are in the middle of relocating.

Things to Avoid When Packing Electronics for a Move

Almost any home in the country will have several different pieces of electronics lying around: computers, televisions, tablets, DVD players, Blu-ray players, sound speakers, video game consoles, and more. You may have a couple of pieces that only cost a few hundred dollars or you have high tech equipment that costs thousands and thousands.

In either case, you need to make sure that all of the equipment is packed away very carefully before the movers arrive. Some people may be tempted to just throw all of the electronics into a box and hope for the best, but this is a good way for things to get broken. You certainly don’t want to unpack the Playstation to find that it no longer works. Here are a few things you need to avoid when packing up your electronics for a relocation.

 

Not Labeling Cords

One of the best tools you could purchase for moving with electronics is a label maker or even just label stickers and a marker. You need to make sure you label everything that you disconnect from electronics or you could have a big mess when you arrive at your new home. If you have to leave anything in storage for any amount of time, you will likely forget what goes to what equipment, and even a few days’ span can leave you scratching your head.

If you don’t want to actually mark the specific cords with a label, another option is color coding. Small round, colored dots can be placed next to the port on the equipment and then stuck to the corresponding cord.

 

Packing Computers in Bubble Wrap

The majority of packing materials you could use when moving your home often will create static electricity. That’s not a problem when wrapping up china or glassware, but it is a very big issue with computers.

Static electricity can actually ruin the hard drive in desktops and laptops. To avoid this expensive type of damage, be sure to wrap computers in towels or sheets. If you must use bubble wrap, look for the non-static kind (it’s usually pink).

 

Leaving Things Inside

If you are moving in a hurry, you may be tempted to just unhook that DVD player or video game and throw it in a box, but there is one thing you are forgetting. You should never leave a disc of any type in the drive. This includes in DVD players, video game consoles, or CD players. If you do and the equipment is shaken in anyway while loaded in the moving truck, the disc could be lodged into the machine and you may not be able to get it out. This can completely ruin the device itself.

When you are getting ready to move, you have a lot of packing to do before the movers arrive, but don’t get in too big of a hurry. Take special care of your electronics to ensure everything arrives at your new home safely. Avoid the things above and you can expect a much better experience.

Long Distance Moving Tips to Save You Money

Long distance moving, also known as cross country relocation can often be an expensive, time consuming ordeal that is very frustrating for many individuals and families alike. Knowing when and how to properly execute a move across long distances can save you money and time. There are some cost saving tips that will save you money and time when relocating over long distances.

 

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  • Picking the Right Time for Moving

    • In Gainesville, Florida and the United States there is a peak season for moving. This is always between the summer months of May and September. Moving companies will charge a premium for moving between these times, and if at all possible it is best to avoid this time of the year. Not only will this save you money, but it also lessens the possibility of something happening that may delay your move. The reason for this peak season is because school is out during those months, college students and family alike use this break in school to relocate both locally and long distance.

  • Get More than a Few Moving Quotes

    • It is recommended by the State of Florida to get at least three moving quotes, preferably in writing from licensed and insured moving companies. Most companies offer over the phone, or internet quotes as well. In home estimates are the preferred method, so the movers can ask any additional questions they may come up with after surveying your home, and the layout. When moving long distance it is best to know for up front what you’re going to be dealing with and how best to prepare. Get a minimum of three competitive quotes, and make sure to ask as many questions as possible.

  • a Moving Sale to Get Rid of Unwanted Items

    • Having a moving sale will help you raise money for your upcomming move by getting rid of unwanted items. Often when going through a full home of items, you will be surprised at the things that you no longer use, need, or want. Waiting until the last minute to get rid of these items can be a time waster, and cost you money if you have to have the moving company discard them for you. Items that do not sell during the moving sale can often be donated to one of many different charities. Often times, the charity will pick the items up for free. Call around and see what charities may offer this service, and have your sale at least three weeks prior to your scheduled move day.

  • Purchase High Quality Boxes and Supplies Well in Advance.

    • When moving long distance, it is not a good idea to use second hand boxes. It is recommended to only use high quality corrugated cardboard boxes designed for moving. Moving cross country will put a strain on the construction of the boxes, and spending the extra money in the beginning will save you from disappointment and replacement costs. Remember that if you hire the company to box your items, they will be liable, if you box them, you will be liable. The packing materials that you use will also play a huge factor in the level of protection that your items will receive while in the moving truck.

  • Talk to Your Friends and Read Online Moving Reviews

    • Talking to friends who have moved before is a great way to gauge a company and their expertise, as well as professionalism. If you don’t know anyone to talk to there are a lot of great review sites out there. Google places has reviews on each business with a listing, and they are user generated and moderated by Google. Another great resource for checking into companies is through www.movingscam.com. This site has a forum where users can post bad experiences. If a company is on there a lot then it is suggested to stay away from them. Just one of two postings, could mean someone had a bad experience.

  • Verify License and Insurance

    • Always ask the moving company for their licensing and insurance information and verify that they are in good standing. This will provide you with some protection should anything go wrong on moving day.

  • Have Your Employer To Cover Corporate Relocation

    • If You’re moving long distance because of a new job, ask your employer to cover the costs associated, or at least cover some. Most employers will help out with moving costs, and you can always deduct the cost of moving from your taxes.

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