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.

How to Pack Heavy Items

Heavy Items Image
Too many people move items when packing with improper lifting technique. Image is from katerawlings.com.

One of the most difficult parts of moving is handling heavy objects. Inappropriate packing techniques can cause insurmountable damage to your belongings.

UF Mover Guys has about a decade of experience packing hefty items like TVs and furniture. We recommend taking advantage of our training and handing the responsibility of packing to us.

However, if you are determined to pack on your own, here are our tips for handling your heavy items.

The key to packing heavy objects is to secure your belongings.

Choose small but sturdy cardboard boxes to hold heavy items. Large items take up most of the space inside small containers and are less likely to shift within them. Small boxes also limit how much stuff you can put in them, which prevents them from becoming too heavy when the time comes to move them.

Heavy objects should be bundled tightly inside of boxes. Items should be wrapped in a compact layer of newspaper, packing paper or bubble wrap.

The material you use depends on how heavy the item you are wrapping is. The heavier the object, the thicker the wrapping should be.

No empty space should be inside your boxes. Fill the space with cardboard, bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Crumpled paper is not strong enough to work in this case.

Heavy items should be packed in the center of the box with the surrounding area filled as described above. If the weight lies more on one side of the box, it will create problems when lifted by tilting.

In addition, unequal weight distribution and poorly secured objects can cause the box to tip over in the back of the moving truck when being delivered to your new home. This could result in damage to the object and surrounding objects.

Heavy items should be further secured using a thick and strong tape, such as duct tape, to seal the box. Scotch, moving and masking tape obviously will not work for these types of items.

Gathering the proper packing supplies for heavy objects can be costly and time-consuming. In some cases, it may be more cost efficient to hire a moving company to pack for you. UF Mover Guys has the equipment to save you money and get the job done.

Additionally, your safety is a priority to us. Too many people move items when packing with improper lifting technique. The consequences range from sore muscles to torn ligaments to accidents that lead to broken bones and in extreme cases, even death.

You should consider the safety of your stuff as well, and consider how to prepare. Packing heavy items is a tricky process, and one misstep can destroy not only hundreds of dollars in belongings but also years of cherished memories.

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.

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:

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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.

Camp Crystal

We recently moved new Camp Crystal director, Scott Burton, and his family out to camp.

We recently moved new Camp Crystal director, Scott Burton, and his family out to camp.  Here are Kenny and Travis in front of the UF Mover Guys cabin B5.  Jordan, owner of UF Mover Guys is a former Camp Crystal counselor and camper.   We have been a moving company in Gainesville for over 7 years and have roots in this town that go back 30 years.

Camp Crystal

Tips to Help You Choose the Best Gainesville Moving Companies

Getting ready to move? If you will be moving to another area of the city, or even to an area outside of Gainesville, you want a professional company that can help you do it. The right company to help with the move can make things much easier on you.

 

Where to Look for Companies

You can look for these companies in a number of different places, including through referrals and online. Even if you have referrals from friends or family, do your own research into the company’s history. Know how long they’ve been in business, for example.

 

What Type of Service Does the Company Offer?

Do you need a company to help move your home or are you changing locations for your office? Are you moving out of state? Look for companies that can offer the types of services you need for your move. Some companies can handle any type of move. They may also offer packing service or even storage service if you have items that you will not be taking into your new home. Consider the types of service you need so you can get an accurate quote.

 

The Reputation

What type of reputation does the company have? It should be easy to find information about Gainesville moving companies online. Look for any issues or complaints customers might have had with the company. Did they damage items? Were they too slow? Did they show up late? Look for positive feedback and testimonials from the company as well. Know the good and bad about a company before you choose them.

 

Licensed and Insured

Always check to see that the movers you hire are licensed and insured. The company should have this information on their website and in any literature that they offer. This will protect you as well as the company during the move.

 

How Much Does It Cost?

You always need to know how much the service will cost. Get a quote from at least three different companies. Make sure you understand what the quote encompasses as well. Check to see if they include tax and other service charges. Choose the one with the best price, the best reputation, and the services that you need.

 

Get in Touch

Once you choose your company, it’s important to get in touch and set a date for the move as soon as possible. Even if the move is more than a month away, set the date early. This ensures they have enough trucks and workers to be there for you. Contact the company the day before the move to make sure that everything is still on schedule. When scheduling your move with Gainesville moving companies, make sure you read your agreement completely. Read the fine print and make sure you agree with everything on the contract before you sign.

 

When you work with a great company, a move does not have to be overwhelming. Just put in the research and choose the best.

Gainesville Florida Moving Company, UF Mover Guys Launches Their New Blog

UF Mover Guys, a Gainesville Florida Moving company, is pleased to announce the official launch of their company blog.  Inside you will find insightful articles on how to prepare for moving day when it comes.  Over the years we have been asked by customers for our tricks of the trade, and now we are bringing it to the internet.  We look forward to providing all of our customers, and internet visitors with the same high quality moving resources that we have been come to known for.

Our goal is to educate any and all persons interested in learning more about the moving services industry.  Some topics that will be discussed are how to prepare for moving to Gainesville, and the state of Florida.  How to avoid some of the most common moving pitfalls.  The proper way to pack boxes for a professional moving company.  Expect to learn a bunch while visiting our site.  Also we will discuss some related topics such as how to get everything setup in your new apartment, home or office.  Corporate relocation, and high value moving items and how to protect yourself during move day.

Many of the topics that UF Mover Guys blog will discuss are directly related to the Gainesville moving services industry, but we will also discuss some local favorites such as University of Florida Football.  Local Alachua County News.  How to get to and from Florida in the most efficient manner and many others.