Tips To Keep Both Homes Safe During A Move

In everyday life, people take precautions for safety and security, from password protection on phones to wearing seatbelts in vehicles. Moving day should be no different. To protect against theft and damage as you relocate your belongings, use these tips from UF Mover Guys!

Keep Both Homes Safe During a Move in Gainesville, FL

How To Avoid Moving-Related Damage

To protect your items during transport, you can pack and load them carefully. But to avoid damage to your new home, follow these precautions while unloading boxes.

Don’t Carry Heavy, Bulky Items Alone

It’s not only bad for your back to lift a heavy box by yourself. Should you lose your grip, the box could easily dent a wall or crack a tile floor. To safely unload bulky items, team up with a friend or loved one to distribute the weight, or call our movers in Gainesville, FL

Measure Furniture Beforehand

Not all doorways are the same size. A bookshelf that you carried with no problems out of your old home could just as easily get hung up on the door frame at the new house. Therefore a good adage to use when moving is, “measure twice, carry once.” After all, it takes less effort and money to disassemble furniture, thus ensuring it fits, than to repair damage to a home.

Ways To Prevent Theft

Even though Gainesville is among Florida’s safest cities in most categories of crime, thefts still occur. To avoid having your items being taken on moving day, use these security tips.

Keep Items Organized & Contained

A sprawl of boxes and items left unattended is like an open invitation to would-be thieves, who could be interested in anything from clothes to electronics. But organizing your items helps keep them safe from creeping burglars; it’s easier to keep track of boxes stacked together. For extra security, you can unload the truck one item at a time, locking the door between trips.

Hire Trusted, Reputable Movers

How can you be sure the movers won’t drive off into the sunset with your possessions? The answer is to choose a trusted company with a reputation for competence and honesty. When you hire professionals to handle the move, you can relax and focus on other aspects of life.

UF Mover Guys is a team of movers Gainesville residents have trusted for more than 10 years. Contact us for an estimate!

Moving to Florida? Read This!

Whether you’re planning to move to Florida as a seasonal or year-round resident, you can settle in easier by knowing ahead of time what to expect while living here. Since UF Mover Guys assists students and residents who’ve just moved to Florida, we are familiar with the types of information new arrivals might find useful. More specifically, with the information provided by the team members at our moving company Gainesville, FL, residents can gain an intimate understanding for their city, although many of our insights apply to the rest of the state, as well.

Preparing for the Weather in Gainesville

Depending on the time of year, movers in Gainesville, FL, know to expect certain weather conditions. Florida is known for its temperate climate, but there are certain seasons when residents need to be mindful of the potential for extreme conditions.

Summer

During the summer, if asked their reasons for hiring movers Gainesville homeowners would probably cite that it’s too hot outside to perform the a do-it-yourself move. Particularly in the middle of the summer months, local and statewide temperatures can rise precipitously, which is why residents take precautions to stay cool indoors, such as keeping the shades on their homes closed, drinking plenty of fluids, and making sure the AC unit is well maintained. And when residents do outdoor activities in the summer, these often take place in the mornings or evenings when the weather is cooler.

Fall

In Gainesville moving in the fall is generally a sensible idea because of the pleasant weather during that time of year. One consideration, though, is that fall in Florida is also hurricane season. And while the occurrence of a hurricane isn’t guaranteed, it’s smart to stay safe by proactively listening to weather reports. Another hurricane-season preparation involves gathering emergency supplies, including bottled water, canned food, and a flashlight with batteries.

Must-Have Items for Your Home

In Florida movers often observe the same items in people’s homes. Sunglasses, for example, are ubiquitous in households across Florida, and while not as plentiful as sunshine, rain is also a common phenomenon in Florida, making an umbrella another must-have item. As for decorations, must-have items include things that embody the local culture. In Gainesville, for instance, a blue and orange flag or blanket with the Gators insignia would no doubt ingratiate you to local UF fans.

Top 5 Places to Visit

After you’ve settled in, and all the unloading has been completed by your movers Gainesville, Florida, and the surrounding region are home to majestic sites and interesting attractions that you may want to experience.

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park

Located in northwest Gainesville, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is a hot spot for outdoor adventure, featuring a 120-foot-deep natural sinkhole that leads to a miniature rainforest where streams flow and exotic plants thrive.

Paynes Prairie Preserve

Florida’s first state preserve, Paynes Prairie Preserve is a 21,000-acre savannah that offers abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and is a favored destination for artists and nature enthusiasts.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

With 24 major collections of lush foliage, more than a mile of scenic walkways, a bamboo nursery, and a gift shop, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is an impressive local attraction just southeast of Gainesville.

O’Leno State Park

Outdoor adventurists frequent O’Leno State Park to kayak and fish on the tributaries of the Suwannee River or hike and ride mountain bikes along shady trails that run for miles across a natural landscape.

Florida Museum of Natural History

A state-sponsored natural history museum on the UF campus, Florida Museum of Natural History can provide hours of entertainment with its five main exhibits and 6,400-foot rainforest exhibit with butterflies.

Moving Company in Gainesville, Florida

UF Mover Guys is the preferred company for residential, commercial, and student moves both locally in Gainesville as well as long-distance across Florida or out-of-state. Our moving services include full-service packing, loading and unloading, and transportation, and we’re available to perform individual services or take care of your entire relocation from start-to-finish. Additionally, UF Mover Guys offers short-term storage solutions and resources for do-it-yourself moves, including packing supplies and moving truck rentals. But most important is the fact that our team are all professionally trained, so you can rest assured our services are always reliable. Contact us for more information!

UF Mover Guys Makes Any Move Easy

At UF Mover Guys, we work hard to make your move easy. In Gainesville moving your items is our business, and we take pride in delivering quality results no matter what type of moving service you’ve hired us to do. With professional training, years of experience, and the right tools for the job, our team of movers are who you want handling your move, whether it’s across town or across the country.

Gainesville Moving Services

Throughout Florida movers tend to specialize in certain services, but we’re different. Rather than focusing on one or a few areas of moving, UF Mover Guys is a full-service moving company, and as you look over the moving services we offer, you’ll get an appreciation for what we mean by “full-service.”

Local Moves

We can’t speak for all movers in Gainesville, but we certainly believe moving locally should be both easy and affordable, which is why we charge no travel or fuel fees for local moves. Hire us to pack up your home, load your belongings safely onto our moving trucks, and transport your possessions to your new home in town.

UF Moves

As our company name implies, we take pride in being a Gainesville moving company and serving the students at UF. Whether you’re moving out of the room in a campus dormitory or moving into an off-campus apartment community, our movers know how to help students relocate in an efficient and organized way, and always for affordable moving rates.

Residential Moving

Your home holds all your most important worldly possessions, so make sure to trust the job of moving those items to our residential moving professionals. Our movers know how to keep the items of your home organized during packing, so that everything stays accounted for, as well as load boxes onto the truck for safe transport, so all your belongings arrive at your new home in the same condition as when they left.

Commercial Moving

At UF Mover Guys, we understand that the more efficiently your business is moved to its new location, the sooner your employees can get back to work. As a result, we excel in commercial moves by carefully packing and loading the furniture, electronics, and other contents of your business while also wasting no time in transporting everything to the new address. We also help employees with their relocations for work.

Packing

Whether you need your home packed for a move or because you’re downsizing, our movers are experienced and understand how to keep your belongings organized and packed for safe transport or storage. We also have special techniques for packing fragile items, securing valuables, and protecting furniture and bulky items. Or we can provide you with packing materials for a do-it-yourself (DIY) move.

Loading/ Unloading

From loading a moving truck to unloading a storage unit, we can take care of all the heavy lifting for you. And since our movers are trained in proper lifting and carrying techniques, you can trust us to load and unload everything from moving boxes to pianos safely and securely.

Storage

Whether you need to store items during a move or clear out your house temporarily to do renovations, we have climate-controlled storage units that are the perfect place to keep your items safely preserved and out of the way.

Gainesville Moving Company

UF Mover Guys is proud to be Gainesville’s full-service moving company. With more than a decade of experience in the region, we’ve helped move UF students, local homeowners, and Gainesville businesses both locally and long-distance. Also, our team of movers are professionally trained for any type of moving job, so whether it’s packing, loading and unloading, or transport, you can expect a quality result every time. Contact us to learn more!

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.

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.

Myths About Moving Companies

Common Myths About Moving Companies

If you are planning on moving, then it is best for you to hire Gainesville moving professionals. The moving process will go a lot more smoothly if you hire a professional. Gainesville movers also make the move a lot less stressful. Furthermore, hiring professional can help you save money.

There are a lot of myths today about moving companies, which stops many people from hiring a professional. Below is a list of some of the myths about moving companies.

Myth: My Belongings Will Be Damaged

Fact: Many people have hired an unqualified moving company that damaged their belongings. However, if you hire a professional Gainesville moving company, then you will not have to worry about your belongings being damaged. A professional will transport all of your belongings with care.

Myth: Every Moving Company Is The Same

Fact: This is one of the most common misconceptions about moving companies. There are some people who have had a bad experience with a moving company, which is why they try to lump all moving companies into the same category. Taking the time to research thoroughly and talking to your family members and friends will help you find the right moving company.

Myth: I Will Have To Ride In The Truck With The Moving Company

Fact: You do not have to ride in the moving truck. In fact, most companies would prefer that you not ride in the truck. They are supposed to transport your belongings only. Riding in the truck actually makes moving companies uncomfortable. It shows that you do not trust them.

Myth: All Movers Charge The Same Amount Of Money

Fact: The cost of moving can vary greatly, and it depends on the company you choose. Keep in mind that the cheapest moving company is not necessarily the best one to choose. Many companies charge a low price because the quality of the service is not good.

Moving in the Spring

Spring moves are some of the least hassle and most enjoyable moves possible. Unlike moving in the winter when you’re bombarded with extreme temperatures and a high potential for rain, a spring move avoids most of the inclement weather that can put a damper on the moving process. In contrast, a summer move brings with it a full onslaught of heat that can make you feel more drained and exhausted than what you would experience with a spring move. Movers in Gainesville, such as UF Mover Guys, are primed to help people who want to move at the first sign of blooming flowers and warmer weather. However, you need to prepare for your venue change to ensure a problem-free move.

Why Move in the Spring?

Spring moving rates are generally lower than at other times of the year, since fewer people move in the spring. People tend to have other things to worry about like the start of school and recovering from winter. Rental companies generally charge the highest rates over the weekends. If you’re flexible, you can find some of the best rates for your spring move by working with a moving company to nail down a date where they have high availability.

Spring is by far one of the cheapest time to move during the year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 45 percent of all moves occur during the summer months. Lots of people moving means that you’re going to pay a higher price for your move.

 

Clearing the Clutter

Gainesville moving companies generally charge by the amount they have to move. You can reduce your cost by doing a bit of spring cleaning during the moving process. Throw away anything you don’t need, and consider getting a storage unit if you have infrequently used items that you want to keep. The more you can get out of your house ahead of time, the less time you have to spend on the actual moving day. Clearly mark each box that you pack. If you’re having a Gainesville moving company do the packing for you, arrange items in a way that makes it easy for the movers to pack your items quickly and efficiently.

Vacation Time

Another significant advantage to moving in the spring is that your children may be on spring vacation. If you’re embarking on a large move, this may work in your favor. Moving during the spring can reduce the impact on your child’s schoolwork and you may even have vacation time available from work you can use. It’s easier for kids to move around when they don’t have to worry about schoolwork. Since a move can be a huge drain on the entire family, keeping kids out of school during the move can make it less stressful for everyone involved. Housing deals and apartment rental offers are usually at their best rates during spring time as well.

 

Ways to Reduce Your Moving Costs

In addition to moving during the spring, you can also reduce your moving costs by selling items you don’t need. Spring is the perfect time to host a garage sale. Since the weather is usually pleasant and people are naturally in the mood to get out for a stroll, a garage sale can be lucrative for you. Anything you can sell you won’t have to move. This can significantly reduce your burden when it comes time to pack up what remains of your home. Most local delivery companies also provide free delivery of new furniture. If not, you can order your furniture in advance and have your moving company in Gainesville pick up the furniture on the way to your new home.

The Challenges Moving Companies Face

People who are considering Gainesville movers will discover a fantastic set of individuals who have a wide variety of experience. At the same time, it is important to take note that there is a unique challenge that Florida movers face that movers in other places around the United States, such as New York City, do not experience. Even though there is a unique challenge, UF Mover Guys are ready and willing to serve people in and around the Gainesville area.

Some Challenges Movers are Faced With

Every Move Varies

The fact of the matter is that the unique challenge that moving companies in Gainesville experience is the amount of time it takes to move the actual possessions. After all, moving seems very straightforward. Home or business owners spend countless hours packing personal possessions, furniture, amenities and other items that will be going on the move. Some owners may think the biggest hassle is the actual packing or the finding the right boxes to carry large items, such as a television set or lampshade. The moving process is basic, but it may take time to move from one place to another. The distance from one city to another can take extra time to for movers to arrive. Adding to the move time is that traffic can be challenging, and this is especially the case when moving during the tourist season or during a huge sporting event. People who decided to hire a moving company per hour should not be surprised if a move that was supposed to take four hours will take six hours.

Elevators Can Be an Obstacle

Something else that frequently is overlooked is that multiple moving companies can use a building elevator at the same time. People may assume that a couple companies could share an elevator, but up to four moving companies that used an elevator at once. That being said, one could only imagine the length of time it would take a moving company to move an individual, couple or family into a building when there are three other companies that are competing against it.

The issue of time can cause customers a huge of amount of stress, worry and anxiety. Customers who agreed to pay a moving company per hour can be very concerned when the moving process goes a lot slower than was originally expected. A few extra minutes in an elevator or in traffic can make the difference being charged five hours as compared to four hours. When the time gets tight, some customers may find themselves looking constantly at their watches because they are afraid they will be charged for another hour. However, certain Gainesville moving companies do not charge for each hour. Instead, the cost has been prearranged. This enables customers to focus on moving and not to be concerned whether they go overtime because the price has already been addressed.

 

Other Moving Companies That Give Movers a Bad Name

Unfortunately, some movers do not have the right insurance that is required for moving furniture in a building. This can be a huge problem when everything is ready to be moved and the customer is told that the move cannot happen because the movers do not have the correct insurance. While blame can be put in various places, the reality is that the moving still needs to happen immediately. Although multiple phone calls can be made to various moving companies, there may not be any movers who are available to move on that day. The odds of moving professionals being available can be even less when it is the end of the month. It definitely helps to be sure a professional moving company has the insurance to move possessions in or out of a building.

You can be rest assured with UF Mover Guys handling your big move, and get you out of your old place and in with your new home, storage, or business in a matter of hours.