Three Tips On How To Pack For Frequent Moves

Tips on Packing for Frequent Moves

Packing and moving can be overwhelming for those who are unprepared. If you relocate on a regular basis, whether for a transient job, research project, internship or study abroad experience, it’s important to have a streamlined plan for packing and moving. Even those who choose to relocate just for the enjoyment of exploration need a plan that makes moving frequently as simple and enjoyable as discovering new places. This list of tips from local moving company UF Mover Guys will make your frequent relocation to-dos a breeze so you can get to your destination with ease knowing that your packed items are in good hands with the best movers Gainesville has to offer.

Have A Moving Plan

The best way to start your streamlined pack-and-move process is to create a plan. A good place to create and keep this list is on your phone, where it’s readily available and easy to access from anywhere you find yourself. Having your list of essentials to pack will make your subsequent moves a breeze. Include contact information for your go-to Florida movers. Add a list of items you have to have on-hand and subcategories for where to pack each thing to keep your packing tasks concise and time-efficient.

Pack A Suitcase

Since you won’t have the luxury of going through your closet each day, packing a suitcase with a curated selection of outfits is essential. Before packing, go through your clothes and put aside go-to outfits for your trip. Pack with the average forecasted weather in mind for the time you’re away and the varied occasions you’ll need to dress for. Toss in any medications you may need on your trip along with your clothes. Packing well ensures you will have what you need with you, leaving the packed boxes for your Gainesville moving company to take care of.

Cultivate A “Camping” Mentality

Frequent moves can be disruptive because the majority of your belongings are packed away in boxes. For those who move often, packing just the essentials (similar to how you pack for camping trips), can help streamline the process and save time.

To start, curate a “camp kitchen” that includes a set of kitchen utensils, along with dish soap, a dishcloth and towel. Your “camp bathroom” should be composed of your essential toiletries, a face cloth, bath towel and a handful of laundry detergent pods. Last, assemble your “camp office.” This should include a computer bag with phone and computer chargers as well as minimal office supplies (pen, paper, etc.). These items should go into your car or in the suitcases and boxes that travel with you. The rest, packed away in boxes, can be left to trusted movers Gainesville, Florida, offers.

With each of your camp packs ready to go, you’ll have what you need to leave town quickly. Whether you’re shipping the rest of your items to your new destination or storing them locally for your return trip, a local moving company Gainesville, FL residents trust like UF Mover Guys will work with you to transport your loved possessions with ease.

Pro Tip: Try to make do with the “camping” supplies the week prior to and the week following your move, eliminating any need to access items packed away in boxes and getting you used to only using the essentials.

Picking A Reliable Moving Company

Choosing a reliable Gainesville moving service is imperative to ensure your packed items are in safe hands while being transported from place to place. Whether you’re moving to Gainesville or moving to a new location in town, it’s important to have a moving company you trust to help you transition.

UF Mover Guys maintains its status as the Gainesville moving company for all your packing and moving needs. We offer both long-distance and in-state moving help as well as  full-service packages that include packing and transportation of your items. In addition, we don’t charge you for travel or fuel for local moves! Our goal is to serve you. Contact UF Mover Guys today!

Why You Shouldn’t Post About Moving on Social Media

With all the planning that goes into moving, one aspect that can get overlooked is using social media during the move. It’s easy to post details about a move without thinking too much about it: maybe you write a message recruiting friends to help pack boxes, or you post a selfie showcasing your own hard work. Yet, experienced Florida movers know social media posts about moving can cause privacy and security concerns. And so, following advice from UF Mover Guys on why you shouldn’t post moving details on social media can help make your next move safe.

Social Media Tips for Moving in Gainesville

The safest way to avoid risks from social media is not posting, but that’s easier said than done. And we understand this at UF Mover Guys because many of our clients are students who are avid users of social media. Thus, as movers in Gainesville, FL, we have insights into how you should (and shouldn’t) use social media before, during, and after moving.

Set Privacy Settings Before Moving

Details about your move on social media can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Say, for example, you post a message to the effect of: “Happy to have moved half my things today! Can’t wait to go back tomorrow and get the rest!” The information seems harmless, but it could also tell a would-be thief that your old home is unoccupied and half your possessions are still there. Thus, before moving, remember that the safest way to keep the details of your move out of the wrong hands is not to make posts about moving, period. Yet, if you have to write a post, such as to ask friends to recommend a moving company Gainesville, FL, residents prefer, remember to first adjust the privacy settings on your account, so only approved recipients can see the post.

Avoid Posting Details While Moving

Keeping your possessions safe while moving is your highest priority, and it’s the reason you hire movers Gainesville residents trust. But another way to protect your belongings is to limit the details you share on social media about your move, because the more details you post, the wider the network of people who could take advantage of that information. For example, posting specific details, such as the address of your unoccupied home or the time you’ll be loading or unloading the truck, creates opportunities for theft by anyone who sees the information. Thus, while in the process of moving, the easiest way to eliminate the risk of a burglary is to avoid posting details, unless you can be sure the information will remain private.

Wait Until After the Move to Post

It’s only once your Gainesville moving company has unloaded the truck, and all your possessions are safely unpacked in your new home, that you should share moving details on social media. The story of your move, including pictures, videos, or descriptions, will still be entertaining to your friends after the move is done, only now the privacy and security risks are lessened. Social media can also have advantages if you’ve moved to a new area by helping you to meet colleagues or friends. Meanwhile, the story of your moving adventures could be a great ice breaker, just as long as you wait until after the move to tell it.

Moving Company in Gainesville, FL

UF Mover Guys offers a range of moving services for your next move in Gainesville, FL. Whether the move is taking place at a residential home, commercial property, or dorm room, we can handle everything from packing and loading to transport and storage. On the other hand, if you have most of your move covered but need help with a certain task, such as organizing your belongings or finding a truck to carry them to a new location, we can also be of service. What’s more, at UF Mover Guys, we have over a decade of moving expertise in Gainesville, and we enjoy sharing advice and tips to make your move easier. Contact UF Mover Guys to discuss your next move!

Give Notice Before You Move Out

Properly Notifying Your Apartment Manager

No matter how much you enjoy your current apartment, unexpected life events happen. Do you suddenly have to move out of town for a job or family? Are you getting married? Whatever the reason, you will need to learn the proper way to notify your landlord in order to maintain a positive relationship and ensure a positive Gainesville moving experience.

Importance of Giving Notice

If you leave your apartment in negative terms, you may feel the effects for many years to come. In many ways, a negative experience with a landlord is similar to being fired from a job. Future prospective housing options will call your past landlords to determine whether you are a trusted tenant. However, if you leave a poor last impression with management, they will tell your new apartment manager negative facts that will greatly decrease your likelihood of getting your desired apartment. Notifying your landlord of your move with plenty of time will provide them with time to find a replacement and they will be less frustrated with you.

Review Your Lease

The key to renting from someone is to remember that your lease is a binding legal contract. Whenever you want to take a new step in regards to your relationship with your landlord, you must look over the fine print. Most likely, it will clearly state their policy on getting out of a lease early and how long your current contract is for. Also, be sure to keep track of rental cycles. Often, notice must coincide with the cycle so that if you provide notice in the middle of a month, it may take the remaining two weeks for the actual notice period to begin. It is always beneficial to provide more notice than necessary in order to be safe. Then you are free to begin scheduling with your Gainesville movers without fear of tension with management.

How Do You Give Notice?

In any relationship that involves the exchange of money or services, you must keep everything in writing. Therefore, you need to write a letter clearly describing your intentions. Be sure to write your full address with your unit number. One of the most important details is to write the date. This will help document when you provided notice. Then add the address of the management office. In the main part of the letter, you will want to include when you are planning on moving out, if you know of another tenant who wants to move in and whether you are going to thoroughly clean your unit in hopes of getting your security deposit back. At the end, you will want to provide your new address so they will be able to forward your security deposit to you. In order to give it to them, you can choose to do it in person, get delivery confirmation or send it by certified mail. Make sure that you keep a copy for yourself as proof.

Moving in Florida

When you want to end a rental lease for an apartment, it is not as easy as a simple conversation. You must follow your contract, keep everything in writing and do it in advance. Once this is completed, you will be free to hire a Gainesville moving company and begin packing without fear of repercussions.

Moving Out? Fix Any Damage First

Fix Any Damage Before Moving Out

Understandably, when you live somewhere for an extended periods of time accidents happen. You knocked over an entire glass of red wine on your carpet, your friend punched a hole in the wall during a dance off or you made a huge scratch in your flooring while moving your sofa in. While landlords will be understanding of minimal wear and tear, they will be less tolerant of other forms of damage. Here are several tips for repairs you can utilize before your Florida movers arrive.

Remove Scratches

If you have scratches in your hardwood flooring or scuffs on your baseboards, there are steps you can take to make them look like new. Use walnuts to wipe the scuffs away on your wooden surfaces. If this proves to be ineffective, you can purchase a wood colored marker from your local hardware store. Then use it to fill in the scratches until they disappear. In order to make your baseboards look like new, use Mr. Clean’s Magic Erasers. Wet them with water and watch the dirt and grime quickly disappear.

Repair Blinds

Blinds are quite fragile and can easily break. Begin by using a wet rag or paper towel to remove any dust or debris that have built up on the surface and you will be immediately surprised at the difference. If any of the blinds are bent, try your best to straighten them as much as possible. If you are unable to make them look nice, go to your local hardware store and purchase another set that are the same color and style. It will be cheaper to purchase them yourself rather than if your landlord does it for you.

Clean Stains

Hopefully, you have been trying to remove stains as they occur. After all, they are much easier to clean if they have not set in completely yet. However, you may have missed a couple stains once your Florida moving company removes all of your furniture from the area. Begin by applying baking soda to the stain and scrubbing it clean. If this fails, you might want to consider renting a carpet cleaner. You will be surprised at how nice your flooring will look when you are finished.

Fill Small & Large Holes

The majority of apartments and houses have a variety of holes from accidents or nails that held up décor. If the holes are small, there is a simple fix. Use spackle to fill them in, allow it to dry and then use sandpaper to make it flush with the surrounding wall. You can also use a bar of white bar soap as a cheaper alternative by rubbing it across the hole until it is filled in. If you have a larger hole, your job becomes a bit more complicated. Visit your local hardware store and purchase a repair kit. Place the patch on the hole, then apply spackle and sand it down.

Perform Repairs Before Your Gainesville Move

Remember that the more repairs you are able to perform yourself, the less your landlord will have to do. Any cleaning or repairs he makes will cost more than if you attempt to do them yourself. It may take time to thoroughly inspect and fix issues at your residence, but it will be worth it when you receive your security deposit back in full when you move out. To make your moving process as successful as possible, allow a Florida moving company to safely move your belongings for you.

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.

Questions a Moving Company Might Ask You

When choosing a Florida moving company, there are many questions you will need to ask to find the correct one. However, there are also questions they will need to ask you. In order to properly prepare for your move there are several things they will need to know ahead of time.

Are you packing your things by yourself?

Movers will need to know the extent of the service you need. Some Gainesville moving companies offer to pack your items for you before they move them. This will help relieve you of the stress of boxing up your things while you are also organizing other variables of your moving process. If you are packing for yourself, it is important to make sure you secure all loose items before your movers arrive.

What volume of possessions do you have to be moved?

Your Florida moving company will need to know how much needs to be moved in order to help them figure out the level of difficulty associated with the job so they can factor it into their schedule and price.

What level of insurance do you require?

Moving companies will need to know what insurance you already have. If you have renters insurance, some of your possessions are already covered. Your Gainesville movers will also be able to provide you with a policy. If you do require insurance, your moving company will help provide you with a policy that works best for you. They will ask about any valuables you might be transporting in order to get a more accurate idea of how much coverage you will need. This way, if something does happen, your insurance will be able to cover the costs associated with that prized possession.

What is the basic timeline of your move?

Your moving company will need to know your expectations for when they will pick up your things from your old place and when they are free to deliver them to your new home. This will help them to know when they will have access to your items and will also allow them to figure out if your plans fits into their schedule in advance. At this time, they will also ask for exact locations and addresses of your two residences.

Will there be enough room for the moving truck to park?

If you live in an apartment or have a small driveway, there may not be enough room for the moving van. Therefore, they will be required to carry your furniture and packages farther. Movers will need to factor this into both their plan and their price for the service.

Does either location have stairs or an elevator?

You will need to let your movers know if you live on a floor other than the first one. This would be another factor that would influence the moving process. Stairs may require more movers or increase the cost of the moving process.

What is the distance between the two locations?

If you are moving a farther distance the Gainesville moving company will need to charge you more. Depending on whether you are moving to another city or to another street, you will pay different amounts.

How to Load Your Rental Truck

If you will be using a rental truck and loading it on your own, you must know how to load it the right way. Loading a truck incorrectly is inefficient, and you may be wasting valuable space without realizing it. An improperly loaded truck could be dangerous as well. You need a truck that’s the right size first. Determining the size you need is not easy. Getting a truck that’s a bit larger than you need is better than getting one that’s too small. The staff at the rental company may be able to assist you in choosing the right sized rental.

 

Start Big and Work Your Way Down

 

The smartest way to load the rental truck is with the largest items first. If you plan to move appliances, such as a refrigerator, washer, and dryer, they should be the first items into the truck. Balance the load by placing heavy items on opposite sites. For example, one side might contain your refrigerator. The other side should have the washer and dryer.

 

Once the appliances are in the truck, other heavy items will follow. These include sofas, tabletops, headboards, and mattresses. Tie the larger items in place so they do not shift as much. Then put in the dressers, bookcases, chairs, and other bulky items. To make the dresser lighter, remove the drawers while carrying it to the truck. Put the drawers in place after the body of the dresser is loaded. When you have these items in the truck, there is a chance they could shift against one another. This could cause scratching. A good way to avoid this is with moving blankets. They provide that added bit of protection you need.

 

Next, you can start bringing in all of the boxes. Utilize the space properly. If there are gaps beneath chairs, coffee tables, or nightstands, place boxes beneath them. It’s a smart way to use the space. The heaviest boxes should go onto the truck first. Place the heavy boxes on the bottom and go lighter with the boxes as you pile them higher. Fragile items should be on top so nothing happens to them.

 

A moving dolly can help with heavy items. They also make it easy to move several boxes at once. You can often rent them from the same place you rent the truck.

 

Why This Order?

 

Placing all of the heavy items into the truck first offers a couple of benefits. First, it means you get the hard and heavy work out of the way. Second, when the truck brakes, the items may shift forward. If the heavy items were put in last, they could crush your boxes and other items. When you take the time to pack properly, your items are sure to be safe during transit.

 

Make the move even easier by having professional movers come and help. They know how to load a truck and they can probably do it in less time than you and your friends!

An Easy Moving Timeline

An Easy Moving Timeline

If you know you will be moving in Gainesville months in advance, you may be tempted to put things off. After all, you have plenty of time, right?

You may be surprised at how quickly things can sneak up on you, and if they do, then you could become overwhelmed and stressed out very quickly. Instead of waiting until the last minute, follow this quick and simple timeline. It is guaranteed to make your life much easier. Remember that it is never too early to start planning for the move.

Eight to Six Weeks in Advance

If you can, then get started at least two months in advance of when you will be moving. This will give you enough time to do plenty of research and then make the right decisions. Start by learning about where you will be relocating. If you are relocating a long distance away, you will need to learn more about the community. Many towns and cities offer a relocation package that will tell you about utilities, schools, and much more. Other things to do during this time period include:

  • Put together a file on your computer to keep track of your moving information and receipts.
  • Start determining how much money it is going to cost to relocate and then start saving.
  • Begin gathering tips and information for choosing movers, packing your belongings, and finding a new place to live.
  • Make sure your children’s school records will be transferred.
  • Contact any clubs or groups you are members of and find out if you will have to pay to end or transfer your memberships.
  • Start planning how you will use each room in your new home. Get a floor plan if you can.
  • Start making a list of everyone that needs to be notified that you are moving.
  • Inventory each room and determine anything you don’t want to take with you.

Five to Four Weeks in Advance

About a month before your move, you can really start making progress so that you don’t find yourself doing everything a week before the movers will arrive.

  • Find boxes, whether you purchase them or ask local businesses for them.
  • Pack up anything you don’t need to use between now and your move. Donate or sell anything you don’t want to keep.
  • Determine if you need a storage unit in your new location and start looking for one.
  • Contact the post office to file a change or address. You can do this online or in person.
  • Get your pets’ veterinary records.
  • Arrange to have the utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at the new one on moving day.
  • Cancel your local newspaper subscription.

Three Weeks to A Few Days in Advance

In the last three weeks, you will have a lot to do before the movers arrive.

  • Get your car serviced.
  • Dispose of poisons or flammable materials.
  • Make arrangements to close your bank account or transfer funds.
  • Notify creditors and subscriptions of your move.
  • Finish packing.
  • Prepare a box or suitcase of essentials you will need before unpacking.
  • Empty your refrigerator.
  • Give friends and family your new address.

If you stay on track for your move, then you will find everything much less stressful. Remember that the more you can get done in advance of moving day, the better.