Tag: moving tips

Deducting Moving Expenses

If you are moving to a new house to be closer to a new workplace, you can deduct moving costs from your taxes. These apply whether you are self employed or an employee of another company. In order to take advantage of these tax breaks, it is important to learn about what expenses are eligible.

Requirements to Qualify for Deductions During Your Gainesville Move

In order for your moving expenses related to storage, Gainesville movers and travel to qualify as deductions, your new house must be a certain distance away from your old one and you must continue working at your new job for a set amount of time after your move.

Distance

For the costs of lodging and Gainesville moving companies to be subtracted, your new primary office must be at least 50 miles farther from your new house than your original home was. This will be determined by the distance of the shortest route from your job site to your house. For example, if your current house is 10 miles away from your job, your future workplace must be at least 60 miles away from that same house. If you did not work while you were living in that home, your new job must be 50 miles away from your house.

Time

To prove to the IRS that your move is related to your job site, you must continue to work full time in the area surrounding your new office for at least 39 weeks during the next year after your move. If you are self employed, not only will you need to work 39 weeks in the next year in the area, but you will also be required to work there for 78 weeks during the next two years. In order to understand exactly what costs are deductible, IRS Publication 521 has a thorough record of possible expenses and Form 3903 can help you calculate the total amount that you can subtract.

Deductions for Your Moving Process in Gainesville, FL

When you are selling or buying your house, your deductions are not limited to the cost of movers in Gainesville, FL, and lodging. You can make claims on the actual sale or purchase of the building on your tax return as well.

Selling Your House

When you are putting your house on the market, you will be able to retain up to $250,000 from your tax return. However, in order to qualify for this deduction, you must be the legal owner of the property and be considered your primary residence for a total of two years out of the last five years. If you are married, file separately and both meet the eligibility requirements, you can claim up to $500,000. For more information, review the IRS Publication 523 for details on deductions when selling your house.

Purchasing Your House

Frequently, those who own their homes benefit from itemizing their deductions on their tax returns. Itemized deductions are preferable when the total amount of your deductions is more than the standard deductions. Your itemized list will include costs such as donations to charities, tax payments and casualty losses. As a homeowner, money that you use to pay off your mortgage or property taxes qualify as well. Publication 530 has more information on deductions related to your house while Publication 17 will help you decide whether you should itemize your tax returns or not.

Efficient Gainesville Moving Companies

If you are searching for a moving company Gainesville residents rely on, choose UF Mover Guys. Our team strives to ensure that all of your belongings arrive intact and on time. Contact us today to learn about our moving services.

How to Help Your Children Cope with Moving

Moving to a new house, city or state is difficult for anyone. From the search for reliable moving companies in Gainesville, FL, to setting up new utilities, the checklist never seems to end. For children, it is a whole other battle. Frequently, your children may not understand the reason why they must leave their house and school so it is important to try to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Difficulties of the Gainesville Moving Process

When children have to switch schools, leave their friends and live in a new home, they often experience high levels of stress and isolation. This is especially true if the transition occurs in the middle of the school year, causing them to fall behind in academics and feel like an outsider amongst the other students. For younger children, they may just be learning how to developmentally become separate from you, as their parent, and the move may cause them to become much more dependent again. Teenagers may have difficulty moving because so much of their stage of life is related to their social ranking and group of friends. It is important to be aware of the common indications of depression such as irritability, loss of appetite, sudden drop in grades, and increase in sleep so you can seek professional help if necessary.

Tips for Making Your Gainesville Move Easier for Your Children

Though your Gainesville movers will make the moving process simple, helping your children adjust might be more difficult. Here are a few helpful tips to make it easier.

Communicate Clearly

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to open a dialogue with your children. Clearly and calmly explain to them why the move is necessary for the family and why it is important for everyone to be supportive. Be sure to invite them to ask any questions and express any feelings they may have. If a child or teenager understands why the move is beneficial and feels heard, he or she may be more willing to accept the change.

Make the New City Seem Attractive

When a child first hears that they will be moving, most likely they do not know much about the area they are moving. Instead, the new city simply represents the place they do not want to be. While you are looking for Florida moving companies, spend some time researching what the surrounding area has to offer in order to help them to be excited about the prospect of their new home. For example, it might be close to an amusement park or the home of their favorite sports team.

Help Your Children Get Connected

When your children are resistant to the moving process, it is most likely caused by their desire to remain with their friends. Therefore, the sooner they are able to develop new friendships, the quicker they will begin to feel at home. Help them find sports teams, organizations and religious communities they can become involved with depending on their interests. If they are older, encourage them to try out for school teams, join an after school club or get a part time job.

Gainesville Moving Companies

If you are looking for efficient and reliable movers in Gainesville, FL, call UF Mover Guys. Our team will be efficient, honest and respectful to you, your family and your property. Contact us today to see how we can simplify your next move!

Tips for Investigating a New Neighborhood Before Moving

Finding out that your new neighborhood feels unsafe or too rowdy the night after your Gainesville movers leave is one of the worst things that can happen. That is why it is important to try to learn everything you can about your future neighborhood before you make any final decisions.

Exploring Your Future Gainesville Neighborhood

While your real estate agent is required to inform you about any factors of the surrounding area, he/she may not be aware of all aspects. Instead, you must take the initiative to learn about the community for yourself. Here are several steps you may want to consider before you finalize plans with your moving services in Gainesville.

Track Crime Rates

One of the common indicators that the neighborhood is less than ideal is the number of crimes committed in the surrounding area. There are several websites you can check such as myLocalcrime.com and Crimemapping.com. These sites have a list of all of the recent crimes that have been committed. Plug in the address of your new house and then a record will appear detailing what the charges were and on what date the incidents occurred.

Check Local Newspaper Stories

While you are looking for Florida moving companies, remember that newspapers can be another helpful resource. Most newspaper databases allow you to search according to the names of streets and neighborhoods. Here, you will find information about everything in the area from anniversaries and weddings to missing persons and unsolved murders.

Look for Registered Sex Offenders

The law requires all sex offenders to be registered on a list. Various websites such as the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Family Watchdog let you search the database with your address. Though these people must live somewhere, it is helpful to keep these facts in mind.

Spend Time Driving Around in the Neighborhood

Another helpful step during your Florida moving process is to spend time in your future neighborhood. Drive down the surrounding streets at different times throughout the day and night and be sure to go on both weekdays and weekends. Look for people jogging and children playing throughout the neighborhood, which are signs that the area is safe and has a sense of community. If you notice suspicious characters, run down houses, or a lack of people, it may be a sign that the area is not ideal. Make sure that you trust your gut. If you feel like something if off, take that into account.

Moving Companies in Gainesville, FL

Once you find the perfect house for you in the right neighborhood, you will need to find a moving company Gainesville, FL, residents trust. UF Mover Guys offer efficient and reliable services to make your moving process easier. Let us do the heavy lifting for you! Contact us today to learn how we can help you.

Smart Moving Hacks

Tips to Make Gainesville Moving Quicker

Let’s face it, no one enjoys packing, it is monotonous, time consuming and hurts your back. However, it is a task that must be completed one way or another. If you have to do it, you might as well look for ways to make the Florida moving process as seamless as possible. Here are a couple tricks that might speed things up a bit.

 

Utilize Towels and Sheets

Your linen will need to be packed anyway, so why not use them to protect your fragile items? Wrap vases and other breakables in these large pieces of fabric to keep them from breaking during the move. Not only will these items be protected, but you will save space by not needing to pack them separately. Additionally, it is environmentally friendly because you will not need to acquire as many other packing materials.

Color Code Boxes

When you are unloading boxes at your new residence, it can be confusing to figure out where each box goes. If you write the name of the room in a permanent marker, it can be difficult to find and read the label as you are carrying heavy boxes. Instead, color your boxes different colors according to their corresponding room. You can even use a variety of different colored packing tape to make the label more obvious in order to speed up the Gainesville moving process.

Pack Plates, Mirrors & Artwork Vertically

Traditionally, when we attempt to pack plates and other valuables, we stack them just like we do it in the cupboard. However, they are stronger and more stable if they remain vertical. Wrap objects like plates, mirrors and artwork and then place them in a large box so they are able to stand up. For mirrors and pieces of art, consider wrapping them in packing paper just as you would a present for superior coverage and support.

Keep Clothing on Hangers

It is quite time consuming to remove all of your clothing from their hangers, organize them in a box, pack the hangers separately and then rehang all of your clothing when you get to your new home. However, there is a much simpler method. Simply tie a group of hangers together with the clothing still on them. Then use plastic wrap or a garbage bag to secure all of the clothing, which your Florida movers will then be able to easily load into the truck. When you are unpacking, you can simply put the hangers in your closet and remove the plastic.

Use Soap to Fill in Holes

If you have several holes in your walls, but do not want to make the extra trip to the store for spackle, use household products. Take plain, white bar soap and scrub it over the holes in your walls. They will become filled quickly without the need for an unnecessary purchase.

Professional Gainesville Moving Companies

One of the worst parts of the moving process is attempting to carry heavy furniture out to the moving truck, especially in Florida. However, your move will be made much simpler if you allow Florida moving company to do it for you. Our team at UF Mover Guys will safely and efficiently move all of your belongings so you don’t have to.

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.

Packing Tips for a Big Move

Packing all of your belongings into boxes can seem like a daunting task. However, just like many things, if you follow the correct steps, your Gainesville moving process will be over before you know it. Here is a list of several measures you can take to ensure your procedure goes smoothly.

Pack an Overnight Bag

Before you begin packing all of your boxes, set aside a duffel or small suitcase. Fill it with a couple changes of clothes, toiletries, pajamas and a few snacks. This will help you find essentials without needing to open multiple boxes to find toothpaste or a hairbrush. Additionally, you will want to assign one box to be opened first. Inside, it should contain all of the possessions you need to for the first couple days including bedding, towel, silverware, paper towels and a flashlight.

Collect Necessary Materials

Gather packing materials before you begin packing. First, you will need something to put all of your belongings in. Utilize any containers you already have such as plastic bins, suitcases and tote bags. Then head to your local hardware store where you can buy boxes or to the grocery store where you might be able to acquire some for free. Next, buy packing tape, permanent markers, bubble wrap and tissue paper.

Declutter

Spend time ridding yourself of unnecessary items. If you have not used or worn something in the last year, donate it. It is not beneficial to spend time packing, moving and unloading objects that you have no real purpose for. Take this as an opportunity to start fresh. Once you decide what you no longer want, decide what should be donated and what needs to be thrown away. You may even be able to sell furniture, electronics or clothing before you move.

Organize

As you begin putting belongings in boxes, pack them with items that are similar. For example, place all kitchen items in boxes together and then move on to each new room. This will make unpacking much simpler. Keep in mind that you will be living in housing that may have a different layout. Therefore, if you now want to put your DVD collection in your room instead of the living room, you will want to consider that when packing.

Label Boxes

Use a permanent marker to label not only which room each box goes in but what items are inside. As your Gainesville movers are unloading boxes, they will know which rooms they should place each one. Then, when you begin unpacking or are looking for a specific item, you will also have an idea about which box you are looking for. Further, you will want to write “fragile” on any box that has breakables. This will help your movers know which boxes they should be especially careful with and avoid placing them underneath heavier boxes.

Moving Company in Florida

After you finish packing, you will need assistance from a Gainesville moving company transporting your possessions to your new home. Let UF Mover Guys assist you by safely and efficiently load and unload your boxes. We can even do all of the packing and unpacking for you to make your job that much easier. Call us today to begin coordinating.

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.