How to Move “Ready to Assemble” Furniture

Make Moving “Ready to Assemble” Furniture Easy

Buying furniture can become expensive and can be difficult to assemble. “Ready to assemble” furniture is an easy and cheap alternative to other types of furniture and it looks nice too! However, before your Gainesville movers come, you should consider necessary extra steps you will need to take with any “ready to assemble” furniture.

Disassemble Furniture

Furniture from Ikea and equivalent stores may be useful but they can be easily damaged during the Gainesville moving process. In fact, it is often more expensive to repair pieces than replacing them completely. Therefore, it is best to take furniture apart before you move.

Store Hardware

These pieces of furniture use various small types of hardware that can easily become lost. Be sure to remove all of the fasteners, dowels, handles, pins, screws and cams completely. Place them in an individual plastic bag for each furniture unit and label it with a marker so you will be able to sort it easily when you are unpacking without losing any critical fragment.

Load Pieces into Moving Truck

If you have multiple types of “ready to assemble” furniture, you will want to keep track of them properly. Worst case scenario, you arrive at your new home and you are left with a variety of planks of wood and tons of small hardware pieces without a clue of what goes together. Avoid this complication by sorting your wood into the sections that go together and then wrap them in a large towel or blanket. This will keep the parts from getting mixed up and it will also prevent any scratches or marks while they are in the moving truck.

Choose a Superior Moving Company in Florida

If you are looking for a Gainesville moving company who will take care of your disassembled furniture to prevent it from getting damaged, choose UF Mover Guys. Our team strives to provide you with the best service possible with our attention to detail. In the unlikely event that something is damaged, we are licensed and insured so you can remain stress free. When you decide to move, call UF Mover Guys.

Create a Floor Plan Before You Move

Creating a Floor plan

Have you ever gone through the dreadful process of rearranging furniture into many different arrangements in order to find the best one for the space? Have you ever found that one of your pieces of furniture does not fit through a doorway or up the stairs? If you want to simplify the process, take the time to make a detailed floor plan before you begin your Gainesville moving process.

How Will a Floor Plan Help You?

A detailed layout will give you an accurate estimate about how everything will fit in your new apartment before your Gainesville movers arrive. It takes all of the guesswork out of the process. When you look at a room without any of the furniture, it may appear bigger than it really is. If you take measurements of the walls and windows, you will be able to develop a drawing to scale for your new place. Once you see how your pieces fit, you can see if the arrangement works or if you will need to get rid of anything before you go through the hassle of moving it. With the assistance of your floor plan, you may discover that you will need to get additional furniture that will look better in the shape of your new living room. Overall, this method will save you time and effort because you will be able to rearrange the room to your hearts content without needing to actually move heavy pieces of furniture.

Wondering How to Make a Floor Plan?

There are several methods to create your layout design. If you opt to do it yourself, you can use graph paper and divide room, window and furniture measurements in half and then use each square to represent one foot. For a much more efficient method, you can use online software to do it for you. One possible tool is a website called floorplanner where you can use a map to recreate your home with a large variety of walls, windows flooring and furniture. If you prefer a software that is extremely customizable, use SketchUp. You can program the room dimensions and furniture in to produce a 3D model with notes. However, Room Sketcher may be more attractive to you if you prefer something a bit more simple but you will have a less ability to customize it.

Provide Your Moving Company with Your Floor Plan

Your detailed floor plan will not only assist you, but your movers as well. Once you complete it, give it to your Gainesville moving company who can use it to know where to put everything in your new apartment. At UF Mover Guys, our licensed and insured team works hard to safely move all of your possessions and personalize your moving process to your needs.

What to Pack Last When Moving

The Last Thing You Should Pack for a Move

Once you finally motivate yourself to being packing, you may just want to move from room to room until every box is filled. However, this method may lead to complications further down the line. Instead, before you begin packing, you need to consider which items you will need first and they should be stored separately.

Items You Need While Moving

Whether you are moving down the street or out of town, you will want to have access to several items during the Florida moving process. Most likely, you will find a few pieces that you have forgotten to pack. Therefore, you should be sure to bring an extra couple bags or boxes, tape and marker to store them. If you take any prescriptions or have allergies, pack your medications in a small bag so you can use them as needed. The Florida heat is particularly harsh so pack some snacks, water bottles and Gatorade to keep your movers refreshed. Other items you may need include phone chargers, paper towels, toilet paper and speakers for music.

Possessions You May Need Immediately

When you are packing boxes, be sure to load one box with essentials. Find this box immediately after your Gainesville movers bring it in so you will have access to various things you will require on your first night without needing to rummage through multiple boxes. In this box, you should include a change of clothing, towel, toiletries, bedding and clean sheets, basic cleaning supplies, flashlight, small tool kit and several kitchen utensils.

Pieces That Will Satisfy Your Office Needs

If you have a commercial property and are moving to a new location, you will need to box with items that you need immediately. Consider what files you will need to help current clients and do not place them with older paperwork. It may take a while for your computers and internet to be set up so you will want to find some work that your employees can work on without a computer. For your everyday office needs, pack some toilet paper, paper towels, paper, pens and of course the resources necessary to make everyone a round of coffee.

Moving Companies in Florida

A professional Gainesville moving company will make all the difference during your move. If you need assistance for a commercial or residential move, UF Mover Guys is here to help. We strive to make the process as simple as possible for you or your business. Contact us today for a free quote.

How to Move into an Apartment

Apartment Moving

Moving into a new apartment is an exciting process but it can also be an overwhelming task. There are a variety of moving parts that you must keep track of. In order to have a successful Gainesville moving experience, you will want to remain organized and consider these helpful tips.

Make a Schedule

Though you may not feel as if you have time to sit down and come up with a concrete schedule, it will save you much more time in the long run. When you attempt to “just wing it”, you may find that your Gainesville movers are only available certain hours of the day that does not coincide with the time you must leave your apartment. First communicate with the landlords in your old apartment and the one you are moving into to determine when you will have access. Then, relay this information to your moving company so they will be able to come at the correct time. If you do not live on the first floor, ask your landlord about your ability to book the elevator (if available) so you will be able to exclusively use it for a short period of time.

Label Boxes Clearly

Unorganized moving processes usually result in a chaotic mountain of boxes with no knowledge about where anything is. You can avoid this frustration by clearly labeling what is in each box as you pack it. Write what is inside on the top of the box as well as two of the sides so that you will not have to worry about rotating heavy boxes. Along with a description of the contents, also label which room they will go into. Then, when your Gainesville moving company is bringing in packages, they will be able to place them in convenient locations. You can even set up drop off zones within each room to ensure you will have enough room to place all of your boxes.

Leave Nothing Behind

Everyone has experienced that unexplainable feeling they are forgetting something when they are driving away from their house. You can avoid that by remembering these commonly forgotten items. Remember to check out of site areas such as the attic, your local storage unit, shed or garage. If you forget about these areas until you are packing up the moving truck, you will be greatly inconvenienced. Take time to consider local places that may have your items. Is your grandfather’s old watch at the shop getting repaired? Did you send your clothes to the dry cleaners? Make sure you grab these items before you leave. The same is true for friends. If you borrowed a movie from a friend or your neighbor has your favorite book, do not forget to give or retrieve them before you move.

Let the Movers Do the Heavy Lifting

When you are moving in or out of Gainesville, hire a Florida moving company that you can depend on. UF Mover Guys will offer a personalized moving plan for each customer that adheres to the regulations of your complex. Let our team at UF Mover Guys keep track of the moving process so you can worry about one less thing. Contact us today to get a free, no obligation estimate.

Moving Lights

Techniques for Effectively Packing Holiday Lights

Everyone knows the difficulty of taking boxes out that your Gainesville moving company brings in that contain decorative lighting and discovering all of the lights are tangled. When packing them up, it is important to store them correctly so you can remove them later without the hassle of untangling the lights. There are three different techniques that may be effective.

In a Circle

This is probably the most common approach to packing Christmas lights. Start by taking one end of the lights in one hand. Then use your other hand to grab the string of lights at a different spot. There should be about 1 foot of distance between your hands. Then create a v-shape by bringing your hands together. Then grab both points with your first hand. Continue doing this until reach the final bulb. Carefully place this circle on a flat surface. Use the remaining cord to tightly wrap around the circle and secure it until it forms a shape similar to a bow.

Small Bundles

This method involves starting on the end of the string of lights that does not contain the plug. Hold the string by pinching the second light between your first and second finger while the first light hangs along the bottom of your palm. Fold the two sides together so the first and third lights are side by side. Then put the fourth light at the top and continue to pinch and fold the string until the entire length has been used and you have a small bundle in your hand. Now, take the rest of the cord and wrap it around the cluster tightly and plug it into the other side. This version not only keeps your lights securely in place, but it also consolidates them so you will be able to fit more of them in your box for your Gainesville movers.

Cardboard Wraps

Another option is to cut a rectangle out of cardboard. Then cut two slits on opposite sides. Begin by securing one end of your Christmas lights into one of the cuts and begin wrapping it around the cardboard. Once you run out of string, secure the other end into the slit on the opposite side. You can now easily place them in a box that can readily be moved by your Florida moving company.

Disassembling Furniture Before a Move

How to Properly Disassemble Furniture

During the moving process, it can be difficult to move all of your possessions. This task becomes much more difficult if you have large, bulky furniture. Therefore, it is much more beneficial to take time to disassemble your furniture before your Gainesville moving company team arrives. When altering your valuable items, it is important to do it well.

Measure Furniture

Before you begin the moving process, take time to measure your furniture in order to determine if it will fit well within the moving van. Also, make sure your large pieces will be able to fit through door ways and hallways and the room at your new home each item will go in.

Analyze Furniture

Once you decide which pieces need to be disassembled, you need to look for disassembling points. Often, there are areas that are specific points where you can take them apart such as screws. This is especially true for bookshelves and desks. Sometimes, they are beneath fabric and you must thoroughly search them.

Get the Proper Tools

In order to properly disassemble your furniture, you will need to obtain the necessary tools. This includes items such as a hammer, Phillips head and flat head screwdriver. You may even need a small hex wrench, which will be helpful for tiny screws.

Consult a Manual

Some pieces of furniture may be easy to disassemble. However, others may be more difficult. Therefore, it may be helpful to read your manual. If you can not locate the manual, you may be able to find it online. Manuals will be particularly helpful for pieces that do not have obvious disassembling points.

Secure Hardware

After you remove the screws, it is important to keep track of the hardware. If you lose it, it will be much more difficult to find similar screws when assembling the piece of furniture again. Place the screws in small plastic bags and label with the accompanying name of the furniture, or you can tape the hardware to the furniture so you can find it once your Gainesville movers finish.

Disassembling your furniture may take time, but it will make your Florida moving process run much smoother. There is also more danger associated with carrying cumbersome furniture. You can accidentally drop it, which may cause an injury or damage your furniture and will then require repair costs. It will also make the task much easier for your Gainesville moving company.

How to Unpack Efficiently

The Efficient Way to Unpack

Unpacking your belongings can be one of the most exhaustive aspects to the moving process. It also has the potential to leave you with unpacked boxes months later. Therefore, it is critical to begin as quickly as possible and in an efficient manner once your Gainesville moving company has departed.

Label Boxes

If you write the correct room name onto each box, your Gainesville movers will be able to put each box into their corresponding room. This will save you time sorting time later. Similarly, tell your movers where to put each piece of large furniture because it will save you time and energy in the future.

Begin with Commonly Used Items

Before you move, place all of your essential items into a box that you will be able to easily access. This may include items such as a shower curtain, toiletries, towels, toilet paper, pillow, blanket, bed sheets and a change of clothing.

Plan Your Projects

It is important to plan out your projects to fit your schedule. This is especially true if you still need to work. Weekends are perfect for larger projects that take more time like setting up your media center. You can complete small tasks in the evenings after work so you can still make progress without tiring yourself out.

Unpack One Room at a Time

Finish each room before you move on to the next one. This will help you feel as if you are making progress. It may be helpful to begin with the kitchen so you can minimize the amount of meals you will need to get from restaurants. It is also vital to unpack your bedroom. This way, you will be able to put your bed together so you have somewhere to sleep. You can also unpack clothing that you will need to wear immediately.

Prioritize

Focus on the essential variables in each room. For instance, in your bedroom, you do not need to unpack winter clothing if you move in during the summer. Also, wait to decorate until after everything is unpacked. This way you will have access to your belongings quicker.

Make Unpacking Fun

Though your task may seem to be a bit daunting once your Florida moving company leaves, it does not have to be. You can find ways to make the process and time more enjoyable. Put on some music and invite friends over while you are unpacking. It also might be helpful to find rewards for tasks you complete. Go out for ice cream after you complete a large task or take a break and explore your new city.

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.

Places to Meet People After Moving to Gainesville

Sometimes, moving to a new place can be isolating and you may find yourself cooped up in your apartment by yourself on a Friday night. In addition to getting accustomed to navigating your way around a new city, and unpacking your plethora of boxes delivered by your Gainesville movers, you must also form new social connections. This may be particularly overwhelming if you do not know where to go.

School or Work

This may seem obvious but if you are a student you will regularly see the same people in your classes and if you work you spend the majority of your time at your job. Do not be afraid to be outgoing and strike up a conversation with someone you do not know. You will automatically have something in common to talk about and they may be interested in spending time together outside of that environment. Take advantage of that time together and do not let yourself be a hermit in those situations.

Volunteer

There are many places that require a lot of help. A great way to fill your time is by finding ways to make a difference in your community. There are many different places you can volunteer in Gainesville depending on your passions and what you might enjoy doing. While you are volunteering, you will interact with other people and it has the potential to be a great way to meet new friends.

Student Life

If you are a student, take advantage of organized events. Gator Nights is held every Friday night at the University of Florida. They show new movies that have been recently been released, and have free food, crafts and other activities you can participate in. The best part is it is all for free! Many UF students attend this event so it is a perfect way to socialize.

Joining one of UF’s 1,000 organized clubs is always another option. This is preferable because there are so many options, you are guaranteed to find one that corresponds with your interests. These smaller groups also facilitate the growth of friendships and they also look good on your resume.

Community Events

If you find yourself with free time on a weekend, do not spend it in your apartment curled up on couch. Instead, look up activities occurring in the community. For instance, in the summer, there are periodic festivals with musicians and artists that would make an entertaining outing. Downtown Gainesville offers a variety of coffee shops, restaurants and nightlife spots which are other great ways to meet people.

After your Gainesville moving company leaves, you are left with the task of making new friends. In general, the key to meeting people in a new area is to be friendly. If you initiate conversations with people you do not know, eventually you will find someone who is also looking for a friend. If you stay in your apartment, nothing will ever change and you will not meet anyone new. So, be brave and build lasting friendships; you never know who you will meet!

How to Pack a Desktop Computer

Everyone has a computer and when you move, you need to take it with you. However, it is very easy for computers to get damaged during the process. The best way to protect your computer is to take it with you personally. That way, you will be more likely to save it from excessive movement. However, this is not always possible and when it is not, you need to know how pack it before you give it to your Gainesville movers.

Preparation

First, you need to get insurance for your computer. On the off chance that it does get damaged, you want to make sure that you will have the finances to repair it. Also, computers hold many important documents and pictures. Take the time to back it all up on an external hard drive so you will still have access to your important information if something happens to it. Next, you should remove the wires. If you are not sure you can put them back correctly later, it might be best to take a picture of them first or label the wires.

Placing it in the Box

In order to safely pack your desktop, you will need a large box, tape and bubble-wrap or packing paper. If possible, use the box your computer came in, but if you no longer have it, a normal box will do. Begin by reinforcing the edges of the box with tape in order to better stabilize it. Wrap your computer’s tower in bubble-wrap and place it on the bottom of the box. Then, tape bubble-wrap to the front and back of your monitor and position it on top of the tower. Fill remaining gaps with bubble-wrap and packing paper to prevent parts from moving too much. Fold the cords for your keyboard and mouse then cover them both with packing paper. Place both into the box and again, fill all empty spaces with paper. Then put the top of the box down and securely tape it.

Before you hand your desktop computer to your Gainesville moving company, make sure that it is packed properly. There is no guarantee, but the better you pack it the less likely the chances are that it will get damaged. Choose a company with movers Gainesville, FL, trusts.