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Best Moving Companies in Gainesville in 2023
By Susan Doktor MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Local, long-distance, commercial
Packing, storage, piano moving
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Residential, commercial, auto, interstate
Storage, packing, unpacking
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Residential, commercial, auto, interstate
Storage, re-delivery, packing, unpacking, online tracking
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Long distance, interstate, residential, commercial
Boxes, storage, packing, and special services such as piano, fine art, and pool table moving, among others
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Central Florida is home to hundreds of regional moving companies. Some are long-distance moving companies, while others specialize in intrastate and local moves. To provide consumers with a greater variety of options, we review some sizable national moving companies but focus mainly on local businesses and homegrown movers. With their lower overhead costs, regional moving companies can sometimes beat the prices of larger carriers and, arguably, provide more knowledgeable relocation services.
Our top picks for the best moving companies in Gainesville
- Best for Hourly Services: 2 College Brothers Moving
- Best for Large-Scale Storage: Gator Moving & Storage
- Best for Smaller Moves: Sunbelt Moving
- Best for Moving Antiques and Artwork: UF Mover Guys
- Best National Moving Franchise: Two Men and a Truck
- Best Moving Brokerage: New Leaf Moving Group
Best Moving Companies in Gainesville Reviews
Best for Hourly Services: 2 College Brothers Moving & Storage
What it offers:
- Residential and commercial moving
- Local, intrastate and long-distance moving
- Packing and unpacking services
- Discounts on storage facilities
What it doesn’t offer:
- International moving services
- Auto relocation
Founded in 2010, 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage emphasizes its community-mindedness, and says you can also expect its crew members to be courteous, responsible and professionally trained. Besides full-service moving over short or long distances, 2 College Brothers offers junk removal, white-glove furniture delivery and piano moving services. Customers can also book hourly services for packing and unpacking, loading and unloading or even sifting through boxes.
2 College Brothers Moving promises affordable pricing regardless of the service and says it specializes in moving students with student-budget-friendly rates. The company explains that final pricing for moving services will depend on different factors, including the distance and difficulty of the move, the number and size of the items to be moved, the ease of access to the property and additional services purchased.
The company enjoys a positive online reputation. It rates 4.5 stars out of 5 on Angie’s List, 4.7 stars on HomeAdvisor and 4.8 stars on Google. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has received just four complaints in the past three years. 2 College Brothers Moving also has a clean safety record with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Best for Large-Scale Storage: Gator Moving & Storage
What it offers:
- Residential and commercial moves
- Local, intrastate and long-distance moving services
- Packing and unpacking services
- In-transit storage services
- Storage services outside of a move
- A secure, monitored, climate-controlled warehouse
What it doesn’t offer:
- International moving services
- Auto relocation
Gator Moving & Storage has been licensed and insured since 1988. As a full-service mover in Gainesville, Tampa, and their surrounding areas, Gator offers long and short-distance moving services, warehousing solutions for businesses and individuals, and storage options throughout Gainesville and surrounding areas.
Unlike other full-service movers, Gator doesn’t offer even ballpark quotes online and requires that moving assessments be done in person. While some customers may find that inconvenient, the company explains this process can guarantee the accuracy of its moving quotes, since costs can vary based on many factors, from the weight of your belongings to the layout of your home.
Gator Moving & Storage earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. There have been no complaints about the company filed through the BBB. In addition, the FMCSA reports that the company has not been involved in any reported accidents. Gator has nearly 200 verified reviews through Google and earns an impressive 4.8-star-out-of-5 rating. Angie’s List records 33 verified reviews on the company, and those together give Gator an average of 4.5 stars.
Best for Smaller Moves: Sunbelt Moving
What it offers:
- Residential and commercial moving services
- Local, intrastate and long-distance moving
- Auto relocation in the lower 48 states
- Packing and unpacking services
- Loading into international shipping crates
- Piano moving anywhere in the lower 48 states
- In-home assessments for moving quotes
- Specialized antique and artwork moving
- Whole-house to single-item moving
What it doesn’t offer:
- A wide range of in-transit storage options
- Storage outside of a contracted move
Sunbelt has been in business since 1982 and offers residential and commercial moving services throughout the state of Florida. The company can also move your belongings anywhere in the lower 48 states or pack your belongings in overseas shipping containers if you are moving abroad. Sunbelt also moves pianos and organs, transports automobiles anywhere in the contiguous United States and offers limited storage services.
Sunbelt’s insurance coverage is generous; every move automatically comes with $50,000 in cargo protection. This is considerably more protection than other movers provide at no additional cost. For context, moving companies licensed to move between state lines are required by law to cover your belongings at 6 cents per pound per article, which may not amount to much coverage depending on the weight of your shipment and the value of your property.
Sunbelt has had Better Business Bureau accreditation since 2001, and the bureau has an A+ rating, with no consumer complaints registered. Based on an average of over 140 reviews, Google awards the company an outstanding 4.8-star rating. Sunbelt is also registered with the FMCSA but does not have a safety rating.
Best for Moving Antiques and Artwork: UF Mover Guys
What it offers
- Residential and commercial moving services
- Packing and unpacking
- Expert crating of artwork and other valuable possessions
- Piano moving
- Disassembly and reassembly of large items
- Climate-controlled storage
- Loading and unloading of rented storage pods
What it doesn’t offer
- International moving services
- Auto relocation
UF Mover Guys claims that no job is too small and last-minute moves are not a problem for its staff. UF Mover Guys employs 50 professionally-trained movers — and no day laborers — and owns a fleet of 12 trucks. The company performs moves seven days a week and offers 24/7 customer support.
The company has been in business since 2008 and has a good online reputation. Google awards the company an excellent rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on over 850 reviews. It also has the same star score on Angie’s List, based on nearly 140 reviews. Reviewers praise the company’s ability to take on last-minute moves, the professionalism of its drivers, the accuracy of the company’s estimates and its careful packing.
UF Mover Guys is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and earns a less-than-stellar C+ rating with that group. However, that rating is based on just a single review.
The company also has an excellent safety record. The FMCSA reports no crashes involving the company in the past two years.
Best National Moving Franchise: Two Men and a Truck
What it offers
- Residential and commercial moves
- Local, intrastate and long-distance moving
- Multi-stop moves
- Storage units
- Junk removal services
- In-home moving services
- Seasonal furniture moving
What it doesn’t offer
- International moving services
- Auto relocation
- Secure, monitored warehouse storage
Two Men and a Truck is a national, full-service moving company that has been in business since 2004. It’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau and earns an A+ rating from that organization. The company is a franchise with over 340 locations worldwide. In total, these franchises operate more than 3,000 moving trucks.
You can request a free moving quote from Two Men and a Truck via phone, email or online. If you complete the online form, you can expect to fill out a lengthy questionnaire. Two Men and A Truck does advise that if your home is larger than 1,500 square feet or has narrow hallways with a lot of twists and turns, an in-home moving assessment is preferable.
If the logistics of your move require that you make multiple stops, Two Men and A Truck says it can accommodate you. If you need to store your belongings, the company also offers storage units to meet your needs.
Best Moving Brokerage: New Leaf Moving Group
What it offers
- Residential and commercial moving services
- Local, intrastate and long-distance moves
- Packing and unpacking services
- Multiple storage options
- Piano moving
- Auto relocation
What it doesn’t offer
- International moving
- A consistent moving experience for all customers
New Leaf Moving Group, despite some blemishes, is an option should you favor a family-owned, South Florida-based moving broker. The company doesn’t own a large fleet or employ professional movers. Rather, it partners with moving companies across the country to meet the needs of Florida customers.
With such brokers, the moving experience can be somewhat unpredictable, depending on the mover that shows up on your doorstep. Once New Leaf matches you with a mover, it’s incumbent on you to investigate that company’s safety record and reputation for customer service.
New Leaf prides itself on its mover vetting process and works with some reputable moving companies that fare well on consumer review sites. However, the company itself does not have a top-notch reputation online. The Better Business Bureau awards New Leaf an unimpressive C rating. It earns a 3.5 out of 5-star rating on Google: respectable but nothing to write home about. On the FMCSA database, New Leaf Moving Group received 73 complaints in 2021, many more than other brokers and over twice as many as some national van lines.
Best Moving Companies in Gainesville FAQs
What is the best time of year to move to Gainesville?
Gainesville offers pleasant weather year-round. Some customers may prefer to avoid the summer months due to extremely high temperatures. If you have a choice, you may want to avoid moving at the beginning and end of the University of Gainesville semesters. More than 52,000 students are getting in and out of town then.
What are the average prices for a moving company in Gainesville?
In truth, there's no such thing as an "average" move. Moving costs depend on too many variables. Local or long-distance? Studio apartment of sprawling ranch home? Does your move involve a heavy safe or piano moving? It's impossible to quote a single meaningful number when it comes to total moving costs.
On average, local moving companies charge around $100 per hour. That will get you a truck and two movers. When getting moving quotes, ask how long the moving company expects your move to take. Divide that by the estimated cost of your move and you can see how the company's hourly rate compares to the average.
For long-distance moves, most interstate carriers charge by the weight of the shipment and the distance of the move, among other factors. Packing and unpacking services are typically sold as a package you can add to your move for an added cost. Adding a full value protection plan to your move will also increase the overall cost.
How do I know if a moving company is licensed in Gainesville?
Chapter 507 of the Florida Statutes requires any person engaged in intrastate moving to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Local, municipal, and county registrations may also be required. You can contact the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA to check whether a company is duly licensed to perform your move.
How to find the best movers in your area
The best moving company for you will depend on the specifics of your move, including:
- The distance you must travel
- The weight and volume of your possessions
- Your storage requirements, if any
- Whether you require special services, such as piano or art and antique moving
- Your budget
Make sure your moving company does a thorough, in-home assessment of your move to ensure you won't be taken by surprise when you're handed an invoice. And be sure to ask your moving company about the basic insurance coverage it offers and the option of purchasing a policy with higher coverage limits.
How we found the best moving companies in Gainesville
There are hundreds of regional movers and thousands of nationwide moving companies that serve the greater Gainesville area. For the most part, we kept things local and focused on those moving companies that have Gainesville roots and a history of satisfying customers in the region.
We reviewed the safety records of various moving companies and only recommended those with spotless safety records. We consulted various consumer rating platforms and selected those companies that demonstrated a pattern of high customer satisfaction. We also considered the breadth of services each company offered and chose companies that could meet a wide range of customer needs.
