14 Helpful Tips for an Easier Moving Experience

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Whether you’re moving down the street or across the world, these transitions can be stressful, chaotic, and overwhelming. We can’t promise moving will ever be fun or relaxing, but it can be smooth and organized!

We have some advice to make moving a little easier. Use these tips and tricks to streamline the moving process and make a clean transition into your new home.

1. Write out a Thorough Checklist

It’s easy to underestimate the complexity of moving. After all, it’s just packing stuff up and then unpacking stuff, right? Wrong; it’s far more complex than that.

Before you do anything, make a complete checklist. This should include the order you plan to pack your belongings, anything you need to schedule (rental truck, move-in date, etc.), anything you need to buy, and more. Don’t leave anything off this list, even if you think it’s small.

2. Collect Price Quotes From Multiple Moving Companies

If you have an uncapped budget, you can ignore this tip. However, most people have a moving budget and want to spend as little as possible.

Don’t just blindly book the first company Google spits out. It’s best to email or call at least three moving companies and get a quote for your moving services. This way, you know you’re getting a fair price.

3. Make a Detailed Schedule of the Move

As soon as possible, make a moving schedule. This schedule should include when certain rooms should be packed up, when your belongings will leave the old place and arrive at the new place, and all other relevant events.

This will ensure that you are completely aware of what must be done and when, so you can avoid feeling rushed or caught off guard.

4. Give Yourself Wiggle Room

If possible, leave some wiggle room on your schedule. If you think something will take two hours, plan for it to take three or four hours.

Even better, plan for the move to take an extra day or two. Moving always takes a little longer than you expect, so make sure you allow enough time for everything to be done properly.

5. Take Work Off

We know ambitious people might think they can still go to work or work regularly amidst a move. However, we strongly recommend taking at least one day off to manage your move because things can go sideways quickly. If not, try to plan it on your days off.

6. Start Saving Boxes Now

Even if you’re not moving for a few months, start saving moving boxes now. If you have the budget, you can buy boxes, but why spend more money and create more paper waste when you can just keep your Amazon delivery boxes?

By hoarding boxes for a few weeks before the move, you can save money, time, effort, and the planet.

7. Purge Your House

Unless you’re moving tomorrow, we recommend taking the time to purge your home and belongings thoroughly. Go through your clothes, kitchenware, linens, decor, and more to find things you can toss or donate. The more you get rid of, the less you have to pack and transport.

8. Pack up Your Home in Stages

Odds are you do not use every item in your house every single day. Rather than pack everything you own in one go, do it in stages.

Start with things you rarely use, like holiday decor, eccentric kitchen items, formalwear, and seasonal clothes. Continue to do this leading up to the move until only the essentials you need are left.

9. Label Anything and Everything

Create a labeling system that works for you and label every single box or bag you pack. You can use sticky notes, but writing directly on the box is safer. Sticky notes are prone to falling off things.

It could be a color-coded system, abbreviation system, or thorough list of contents on each box. The clearer and more specific the labels, the easier it will be to unpack and manage everything.

10. The Russian Doll Technique

The Russian Doll packing technique involves placing small boxes into medium boxes into large boxes, and so on. This prevents half-full boxes from wasting space and loose smaller boxes from getting lost. You can also put small bags in larger bags. The strategy helps keep things organized and maximizes space.

11. Use Clothes and Linens as Wrapping or Stuffing

People often don’t realize how expensive packing materials are until they shell out $200. Bubble wrap, tape, boxes, packing tissue, and other materials are pricey.

Instead of buying tissue and bubble wrap, use your clothes and linens to wrap fragile items and insulate boxes. This feeds two birds with one scone, as you save money on packing materials and have a clever way to pack your clothes.

12. Pack in Already-Owned Bags and Boxes

Many folks pack their personal bags and boxes away rather than utilizing them. Make sure you use these items to pack! Fill duffle bags with shoes; stuff suitcases with durable kitchen items; use laundry baskets to carry belongings. Anything considered a container should be used to pack loose items.

13. Fill Every Nook and Cranny

Using the Russian Doll packing technique should help you avoid empty spaces in boxes. However, we still encourage you to fill every nook and cranny in a box with loose belongings.

One of the best ways to fill space is with clothes hangers. You can shove these in along the side of the box, making the box sturdier and stronger! We recommend waiting until you’re 100% sure a box is full to tape it shut.

14. Set up Utilities and Mail at Your New Place

After an arduous and exhausting day of moving, the last thing you want is to deal with setting up your electric and energy service. Set up your new utilities a day or two before you plan to move all your belongings.

Also, set up mail forwarding for your move-in date. These simple things will make the transition smoother and less stressful.

Featured Image Credit: gpointstudio and Shutterstock.