Tip 2: Schedule your movers as early as possible<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Save yourself the headache later by scheduling your movers as early as you can to lock in your time. It\u2019s okay if you don\u2019t know exactly how much stuff you\u2019re moving \u2014 as long as you provide the size of the home you\u2019re moving out of and the location you\u2019re moving to, you can proceed with a quote and locking in a moving slot. Work with the moving company as you pack to keep them up to date on exactly how much you\u2019ll be moving on the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip 3: Try to make your move during an off-peak time<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Moving in the middle of the week or middle of the month can be a little more cost-effective if that timing works for you. Check with a few moving companies to see when they can offer you the best deal and see if you can come up with a plan together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip 4: If you\u2019re doing the move yourself, rent a truck early and have a plan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re planning to do the moving on your own, you still want to set up an extensive plan and rent a truck early so you can be sure you have it secured. Follow much of the same advice for if you had movers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip 5: Grab free boxes from businesses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
At the top of the list of packing moving tips is to find free boxes. To save money, check your local grocer or similar store for any boxes they\u2019re getting rid of. They may be more than happy to give you the boxes for free. You can also ask neighbors and friends if they\u2019re offloading any boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip 6: Eat through your food<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To prevent having to move a bunch of food or throw out excess, come up with a meal plan for the week or two before moving to use up as much of the food as possible, especially the perishables. Pantry items will be easy to bring to the new place, but you don\u2019t want to deal with a bunch of fridge and freezer foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tip 7: Start a donation pile while packing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The golden rule of moving tips for packing is to not move anything you don\u2019t need to. While you\u2019re packing, start a box of things you want to donate<\/a>, and even start a box of things to throw out. Moving will be easier if you\u2019re not carting around things you don\u2019t actually want or need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The logistics of this will depend on where you\u2019re moving to and from. If you\u2019re in an apartment building and\/or moving into an apartment building, you might need to clear the movers with the landlord and get a Certificate of Insurance. If possible, you should also see if you can hold a space for the moving truck in front of the building. If you\u2019re in a house, make sure you have a clear driveway for the moving truck or a clear space on the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plan ahead and have some cash handy to tip your movers. That cost won\u2019t be figured into the moving fee, and it\u2019s important to tip them for their work. Base the tip on the quoted amount so you have an idea of how much you\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving is stressful, and one way to alleviate a little bit of that is to set a plan to order food for at least the first dinner in the new home. It\u2019ll be less pressure to unpack the kitchen and make a mess in the new home and will give you a bit of a break. You can even plan on having takeout the whole next day too, depending on how big of a moving job you have ahead of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, you want to just keep calm and collected. By sticking with these packing tips for moving, you\u2019re already on the right track. If you\u2019ve hired movers, they\u2019re professionals and should be on top of everything, provided you\u2019re on top of everything as well. You have an exciting new beginning at the end of the move, so enjoy the process and know that if you\u2019ve planned well, it\u2019ll hopefully go smoothly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Save yourself some money on bubble wrap and use your clothing as packing supplies. Wrap up fragile items in T-shirts and put small, fragile items inside socks to pack. You\u2019re going to end up packing all your clothes anyway, so this way, they serve a purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use all the soft items you have as packing materials. Even if you aren\u2019t necessarily wrapping fragile items, these can line boxes to provide a safe spot for your delicate items during travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019re packing, label each of your boxes with what\u2019s inside, what room it goes in, and a number. Next, have a coordinating master list with all the box numbers and rooms so you can keep close track of where everything is. This also makes it easier should a box get lost in transit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the items you know you\u2019ll need sooner rather than later, pack them together and label that box. These will be the items that aren\u2019t as pressing as what\u2019s in your essentials bag but are more important than your DVD collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You probably have some small items that you\u2019re worried about getting jostled in transit. Pack those small items in small boxes, like shoeboxes, and then pack those shoeboxes into a larger box. This way, your small items will be better protected, but your movers aren\u2019t dealing with a ton of small boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your suitcase is a great storage space! Pack it full, but not necessarily with clothes. You can use your suitcase for anything, so pack it full of whatever items you pull off the shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a couple of ways you can pack your clothes. After you\u2019ve used some of them as packing materials, you can easily pack the rest in a trash bag, so it\u2019s a little easier to transport without using up a box. For your hanging clothes, though, you can keep them on the hangers and get a box with a rod so you can transport them all very easily and hang them right back up in the new place. You can also still keep them on the hanger but put a trash bag around them to protect them without using a box. There are a lot of options for moving clothes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a mess of cords behind your TVs and computers, take a picture of everything before unplugging and then label all the cords. You can easily use a piece of masking tape around the cord to label what it\u2019s for and what device it plugs into so you can more easily get everything connected at the new place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t want your toiletries or cleaning supplies to leak in transit, so open all those bottles and put a piece of plastic wrap over the opening before screwing the lid back on. This should help seal it and keep any liquids from spilling out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have any pieces that you know a mover will disassemble to transport, do it yourself before they get there if you feel comfortable. This will save time and effort on the part of the movers, which can save you money if they charge by the hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guess what? Once everything is packed, you might not have access to it for a little bit while it\u2019s in transit, even if you\u2019re only making a short move across town. For this reason, you should put together a bag of things you\u2019ll need on moving day and the next day, just in case. Include toiletries, clothes, and any food items or kitchen utensils you might need right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to your suitcase, you can use your dresser drawers as a moving container. While you can definitely leave your clothes in the dresser drawers for moving, you can also use the drawers for whatever else you want to put in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to keep your dishes protected while in transit, if you\u2019re not using clothes or linens, is to use a styrofoam dish between them. So stack the breakable plates alternating with a styrofoam plate and the same with the bowls. This will give them a nice cushion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This may seem obvious, but you\u2019ll be glad you double-checked all the tape. Tape the bottoms of the boxes thoroughly, including the sides. The same goes for the top, so you can be sure they\u2019re secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a plan for the moving process, and you\u2019ll be fine. By using these tips for moving, you can cut down on some of the extra stress that comes with relocation and get from your old home to your new home easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can I make moving easier?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n One of our best moving tips is to make a comprehensive plan and start early. It should be less stressful if you\u2019re not cramming everything into the last second before you move. Follow our pre-move checklist<\/a> so you don’t miss anything.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n When should you start packing to move?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n This can depend on how much stuff you\u2019re moving, but if you have a month\u2019s notice, you can always start packing a month early. Pack a little bit at a time, so it\u2019s less stressful. If you have an entire house to move and more than a month, pack as soon as you\u2019re able to get started.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Where can I donate my stuff when I move?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Tip 8: Get any necessary paperwork for the movers and make sure they have a place to park<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 9: Have cash for moving day<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 10: Plan ahead for the first couple of meals in the new place<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 11: Keep calm<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Multi-ethnic](\"https:\/\/www.staging.mymove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/GettyImages-509259811-scaled.jpg\")
Hacks for packing:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tip 12: Use your clothes as packing supplies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 13: The same goes for linens<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 14: Label all your boxes and make a coordinating list<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 15: Label the boxes you\u2019ll need first<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 16: Pack small items in small boxes before putting them in bigger boxes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 17: Pack your suitcases full<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 18: Pack the rest of your clothes and linens in a trash bag<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 19: Take pictures of where your cords go and label the cords themselves<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 20: Use plastic wrap to seal liquids<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 21: Disassemble your furniture the night before you move<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 22: Make a bag of essentials for moving day<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 23: Use your dresser drawers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 24: Pack styrofoam dishes between the real dishes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tip 25: Make sure your boxes are taped properly<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n