Moving homes can easily be described as one of the most significant transitons of your life. Packing all of your belonging into boxes is a tedious task that can overwhelm even the most organized of people! Today, I would like to offer you some tips and tricks that can help to make this arduous process a bit easier so that when you move into your new home, you can enjoy it!

Before you start packing

1. If you are fortunate enough to be able to hire movers, remember to book them well in advance. I implore you to read all the fine print to understand the nuances of what they will and will not do. For example, some moving companies will only handle items packed in boxes, not garbage bags, which would result in you having to pay on the spot for their shipping supplies at a marked up price.

2. Color code your boxes to the room they are going to in the new house with colored tape. For example, all boxes with kitchen supplies would have blue tape on them, boxes going to the guest bath have green tape, all of your bedroom boxes have yellow tape, etc. Keep a master list and in the new house, place the colored tape on the door of the corresponding room.

Bonus Tip: If time permits, number your boxes and type up a corresponding list with each box’s contents. By keeping this list, you won’t have to write what’s inside directly on the box, therefore keeping its contents private. Additionally, if a box gets lost in transport, you’ll know exactly what is missing.

3. Before you disconnect your electronics, take pictures of how all the corresponding cords are connected. Wrap them up and store them in a labeled Ziploc bag for which device they belong to. This will make reconnecting them in your new home a breeze!

4. Be sure to pack an overnight bag with a change of clothes and your toiletries for that night/the next day. With all of the chaos that comes with moving, this simple step ensures you’ll have your essentials at your fingertips so you’re ready to go the next day.

Tips for Packing

5. Pack what you will need FIRST at your new place in a clear plastic bin. This way you’ll be able to locate it amidst the sea of cardboard boxes quickly. Think box cutter, trash bags, screwdriver to put things back together, notepad and pen to jot down notes, etc.

6. Stack Styrofoam plates in between breakable plates or pack them vertically (like records) as they’ll be less likely to break. Also, use plastic wrap to keep your utensils in place in your tray. When you get to your new house, you can just unwrap and put the tray directly in to your new drawer.

Vacuum seal any of your out-of-season clothing. This step will make it be a breeze to pack them as they’ll take up a fraction of the space they usually would and when you arrive at your new home, you can just put them straight into storage.

Group hanging clothes into sets of 3 or 4 items and cover them by putting a garbage bag over them, the open side at the bottom. Poke a hole at the top to pull the hanger through, and you have a cheap garment bag! This will be especially helpful if you’re making a long distance move or your items need to go into storage for a bit before you can move into your new home.

Don’t Forget These Steps!

9. If you are taking your refrigerator with you, turn it off a day or two before moving day to allow it to defrost, and you’ll be able to wipe up any liquid before loading it into the moving truck.
Bonus Tip: Make your last grocery shopping trip 2 weeks before you move out – this increases your chances of having to throw away less food if you’re moving farther than across town.

10. Update all your addresses! Create a list of all your magazine subscriptions, monthly subscription boxes, meal delivery services and change the addresses before you move so they’ll be delivered to your new address. Don’t forget about your Amazon shipping address (especially if you have auto-ship items), Paypal, credit cards, your bank, and your regular mail. The last thing you’ll want is to have any of your items or information delivered to the wrong address!

Moving homes is an incredibly exciting time but can also be seen as quite a daunting task. I believe having a strategic plan in mind can help give you direction and ease the stress in what should be a time for celebration! I hope you found these tips helpful and can utilize some of them in your next move.