When you’re prepared, you’ll have a much smoother moving experience.

Facing a move in the near future? Don’t stress about it; instead take some of the following moving tips into consideration before you start. When you’re prepared, you’ll have a much smoother moving experience.

  1. Gather an overnight bag. In this bag, you should stick your laptop, phone, a change of clothes and some toiletries for the morning after a move when you may have to grab some stuff quickly before work without tearing through boxes.
  2. Put the most important everyday stuff you will need in clear bins for easy identification. These include plastic utensils, napkins, toilet paper, trash bags, phone chargers, power strips and essential cookware.
  3. Use clothing and socks to your advantage. Instead of wasting cash on lots of bubble wrap, place your dishes in cotton shirts and your stemware in socks.
  4. Write locations on your boxes. While it’s great to label each box with the contents, don’t forget to mark where you’d like the boxes to be placed, such as the kitchen and kids’ bedrooms.
  5. Cover your toiletries such as lotions and liquids with plastic wrap, then put the tops back on, or place them all in clear plastic baggies to prevent leakage during transport.
  6. When packing dishes, place them vertically in boxes rather than one on top of the other for less chance of breakage.
  7. Invest in some stretch wrap. This way, you can tape all similar boxes together for an easier relocation.
  8. Place any small parts in small baggies such as screws and curtain rods, and label as needed.
  9. Click a photo of the wiring for all your electronics, such as TVs and modems, so you know exactly how to put them back together at your new digs.
  10. Instead of killing yourself finding boxes, use what you already have, such as suitcases, laundry baskets, and decorative woven baskets for storage.
  11. Make packing your closet a breeze by placing all hanging clothing in a trash bag from the bottom up. You don’t even have to take your clothes off the hangers this way!
  12. Pack and label everything before you call the movers or your friends to help. This way, they can come in, grab the boxes and move them out without confusion.
  13. Use color coded masking tape when labeling your boxes. Put the destination room as well, for easy decoding by your movers.
  14. Hire a professional moving company for large items like pianos or fragile items like artwork. Friends may be well-meaning, but they don’t have experience with these types of things. A professional mover will more than pay off in the end.
  15. Change your address about a week or two before actually moving so everything’s all set once you’re in your new home.
  16. About a month before your move, post anything you want to sell or give away on sites like eBay and Craigslist so that you’re relieved of these items come moving day.
  17. For things you want to donate, have the charity come pick them up a week or two before moving.
  18. Do your last grocery store run about two weeks before moving so you don’t have to throw any food away when moving day hits.
  19. Hire a babysitter for small children and pets on moving day so they’re not underfoot.
  20. If you’re moving yourself with a van, map out the logistics of your move so the day of the event goes smoothly without getting lost.

There are so many things to think about when it comes to moving, but being prepared is half the battle. Heeding these moving tips will take you far!