16 Moving Tips and Tricks

If you recently bought a new home, you might be dreading the process of packing up your belongings, hauling them to the car and transporting everything to your new home – just to unpack it all. Now you can dread no more and get excited about your move with these 16 packing and moving tips.
1. Get rid of things.
Now is the time to get rid of those old items you no longer use or need. Go through every room, closet, cabinet and drawer in your home and sort items into donation and trash piles. Once your purge is complete, go straight to the dump and local thrift store to get those items out. Don’t just pack things and tell yourself you’ll go through them later, because that most likely won’t happen. Plus, the more you get rid of, the less you need to pack, move and unpack.
2. Pack a bag with the essentials.
Instead of rummaging through boxes looking for your toiletries and other essentials, throw them in a bag and keep it on hand. You’ll thank us later when you’re exhausted from the move and can avoid a frustrating search!
3. Pack items you will need right away in a clear bin.
You will likely need things like cookware, glassware, eating utensils and other kitchen gadgets as soon as you settle into your new home. Pack these things in a clear bin so they are easily identified among the mountains of cardboard boxes.
4. Make the beds first.
When you arrive at your new home, make the beds as soon as you can. At the end of a tiring day of unpacking, the last thing you will want to do is look for sheets and make the bed. Instead, you can crawl right into it!
5. Use clothing or blankets to save on bubble wrap.
Don’t spend money on tons of bubble wrap you’ll probably never use again. Use your clothes and blankets to wrap breakables – you’ll be packing them anyway!
6. Label precisely.
Be sure to clearly identify all items that are inside your boxes, as well as the rooms you want them to go in. This will make the unloading process much quicker and easier. Label the sides of your boxes as well as the tops so you know what’s inside even when they’re stacked.
7. Avoid leaking toiletries.
Everybody knows the unfortunate feeling of opening a box or bag and seeing that one of your liquid products has exploded all over. Avoid this mess by unscrewing the caps of your toiletries, covering the top with plastic wrap or a plastic bag, and screwing the cap back on.
8. Keep plastic bags handy.
During the moving process, always have plastic bags on hand for packing things like screws, cords and keys. This is especially important for keep hardware and electronic components together when removing them from your home.
9. Take photos of electronics.
Before you disconnect them and pack them away, take photos of the back of your electronics and how the cords are connected. When you go to set up your electronics in your new home, you’ll know just what to do.
10. Schedule disconnects.
Call the cable, internet, electric and gas companies at least a week prior to your move to schedule disconnect dates. Don’t forget that you might need to return certain equipment like cable boxes.
11. Use suitcases, baskets and hampers to your advantage.
Instead of just packing these things away like any other items, cut down on boxes by using them to transport belongings. Place heavier things in suitcases with wheels.
12. Pick the right day to move.
Hire movers as early as possible so you can play around with different dates and pick whatever’s cheapest. Also take into consideration higher traffic dates, such as Fourth of July weekend for those in the shore area.
13. Change your address two weeks before moving.
This allows time for the address change to take effect for important bills, statements, packages and other mail.
14. Stop buying groceries.
A week or two before your move, stop buying groceries to avoid having to chuck perfectly good food. Make use of anything you have left in the house – even if it’s a half-eaten box of pasta.
15. Don’t forget to defrost the refrigerator.
Defrost your refrigerator 24 hours prior to the move and be sure to clean up any liquid. This will avoid a big mess when hauling your fridge to your new home.
16. Build a cleanup kit.
Set aside some cleaning supplies to take care of any last minute messes on moving day. Include a broom, dustpan, duster, disinfectant sprays and paper towels.