20 ways to make moving as easy as possible

The real key to a successful move is planning ahead. As soon as you know you're going to move, start cleaning out closets, making lists, and packing boxes. Even if you just pack one box a day in the lead-up to moving day, you'll still be grateful you worked ahead when the movers arrive. 

There's no reason to move all that junk you don't want anymore to your new place. Before a move is the perfect time to get rid of old clothes, toys, and furniture that just don't fit anymore. Donate them to a local charity, or sell your more valuable pieces on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. 

Thanks to companies like Elephant Trunk and U-Haul, reusable moving boxes are both an eco-friendly and convenient way to get your stuff from one place to another. You won't have to spend weeks hunting around for cardboard boxes (or buying them) or end up with a ton of trash when the move is over. 

It can be tempting to get as much into one box as possible when you're moving, but heavy boxes are hard to move and can result in breakage of fragile items. If you're really struggling to pick up a box, it's probably too heavy for your move. 

In addition to the boxes, a successful move requires supplies — ones you won't want to run to the store for at the last minute. Well before the big day, stock up on tape, box cutters, permanent markers, packing wrap, and all the essentials you'll need when the day comes. 

To make your move go more smoothly and perhaps more safely, consider asking friends and family to help. You may have to bribe them with pizza and beer, but having some help will almost assuredly make it easier to move heavy items and get your move completed quickly. 

If you don't want to move all your stuff on your own, or simply can't, hire the best movers you can afford. Movers are trained to pack, store, and transport items safely, and pretty much anyone who's ever hired movers will tell you that it was worth every penny. Ask around in your neighborhood for recommendations. 

It seems like a no-brainer, but ensure your boxes are as organized as possible. Keep kitchen items with kitchen items and decorative items with decorative items. That way, you can ensure that everything ends up where it's supposed to at the new place. 

When it comes to labeling boxes during a move, there's no way to be too thorough. Make sure you label each box with the room that it's going to, the items that it contains, and whether or not it contains fragile items. It can also be useful to call out important stuff — like cleaning supplies or towels — that you may need immediately upon getting into your new home. 

We all have treasured items that we'd be devastated to lose, and if you can, it's best not to pack those items away in boxes. Use laundry baskets or totes to transport your most fragile items away from the rest of your stuff, ideally in a special trip on their own. 

If you have a day or two in your new space before the movers arrive, bring over the cleaning supplies and give the place a good scrubbing. You'll be able to get to dirt and grime that might've been covered up by your boxes and furniture, and there's nothing better than starting over in a fresh, clean space. 

When you get into your new home, you're going to want certain items first, and you don't want to dig through a sea of boxes to find them. Pack a box or bag with essential items like clothes, your toothbrush, and other hygiene items, and open it up first. 

You might think it's silly, but there's nothing worse than having to go to the bathroom in the middle of a move and there being no toilet paper! Grab a few rolls, and make sure they're one of the first items to come into your new space. 

Some things, like shower curtain liners and toilet brushes and dish mats, you just can't take with you. Make a list of all the items you'll need to replace in the first few days after a move, and plan a trip to the store before you start unpacking everything. 

Inevitably, you're going to have to move something that might leak, whether that's your perfume collection or a pantry full of pasta sauce. Use packing tape to seal loose lids, and pack items that might leak into plastic bags. At the very least, if they do leak, the contents won't end up on all the rest of your stuff. 

Make sure you have a special place for important documents like passports, insurance paperwork, and other essentials before you move. Whether that's an expanding folder or a small safe, you'll want to know where these documents are when your new space is full of boxes. 

Enlist everyone that's helping you move and create an assembly line — one can pack boxes, another can tape and label, and another can bring those boxes out to the moving van. If you are working with movers, the assembly line will be most helpful in the packing phase. 

Don't take all your clothes off the hangers! Otherwise, you'll spend hours unpacking them into your new closet. Either invest in garment boxes, or simply use trash bags to collect items and tie them at the top so that they stay on the hangers. 

As your move comes to an end, don't forget to set aside some cash to tip your movers. About $20 per mover (or more) is ideal, and keeping some snacks and bottled water on hand is always a great help for when they're schlepping around your heavy stuff. 

Sometimes, even the best-planned moves don't turn out like you think. Even if you've hired movers, look into a backup plan, whether that's renting your own truck and enlisting friends or a different day when you can move all your things.