Moving house is consistently ranked as one of the most stressful life events. Whether you are relocating for a new job, upsizing for a growing family, or downsizing for retirement, the physical and mental toll of packing up your entire life can be overwhelming.

However, the success of your endeavor largely depends on how well you plan and prepare. While you cannot control everything—traffic, weather, or closing delays—you can control how you pack and organize.

Use the following ten tips for a fast, efficient, and stress-free move.

10 Strategies for a Smooth Move

1. Designate, Donate and Toss

   The first step to any big move is downsizing. There is no point in spending time and money transporting items you no longer need. As you sort through your belongings, have "donate" and "toss" boxes at the ready. This strategy forces you to make an immediate decision about which items you’ll keep or get rid of.

   Tackle this using a room-by-room method to compartmentalize your clearing out and take inventory of what you have. Make a trip to the donation center and dump after you finish each room. You might also consider hiring professional cleaners from a company like Maids in Brown, which specializes in move out cleaning in Arlington, to make sure every corner is cleaned to perfection so you can concentrate on logistics, paperwork, and settling into your new space.

2. Make a Moving Folder

   A lot goes into selling and buying a house, and you’ll likely be doing both at the same time! Get organized by getting your paperwork in order and keeping everything in one easily accessible location with a moving folder.

   Start collecting new addresses, purchase agreements, contracts, and utility information and keep them together. It is wise to make hard copies of documents you’ve been storing on your mobile device, too. If your phone or laptop dies during the chaos of moving day, you’ll be glad to have the paper version with you.

3. Keep Clothes Where They Are

   There’s no need to pack clothes into boxes when you’ve already organized them within drawers and on hangers. Instead of removing and rearranging everything, simply wrap everything as is.

   Use trash bags to wrap the items in your closet. Get ones with drawstrings so you can tie them around the hanger handles and keep each bundle secure. For dressers, use plastic wrap to secure individual drawers so they don't slide out, and simply move the dresser as a whole unit (if weight allows) or slide the drawers back in once the frame is on the truck.

4. Put Heavier Items on the Bottom

   Do you plan to load the moving truck yourself? Make your job ten times easier by packing heavier items on the bottoms of boxes and lighter items on the top. Then, pack the heaviest boxes toward the front of the truck for balance.

   This packing method will also force you to unpack lighter bins first. In doing so, you’ll warm up your muscles and boost your heart rate gradually, which can help reduce your risk of injury during the heavy lifting.

5. Color-Code Your Boxes

   Most people helping you move will fail to read small handwriting on boxes. What was meant to go in the living room will inevitably end up in the bathroom and vice versa — unless you use a visual system.

   Color-coding your boxes is a simple tip that saves lots of time in the long run. Label the top and sides of each box with big bright stickers (e.g., blue for the kitchen, red for the master bedroom). Then, place a matching sticker on the door of the corresponding room in your new home so movers know exactly where to go without asking.

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6. Put Boxes in Each Room’s Center

   Regardless of who’s physically moving your belongings, it’s crucial they place all of your boxes in the center of each room. Avoid stacking them against walls as they can easily leave scuffs, scratches, and marks.

   Lining the walls with boxes also makes it more difficult to assemble furniture after you get it inside the house. Most people place couches, dressers, and other large pieces around the outskirts of each room, so designate the middle for boxes and bins to keep the perimeter clear.

7. Get a Truck with a Ramp

   If you’re a DIY mover, getting a truck with a ramp should be one of your top priorities. Sure, it might be cheaper to rent a truck without one, but the physical toll is not worth the savings.

   This one simple addition will save you time and energy when you’re ready to load everything up. Instead of lifting every box and piece of furniture over the back end, all you’ll have to do is walk up a small incline. Your arms, back, and shoulders will thank you when all is said and done.

8. Ask About Special Crating

   Whether you’re moving small, framed photos or massive oil paintings, transporting art requires extra care. Properly packing artwork often requires special crating to prevent damage.

   Most moving companies offer this service for an additional fee. However, you can also crate items yourself with supplies like masking tape, bubble wrap, and packing paper. If you are moving glass-framed items, use masking tape to create a large 'X' across the glass. This helps strengthen the pane and, should the worst happen, stops the glass from shattering and damaging the artwork underneath.

9. Keep Track of Small Parts

   Small items like nuts, bolts, and screws are difficult to keep track of during a big move. Yet, you’ll inevitably get stuck with a few loose parts, especially if you plan to disassemble furniture or appliances.

   In this case, it’s best to keep these pieces in sealable plastic bags and label them clearly. You can either put all of these bags in one special "parts box" or tape the specific bag to the underside of the furniture it belongs to. That way, you know exactly where the hardware is when you are ready to reassemble your bed or table.

10. Pack an Overnight Bag

    The last thing you want to do after a long day of moving is dig through ten different boxes just to find your toothbrush or a fresh change of clothes. Keep these necessities accessible by packing a dedicated overnight bag for moving day.

    Include a change of clothes for each family member, along with essentials like cell phone chargers, prescription medications, and toiletries. Pack bedding, too, if you plan to sleep on your bed that first night. Having these essentials to hand ensures your first night in the new home is restful, not stressful.

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Conclusion

Moving doesn't have to be a chaotic experience. By using the tips above, you can make your move more efficient and significantly less time-consuming. The more you can do before the big day, the better.

Prep, plan, and pack months in advance, and look for ways to streamline the process without compromising your budget or belongings. With the right strategy, you can start your life in your new home on the right foot.

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