1. Save Original Packaging

One of the best tips for moving that I’ve learned through all of my many moves is to save the original packaging of your various items. For example, when it comes time to pack up your sheets and comforter, it’s so easy and convenient to zip them all back up into the bags you bought them in for easy travel.

2. Get Rid of Anything You Don’t Use

In my most recent move, I took a good, hard look at my wardrobe, and realized that the shirts that I haven’t worn since high school don’t need to come with me to my new place. I ended up getting rid of trash bags full of clothes and donating them to Goodwill. Do yourself a favor, and if you have anything that you haven’t touched in months or even years, toss it or donate it if it’s in good condition.

3. DIY Wardrobe Covers

A trick my mom taught me back in my college dorm days is to grab a handful of clothes still on the hanger, throw a big leaf bag or garbage bag over them with the opening at the bottom, and cut a hole at the top to fit the hangers through. This way, when your clothes are in transit, they will be protected by the plastic bag. Once you get to your new place you can just hang the clothes back up and rip the bag off. Voila!

4. Keep Everything Together

You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve lost a cord or a charger to something during a move. The best thing to do is keep all cords, accessories, and pieces to an item together and pack them up in either its original packaging or another form of storage of your choice. If any of the pieces are small, tape them to the back of something in the box/bag so they don’t get lost.

5. Clean Prior to Moving

There’s nothing worse than moving in to a dirty or dusty new space, so try to get in there and clean before you move all of your stuff in. It’s a lot easier to clean an empty space than trying to maneuver around a bunch of boxes.

6. Make Mail Arrangements

This one seems like a no-brainer, but now that you have a new address, you’re going to need to contact all major utility companies, magazines, etc. and notify them that you’ve moved. Try to get rid of any and all of your subscriptions to unwanted magazines and remove yourself from mailing lists of stores that you don’t really shop at so you can stop getting their annoying flyers. This will also be doing the new residents of your old home a favor so they don’t get any junk mail you may have forgotten.

7. Keep an "Essentials Box" Handy

What I mean by this is that since a full day of moving can be pretty tolling, it’s nice to not have to go through every box to get to your pajamas and a toothbrush at the end of the night. If you don’t think you’ll have time to go through everything the day of the move, pack an essentials box ahead of time with any necessary toiletry items, prescriptions, phone chargers, etc. that you’ll definitely need for your first night in the new pad.

Moving can be exiting and exhausting all at the same time. It’s definitely a good idea to plan your move ahead of time and make a checklist of everything that needs to be done. Keep these ideas in mind for your next move, and hopefully the process will go a lot more smoothly! Do you have any other helpful moving tips to share with other future movers?