10 essential moving tips (plus 6 hacks for last-minute moves)

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Moving is challenging, but if you’re methodical, create a plan and follow this process, you can streamline your move. It’s a good idea to start preparing for your move at least two months in advance so you’re not rushing at the last minute. But we’ve got some helpful tips for last-minute movers, too.

Preparing for moving day

Preparing for your move will help set you up for success. Give yourself ample time by beginning your planning and getting quotes two to three months in advance.

1. Make a plan

When you don’t know where to start, the best place to begin is by dedicating an afternoon to creating an action plan. Start your moving plan by considering your budget and whether you’ll hire professional movers.

2. Set your budget

Let’s face it: moving isn’t cheap. The average cost to hire movers is $1,625. Local moves — those within 100 miles — cost between $450 and $2,800 on average. Long-distance moves cost between $1,600 and $12,700. If you’re moving long-distance and not driving, the average cost to ship a car varies from $1,000 to $1,250.

Then there are supplies. Moving a three-bedroom home can require anywhere from 80 to 134 boxes. Assuming you only use medium-sized boxes, this could cost anywhere from $195 to $325.

If hiring one of the best moving companies is outside your budget, you can DIY your move using a moving truck rental company, a portable storage container or your vehicle. However you move, set your budget and stick to it.

Packing

Packing is the most time-consuming part of the moving process. Use these packing tips to help make the process more efficient.

3. Pack an essentials bag

An essentials bag will help you avoid rifling through your packed boxes for something you need. Consider packing the following items separately to keep them on hand.

• Legal documents (passports, birth certificates, insurance documents)

• Medication

• Blankets and pillows (if it’s a long-distance or multi-day move)

• Headphones

• Laptop and phone chargers

• Pet food/pet medication

• Snacks

• Toiletries (deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste)

• A few pairs of clothes and underwear

• Small valuables like jewelry

4. Keep furniture and assembly items together

Save your future self the headache of arriving at your new home and not knowing where anything is. If you remove things like hardware, bolts or anything else that can easily get lost, consider putting them into a baggie and taping the baggie to the inside of the corresponding furniture.

Label your bag even if you tape it to the furniture, and even consider taping it shut for added security. After a long move, remembering what hardware goes where may not be as intuitive as it seems.

5. Box items by room

Packing one room at a time creates a simplified process to accomplish the task. Once a room is complete, you can move on to the next.

Additionally, by packing items by room, you’ll keep similar items together, making them easier to unload, unpack, and set up room by room. After a long day of moving, quickly setting up your bed and morning coffee station will be a relief.

6. Inventory and label boxes as you go

Whether you use a spreadsheet or write with a pen and paper, having an inventory of your items pre-move will help you know what’s in each box when you unpack. Using this inventory phase to take photos of more expensive items is also a good idea. You can show proof to your insurance if anything gets damaged in transit.

Moving day

A plan for the less obvious details will ensure you don’t run into unnecessary stress and headaches when moving day arrives.

7. Make a plan for young children and pets

Consider hiring a babysitter to take the kids away from the house, or have your kids stay with friends or family to avoid them being underfoot of the movers. The same goes for pets; hiring a pet sitter or kenneling Fido will free up physical and mental space.

8. Reserve your spot

Many moving companies charge long-carry fees if the mover can’t park within about 100 feet of your front door. To avoid incurring those fees, ensure your driveway is unobstructed. If you don’t have a driveway, consider speaking with neighbors to ensure the closest spaces are available for loading and unloading. If this isn’t viable, take matters into your own hands: Park multiple cars in front of your home and wait to move them until the truck arrives.

9. Clear a path

Make it easy for movers to get in and out of your house. Put anything you don’t want in the truck aside. Remove furniture and welcome mats from your porch. Take down low-hanging plants and light fixtures. Roll up and clear out rugs, and let the movers protect your floors with their gear.

10. Stay hydrated

It’s easy to forget to eat and drink while moving. Drink plenty of water and have refreshments on hand for the movers, too. Mark them clearly so that they don’t accidentally get packed.

6 last-minute moving tips

Not everyone has the luxury of planning their move months in advance; sometimes, life sneaks up on you. But just because you’re moving on short notice doesn’t mean it has to be complete chaos. Here are some tips to minimize the stress of a last-minute move.

Take the time to make a plan

Last-minute moving involves a lot of logistics — maybe more than a standard move. Spend a portion of the limited time you do have to make a plan. Don’t rely on your memory to keep everything sorted. Instead, write a to-do list and check things off as you go.

Don’t skip the moving purge

Just because you must get out in a hurry doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still take the opportunity to ditch unnecessary junk. Getting rid of the trash before the move will be easier than bringing it with you to deal with later.

“Move pricing is typically based on weight and distance, so it certainly doesn’t pay to move what you could easily toss,” according to Eily Cummings, the vice president of corporate communications for moving and logistics company Unigroup.

In addition to keeping costs down, getting rid of junk means fewer boxes to unpack when settling into your new home. If throwing everything out seems wasteful, consider following Cummings’ advice of donating the items or having a yard sale. Other options include listing them on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

Call a junk removal company

Junk removal companies are a great way to reduce your workload in a pinch; most will haul away your trash and clean the space afterward. Many can even handle larger items like mattresses, refrigerators, televisions and furniture, which are particularly difficult to transport.

Don’t sort, just pack

Organization is great, but it takes more time. If you’re looking to move quickly, simply packing without organizing will still get you from Point A to Point B; it will require additional effort at your new home.

Of course, less organization isn’t an excuse to pack haphazardly. Protect your delicate items by wrapping them in paper, bubble wrap, towels or blanks, and keep similar items together so you don’t end up with a box full of shampoo-covered sweaters.

Pack clothes as they are

There’s no need to unpack drawers. You can remove the drawers from your dressers but keep your clothing in them. Secure the items inside by wrapping the drawers in plastic wrap and neatly stacking them.

Be sure to do a load of laundry before moving so that it doesn’t make the other clothing in drawers or boxes unclean.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Invite friends and relatives over or hire professional packers. Extra hands can speed up the process if you don’t have enough time to pack yourself.

— Additional reporting by Ally Sabatina

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