Pro moving hacks and tips that set you up for a smooth move

Everyone wants their move to a new home to go as smoothly as possible. Regardless of whether you plan to hire professional movers to help you with your pack and relocation, there are several moving hacks that you can take advantage of to make the overall moving process manageable, stress-free, and maybe even a little fun. Here are some professional tips and tricks to help you along the way.

Start Planning Your Move Early

One of the most important things you can do to ensure a smooth move is to start planning early. There are a lot of details involved in packing up your old place and settling into your new one, so giving yourself a couple of months—and keeping yourself on track with a free moving checklist—will help the overall moving process seem like a list of manageable tasks.

Keep in mind that in addition to the move itself, you’ll have to handle some additional logistics, including:

Updating your address with the United States Postal Service as well as any subscription services like online retailers or meal deliveries
Schedule time to get a new driver’s license or state ID with your new address
Move utilities to your new place, including water, gas, electrical, and internet
Get new homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies

Everyone will have a different list of logistics they need to handle and services they need to update, so it’s often best practice to take some time to brainstorm a list so you don’t forget about anything.

Declutter Your Home

There’s no need to waste time and money packing and moving unnecessary items. Moving to a new place is a great opportunity to declutter your home by getting rid of things you don’t want, don’t need, or maybe haven’t used in a couple of years.

For example, if you’ve been hanging on to really old or damaged items, consider throwing them out or recycling them. You can also invite your family and friends over to take their pick of any belongings you’re getting rid of. Whatever is left over could be a great fit for a local charity donation. Or, you can organize a yard sale to put a little cash in your pocket, which you can then add to your moving budget.

Decluttering also lets you create a thorough inventory list of the furniture, boxes, and miscellaneous items you’re going to move, which sets you up for a great moving experience in a number of ways.

Create an Inventory List

After you’ve purged your old dwelling of unnecessary or unwanted items, create an inventory list of what you’re bringing to your new home. This might be a computerized spreadsheet or a scribbled-down list, but it should include the items that are in each room. This will be a living document that you can add to and make notes on as you pack.

Creating an inventory list assists your moving process in multiple ways. First, if you’re hiring a professional moving and/or packing service, that company will ask for the size of your home and approximate inventory so they can create an estimate for you. Second, it’ll help keep you organized during your move. Picture your youngest child not being able to sleep the first night in your new place without their favorite stuffed animal. Instead of a panicked and disorganized look through dozens of boxes, you can just refer to your handy moving inventory to find out where you packed it.

Finally, if you’re handling your pack and move on your own, this cohesive list will help you determine what packing supplies you need, the approximate quantity of boxes, and maybe even how to save a little money on these materials.

Learn How to Save Money on Packing Materials

Moving doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, you can save a lot of money on packing materials if you have enough time to do a little research and legwork. Start with these ideas:

Use what you have around the house. Totes, bins, suitcases, and duffle bags are great substitutes for moving boxes. As another packing tip, use clothing and towels to wrap up delicate items so you can save money on packing paper and padding.
Find free moving boxes. If someone you know has recently moved, ask if they have some used moving boxes they wouldn’t mind giving to you. Neighborhood social media groups are also great venues to find free moving and packing supplies.
Pick up some vacuum bags. These reusable bags let you remove the air from bulky items like comforters, pillows, and winter coats. They’re great space savers that’ll allow you to pack more efficiently and use less packing supplies.
Rent moving bins. Some companies let you rent packing supplies like sturdy plastic bins, wheeled dollies, and wardrobe boxes. This will save you money and help you have an eco-friendly move!

Saving a little cash is great, but most moves do require some sort of budget for packing materials. Fortunately, if you follow these packing tips, you can be more selective about the materials you pay for.

Pack Seasonal Items First

It can be hard to force yourself to start packing up your old home. However, a great way to kick off your pack is to make a dent in the stuff you’re not currently using on a daily basis.

For example, if you’re moving in the spring, summer, or fall, you can probably pack up your winter clothing, holiday decorations, and any other gear like skis and sleds. You might notice that once you start packing and making a little progress, you’ll get some good momentum and you’ll want to keep going!

Empty Your Drawers and Cabinets

As you pack and prep for your move, you’ll need to empty the contents of all drawers and cabinets. Furniture like dressers, nightstands, china cabinets, and other pieces with storage must be completely empty for a few different reasons:

It’s safer for the movers, as any contents inside can unexpectedly shift the item’s weight and cause injury to the people lifting and carrying the piece
It’s safer for the furniture and the contents since anything left inside drawers or cabinets can rattle around and cause damage
Less weight in each piece of furniture can lead to an easier, smoother move

As an added bonus, going through each drawer and cabinet is another chance to declutter your home and get rid of anything you don’t want or need to bring to your new place.

Clean as You Go

One of the most important moving hacks—and one that’s often forgotten—is to clean as you pack. Your cleaning checklist should include washing any clothes or linens that might’ve gotten a little stale sitting in a closet for a while, wiping down or vacuuming dusty furniture, and, of course, sweeping up those dust bunnies that collect under your couch and TV stand. Moving into a new home is a fresh start, so make sure everything you bring into your new place is clean and dust-free.

Also, don’t forget to give your entire old home a thorough clean before you move out. Dust the ceilings and walls, clean the windows, and get into all the nooks and crannies. Let your old dwelling’s new residents know how much you care about that place, and let them move into the same fresh and clean house, condo, or apartment that you’d want to live in.

Keep Your Personal Items With You

Regardless of whether you’re hiring professional movers or doing a DIY move with your family’s and friends’ help, there are a few things that should never leave your possession. Important documents like your passport, car title, and tax or medical records should be transported in your personal vehicle, along with any cash or expensive jewelry. Think of it this way: if something is easy to lose during the moving process (or if you’re worried about particular valuable items getting lost), keep it with you at all times.

Additionally, keep in mind that there are some items that movers will not move—and these are often mandated by the state you live in. The State of Illinois, for instance, prohibits moving companies from transporting things like propane gas tanks, firearms, currency, and medication. If you have questions on what your local mover can and cannot move, just chat with their customer service team and they’ll be happy to clarify.

Pack a “First Night” Box

After the move is over, you’ll be at your new place with stacks and stacks of boxes. Over the coming days and weeks, you’ll start chipping away at the unpacking process. However, since moving can be exhausting, you might not be up for it your first night. So give yourself a break and just pop open a single box of essentials. This box could include:

Nonperishable snacks so no one gets hangry
Pajamas for your first sleep at your new place
Chargers for your phones and tablets
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and any other important toiletries
Coffee supplies for the first morning in your new home (unless there’s an awesome local coffee shop, of course!)

You should also clearly label everyone’s bed linen boxes so you can quickly make the bedrooms livable, at least for the first night. After you’ve relaxed a bit and gotten used to your new surroundings, you can get a good night’s sleep and attack the unpack in the morning.

Hire a Great Moving Company

One of Chicago’s favorite moving hacks is to hire the best movers in the area. Let the trained professionals bring the packing supplies, wrap and box up your kitchenware and artwork, and handle the transportation to and unload at your new home. If you need short-term or long-term storage—including secure overnight storage—most moving companies can help out there as well. So as you plan your move, consider hiring a professional moving company to reduce your stress and save you a sore back.

Move-tastic! Will Teach You Some Moving Hacks and Handle the Heavy Lifting

We love moving hacks that make the packing and moving processes smoother for our team and our clients. And we’ll be happy to share them with you! After all, we’re the experts on every facet of moving throughout the Chicagoland Area.

Top 10 Moving Hacks to Make Your Move Easier