Moving is no fun. While there’s nothing like feeling settled in your new home, the physical act of packing all your stuff (sorting, tossing, and organizing it in boxes) and then unpacking it in another residence ranks somewhere between a root canal and filing taxes.
Having just moved last year, I can let you in on a little secret that makes it better: Relying on the savvy intel from professional movers and unpackers who know exactly how to maximize efficiency, stay super organized, and maybe spare you of tweaking your back and losing your favorite winter hat along the way. Following the below tips from professional movers can even save you money too.
As Najah Ayoub, chief marketing officer of Piece of Cake Moving & Storage, puts it, moving is more than just a change of address; it’s a major life transition. “Approaching the process efficiently and in an organized manner means less stress, a more seamless move, and a more enjoyable start to your next chapter,” she says. Plus, per Ayoub, when the details are properly managed, the entire experience becomes as easy as, well, a piece of cake, and you can focus on the excitement of what’s ahead, rather than feeling overwhelmed by packing and moving.
Yes, moving like a seasoned expert will require some extra legwork and smart planning. Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers in Brooklyn, emphasizes that moving clients have more than they think they do when it comes to having a successful move, especially if they’re doing their own packing. “An efficient approach to moving can help save time, money, and headaches,” he adds. So yes, that additional effort will always be well worth it.
Ahead, moving-industry insiders reveal their tricks of the trade to make moving so much better.
Toss, toss, toss
Nick Valentino, vice president of market operations for Bellhop, a moving company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, calls this his single best tip: Get rid of as much stuff as possible before moving day. “If it won’t have a home in your new home, get rid of it before the move,” he says. “This will ensure that you have less stuff to move, saving time and money, and it will also make unpacking a much easier and more pleasant experience.”
Similarly, Ayoub stresses that moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter and donate unused possessions so you can truly start fresh. “Sort through your belongings and donate, sell, or recycle any items you no longer need or use, including things like kitchen gadgets or appliances,” she advises. “Fewer items mean fewer moving boxes, less packing and unpacking, and a more spacious home to enjoy.”
Get the necessary moving paperwork ASAP
Often, apartment buildings require a certificate of insurance (COI) for moving day, but if you’ve rented reusable moving bins for all your packing through your movers, you also need a COI for when they come to retrieve the bins.
If you’re moving into an apartment building, Graber says to ask about its policies and restrictions around moving. “Many have specific elevator reservations and insurance requirements—the earlier you know about them the better,” he says.
Similarly, if you’re planning on hiring any additional workers on or around the time of your move, it’s best to obtain the COIs for their work in advance as well to avoid last-minute scrambling. You’ll also want to make sure the company sends additional COIs for any additional follow-up visits. For instance, we hired someone to wall-mount our television right after we moved. The technician had to return to our apartment a second time to address it being slightly off-center, so having them send a second COI for us to submit to building management was handy.
Moving yourself? Make sure you use a properly sized vehicle for your needs
Kyle Stockford, a Boston-based tasker on Taskrabbit who specializes in full-service help moving, claims that the right equipment can make or break your moving day. “Try to visualize your items being stacked and packed to determine the fit and what vehicle you require,” he says. Once you’re ready to pack up the truck or van, Stockford recommends starting with your biggest items first. Since it can be tough to imagine all of your items fitting into a vehicle beforehand, he notes that loading things largest to smallest “always makes things run smoother.”
Don’t procrastinate on packing
Did you know that if you pack yourself, it takes two weeks on average to pack a two-bedroom apartment? Ayoub shares this surprising stat while pointing out that it’s worth overestimating the amount of time you need to prep for a move. (She lives by the packing motto “Start early!”) To streamline the process, she advises making a clear schedule of what rooms need to be packed prior to the moving day. “Start with items and furniture that are not part of your daily routine so packing becomes more manageable versus leaving it to the last-minute,” Ayoub explains.
One exception to the pack-early ethos? “There’s a very good chance that you'll need cleaning supplies and basic tools during the packing and moving process,” says Valentino. “Pack this stuff last, and put it somewhere that will be easily accessible on the other end.”
Skip the cardboard…
Really just trust me on this one and rent reusable bins from a moving company with good reviews. What’s more, between carbon emissions on the physical relocating and all the trash created along the way, it’s time we keep sustainability at the forefront when moving too. “Cardboard boxes vary in quality and need to be ‘built’ with tape,” Graber explains. “Reusable bins are sturdier and don’t come with the tasks of assembly, break down, and recycling or disposing of them. Just unpack and the company will return to pick them up,” he says.
Many companies will provide special pencils and labels on the bins so you can keep track of the contents of each vessel, or you can easily purchase these items for a few dollars online. Also inquire if your moving company has wardrobe bins so you can load your clothing directly on hangers into these containers to save you time.
If you want to invest in your own reusable packing supplies, Ayoub suggests looking into plastic storage bags that help save space by compressing linens and bedding. Each of these can also be repurposed to store seasonal clothing after your move.
…Or, at the very least, choose your cardboard wisely
One upside of using cardboard is that there are no time constraints on how quickly you need to unpack your belongings. “If you’re using a crate-rental service, make sure you understand the pickup schedule and work with a company that will collect the empty bins promptly after your move,” says Ross Sapir, the CEO and founder of Roadway Moving.
Buying specialty boxes with built-in dividers also ensures that valuables are transported more securely. Ayoub says specialty boxes for storing kitchen and stemware, ones designed with extra compartments and support, are especially helpful for protecting fragile items. “They take the guesswork out of packing, with no overcrowding or worrying if things will shift.”
In most cases, a combination of both standard and specialty boxes works best, she adds. “Items like TVs, artwork, and certain kitchenware benefit from custom-fit boxes designed specifically for their protection, ensuring everything is packed safely and efficiently.” Picture frame boxes are another specific type of box she recommends if you want to go a step further than simply bubble wrapping a fragile canvas or framed artwork.
For standard boxes, Sapir recommends sturdy corrugated options with double-wall construction. “Uniform sizing also matters more than people realize because boxes with consistent dimensions create a much more stable stack that are less likely to shift or collapse under weight,” Sapir says. Another under-the-radar tip? Look for a Box Maker’s Certificate printed on the bottom of the box. Sapir notes that it gives you basic information about the box’s strength and weight capacity so you don’t have to guesstimate the specs yourself.
Pack with intention
Ayoub frequently sees people underestimate the value of proper packing supplies and trying to fit too much into a flimsy container. “It’s common to want to pack boxes to the brim, but distributing weight evenly across boxes is key to avoid overpacking large boxes with heavy items,” she says, pointing out that this can cause problems during a move if items spill out of their packaging.
Color-code your boxes
To crank your organizational prowess up a notch, Ayoub says that a simple yet effective strategy for maintaining order while you move is color-coding your boxes with labels. “Assign each room or area a specific color and label boxes accordingly with large stickers or colored tape,” she says, noting that this makes it incredibly easy for both you and your movers to know exactly where everything belongs once it arrives at your new home. Doing so can save a huge amount of time when you’re looking for a specific item, she adds.
Consider your furniture carefully
To pull off a successful move, furniture merits a little extra TLC. “Think about what furniture came into your home in one piece and what was built inside. Will all of your furniture fit through the doorways in your home?” Graber says. “Raise any concerns in advance so that your movers are prepared,” he continues.
To that point, Stockford, has had more than a few clients not measure a doorway or a corner stairwell in advance to make sure the piece can fit, which resulted in some unanticipated hurdles on moving day. “Disassemble any furniture that can be,” he advises, noting that things like dollies, straps, bungee cords, and moving blankets can all make your move easier, as can pitching in yourself to help if you’re physically able and hiring two movers for larger pieces of furniture.
To protect the edges of furniture and artwork from getting dinged during a move, Sapir says rigid foam and corrugated corner protectors are especially helpful for protecting mirrors, artwork, tabletops, and other furnishings.
Avoid this common dish-packing blunder
That crinkled newspaper between your dishes and serving ware alone isn’t going to cut it. Graber often sees clients pack their dishes flat, parallel to the top and bottom of the box. “Stacking them this way can lead to damages even without mishandling,” he says. Instead, Graber recommends creating a bed of packing material at the bottom of the box and packing dishes vertically. “Use packing material between the dishes so they don’t bump against each other,” he says.
Different packing materials solve different problems, so Sapir says he’s a fan of layering rather than relying on one for everything. He prefers honeycomb paper as a layer of protection around dishes, decor, and other moderately fragile objects, while reserving bubble wrap for especially fragile items and pieces with delicate protruding parts. “Whatever you use, the goal is to protect the surface and prevent the item from moving inside its container.”
Pack a “first-night essentials” bag and/or boxes
You might even need to pack two or three of such boxes or suitcases, depending on your personal needs and how many people reside in your household. “You may have the best intentions to get fully unpacked within hours of your move. Even if your boxes are labeled well, you don’t want to have to dig through them for medication and other essentials like toothpaste,” says Graber, who recommends packing those items in a personal bag that you transport yourself on move day.
Ayoub would also recommend adding a few outfits, a set of basic kitchen items, pillows, towels and bed linens, and any daily electronics like laptops, chargers, or smart home devices “to settle in comfortably right away.”