Expert-Approved Moving Hacks to Simplify Your Next Move

Before You Pack: Planning and Decluttering Hacks

The most important moving hacks happen before you ever pick up a box. Decluttering, deciding what to keep, and scheduling the packing process set the tone for the entire experience. By investing in organization and sorting up front, you can save both time and money. Use these planning and decluttering hacks to make packing, moving day, and unpacking easier.

Start Early and Work in Phases

Packing up an entire house is a big job, but starting about 6 to 8 weeks in advance can help prevent you from getting overwhelmed. Plan to pack one room at a time, starting with the rooms you use least, such as the guest room or storage space, and work toward daily-use spaces like the kitchen and bedrooms. Make rooms more manageable by breaking them into zones. That might include spaces like a closet, cupboard, dresser, walls, or bedside tables.

Andrea Dekker, founder of andreadekker.com, agrees with the step-by-step approach, stating: “Starting small gives you more control, reduces stress, and makes big projects, like a whole-house move, feel more achievable for busy households.” 

Declutter Before You Pack

Moving is the perfect time to declutter as you go. The less stuff you have, the less you have to pack, move, and organize. Every box you don’t pack saves about $18 and 30 minutes of your time.

Amy Bloomer, a professional organizer, advises, “A move is an ideal time to take stock of what you have, determine what still serves you well, and release things that are creating clutter.”

Try the four-pile method, where you place everything in the room into four piles: keep, donate, sell, and trash. List the “sell” items on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist. Items in the “donate” pile can be dropped off at a thrift store or posted in a local buy-nothing group. Nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and The Salvation Army will often pick up bigger donations, like furniture, for free.

Use a Simple 5-4-3-2-1 Decluttering Countdown

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what to pack and what to let go of, and a decluttering countdown can help with that. You can use it for specific rooms, a specific type of item (like books or kitchen gadgets), or a specific space (like a junk drawer). 

Here’s how it works:

1. Keep five: Pack these items in boxes to take to your new home.
2. Donate four: Give away four items you no longer need or use.
3. Trash three: Throw out three things that are broken, damaged, or worn.
4. Store two: For things like formal wear or antiques, pick two items that will go in storage at your new home.
5. Keep one with you: These are the things you’ll need during the move, such as a jacket and a pair of shoes.

Make a Plan for Sentimental Items

Dealing with sentimental items is one of the most common stumbling blocks when planning a move. It can be difficult to throw something away that has memories attached to it, or start looking at every photo and reminiscing.  This can derail the whole process, so it’s important to make a plan for what stays and what goes before you pack.

Erin Neumann, founder of Sacred Space Organizing, proposes creating a memory box for each person in the household. The box “provides a designated space to store those special items you don’t necessarily want to display but also aren’t ready to part with.”

Other ways to make the most of your memories:

• Create a quilt out of your favorite T-shirts.
• Build a shadow box to hang on the wall in your new place.
• Write a family history.
• Take photos of sentimental items before donating or discarding them

Get Kids and Teens Involved

If you have kids, getting them involved shows you value their input and care about their needs. It can also help them work through their emotions about the move.

Pam Holland, virtual organizer, advises parents, “Let them help sort their belongings. What do they want to bring? What are they ready to donate or pass along? You can even turn it into a game or a storytelling moment. Even small choices — like labeling boxes or picking moving-day snacks — help kids feel more in control. These little touches go a long way.”

Tip: Give each child a special box to pack and carry themselves. This creates a sense of ownership and helps reduce anxiety.

Packing Hacks That Actually Work

Packing is the most time-consuming and most error-prone part of moving. Forget to label a box, and you could end up digging through all of them in search of your coffee maker. And if you don’t pack fragile items correctly, your favorite lamp might break in transit. To help you avoid common mistakes, we’ve sourced packing and moving hacks from professional organizers and experienced movers so you can stay organized and efficient.

Color-Code Boxes by Room

Assign a color for each room of your home, and mark all the boxes in that room with tape or stickers in that color. On move-in day, put color-coded signs on the door of each room in your new home. Whether you’re unloading yourself or working with movers, this system makes it easier for everyone to know what goes where.

Pro tip: Use colored masking tape rather than writing on boxes with a marker. It’s visible from every angle, and the movers can spot it across the room.

Label on the Sides, Not Just the Top

Label at least two sides of the box in addition to the top. This packing hack ensures you can see the label clearly, even when the boxes are stacked.

You can also add a number to each box and keep a running list of the contents on your phone. That way, when you’re looking for the coffee maker at 7 am in your new house, you’ll know exactly which box it’s in.

Use Suitcases for Heavy Items

Instead of a box, try packing heavy items into wheeled suitcases. They’re built for weight, so they can handle books, canned goods, tools, and other heavy belongings. And because they have wheels and handles, you don’t have to lift them. That makes them a great way to take the strain off your back. Plus, your suitcases need to get to your new house anyway, so filling them with heavy items is a two-for-one hack.

Protect Fragiles with What You Already Own

Instead of spending money on bubble wrap, protect your fragile items with towels, blankets, and linens. You can also stuff those items into empty spaces in boxes to prevent things from shifting around during the move. It’s an easy way to save on packing supplies and reduce your total box count.

Here are some ideas of how to pack breakables using items you already own:

• Wrap wine glasses individually in socks
• Separate plates with washcloths or dish towels
• Slip bath towels between framed pieces of art. 
• Stuff vases and coffee pots with socks for extra protection. 
• Thick, padded oven mitts can be used to shield sharp items like kitchen knives.

Keep Furniture Hardware Together

When you’re disassembling furniture, put all the screws, nuts, bolts, washers, and other hardware pieces into labeled zip-top plastic bags. Then, tape each bag directly to the furniture frame. That way, it’s not likely to get separated. You can also tape the bag inside a drawer.

Pro tip: Take photos of the assembled pieces first, so you know where each piece of hardware goes. You’ll be grateful for these photos when it’s time to put the furniture back together.

Wrap Drawers in Place with Stretch Wrap

Instead of spending time emptying every dresser drawer in your house, wrap the whole thing in stretch wrap from any hardware store. It keeps the drawers safely closed and protects the contents. Best of all, you’ll save time on packing, and you won’t have to refill the drawers when you’re unpacking. Just make sure it’s not too heavy to lift with everything inside of it. Otherwise, you will have to take the items out if you or your movers can’t handle the furniture at that weight.

Pro tip: This method is great for dressers, end tables, filing cabinets, toolboxes, and nightstands, but you shouldn’t use it on pieces that have glass panels or other fragile components.

Pack Plates Vertically

Don’t stack your plates flat in boxes. Store them on their edges, like vinyl records. Stacked plates are more likely to crack because of the cumulative weight. Standing plates vertically on their edges distributes force and weight more evenly, keeping them safe in transit. Just make sure to wrap each plate in a dish towel or packing paper before you slide it into the box.

Try a 3-3-3 Packing Method

A 3-3-3 packing method means starting three weeks before your move and focusing on three small packing zones per day. In each zone, aim to fill up to three boxes, depending on the room and what you’re packing. It gives you a simple rhythm to follow instead of leaving all your packing for the final few days. Working in smaller, repeatable chunks can also help prevent burnout.

Here’s the key: make sure you have the right boxes ready for each zone. Keep smaller boxes in the kitchen, and set wardrobe boxes in your bedroom. The less you have to stop and redecide, the easier it is to keep packing.

Moving Day Hacks

After the stress of packing, moving day might seem like a breeze. However, managing your family while loading, driving, and unloading can be a surprisingly complicated coordination challenge. These moving day hacks can keep the chaos in check, so you can work efficiently, keep everyone safe, and enjoy a great first night in your new home.

Pack an “Open First” Essentials Box

Give every person in your family a box or bag to fill with everything they need for the first couple of days in your new home. This might include snacks, toiletries, a few changes of clothes, phone chargers, bedding, essential electronics, medications, and a favorite toy or game.

Think about packing a box for the whole family that includes must-haves like a coffee maker, basic cleaning supplies, and a few nonperishable foods. Don’t forget toilet paper, paper towels, a basic toolkit, and trash bags. These are often the first things you’ll need.

Label the boxes clearly with “OPEN FIRST” and each person’s name in large letters. Load these boxes last so they’re the first to come off the moving truck.

Photograph Your Setup Before Disassembly

Before you unplug the TV, Wi-Fi router, computer, and video-game console, take photos of the back panel with the cables plugged in. Do the same when you’re taking apart furniture or disassembling appliances. You can refer to these pictures later when you’re trying to figure out where each cable or part goes.

Bonus tip: Take a photo of your fridge before you clean it out. It can remind you what staples to buy on your first grocery run.

Delegate Tasks Strategically

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Assign rooms and tasks to specific people, and hire movers to help with the heaviest items. Give each helper a list of tasks so they know exactly what you need them to do. Saying, “Bring all boxes with a blue label to the upstairs bathroom,” is much more effective than saying, “Help me unload boxes.”

Gotham Organizers founder Lisa Zaslow says, “If you’re short on time or energy, consider hiring pros. Delegating isn’t cheating. It’s surviving!”

Need help with your move? MovingPlace helps you find and compare movers to handle the heavy lifting.

After the Move: Unpacking and Settling In

You’re exhausted, but all of your boxes are now in place in your new home. Setting up smart systems now can save time and prevent weeks of disorganization. These expert post-move hacks can help you unpack efficiently and feel at home faster.

Unpack by Priority, Not by Box

Don’t reach for the box that’s most accessible. Instead, unpack your most important boxes first. Start in the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathroom. All of these are places in the home required for your daily routines of sleeping, eating, and cleaning up.  

Once the essentials are in place, you can move on to things like decor, out-of-season clothing, and sporting equipment.

Pro tip: Give yourself two weeks to unpack fully. If you don’t have a deadline, those last five boxes will sit in the garage or a corner of your bedroom for months.

Set Up Systems on Day One

While you’re unpacking, implement organization systems that make your life a little easier. This might include:

• Installing shelf liners before loading cabinets
• Adding hooks and shelves in closets before putting in clothes
• Choosing and labeling storage areas

Make the most of your systems by categorizing items as you unpack. Keli Jakel, CEO and life transitions coach, suggests, “Don’t just pull items out and put them away as you go. Instead, as you empty each box, sort everything onto a table or countertop by category, grouping like items together. Once everything is sorted, you can put each group away all at once.”

What Professional Movers Wish You Knew

The way you pack and organize your home can affect how fast the job goes. Since many professionals charge by the hour, an efficient system can save you money. Movers find overloaded boxes, unsecured liquids, and fully assembled furniture the most difficult to move. They also see these problems on nearly every job. At MovingPlace, we’ve gathered helpful tips based on thousands of moves we’ve seen to help you avoid the things that make a mover’s job harder:

• Don’t overload boxes
• Don’t pack Liquid containers that aren’t sealed
• Make sure your furniture is disassembled ahead of time.
• Label all of your boxes. 
• Don’t pack hazardous or prohibited items, such as perishables, paint, and, in some states, plants

Instead, use these tips to help movers work efficiently:

• Label boxes with the correct room
• Mark fragile boxes clearly
• Clear pathways in your home on moving day
• Reserve parking spaces and elevators
• Break down large items
• Put hardware in labeled bags

Insider hack: Professional movers load the truck in a specific order, putting heavy and tall pieces at the back and light or fragile items at the front. If you’re doing it yourself, do the same. Load headboards and mattresses first, then boxes, and put fragile items on top.