Moving Tips for Less Stress

There’s no denying it – moving is as exciting as it is frustrating. You can’t wait to get to your new home, but you can do without worrying about if your house will sell, which moving company you should pick, and whether or not you packed your favorite book.

Moving stress is real, but luckily, there’s plenty of online advice to make moving easier. You’ve probably heard a lot of suggestions already, like having a specified moving bag or creating a designated filing box for your moving documents.

You may have also heard some weird tricks, like wrapping your glassware with socks or stacking your plates in between paper plates. We’d like to add our moving tips to make moving into your new home easier than ever.

In addition to these suggestions, don’t forget to cover your home and belongings with insurance. You should get home insurance before your home closes, and the same goes for renters’ insurance. Our blog post about home insurance when you move can help you answer your insurance questions before you move.

Or if you’re keeping your home as an investment property, you should consider getting landlord insurance and an umbrella policy.

Here are our suggestions for making your move easier and more fun:

Before you start packing

If your new home has been vacant for some time, arrange it with your utility company to have the electricity turned on early. Otherwise, you’ll be scrambling to unpack before the sun goes down.

Start saving packing supplies, like bubble wrap or tissue paper. Even though some items can be protected by wrapping them in soft items like sheets or socks, fragile items might do better with bubble wrap.

Save loose change and bills in a special “for fun” budget box. After a long day of unpacking or traveling, going bowling or seeing a movie is a fun reward. Saving early can help you have enough funds to reward yourself throughout the move.

Create an inventory list of everything for each room. Go one room at a time and list everything in it. Organize the items based on where they’re placed.

(For example, in your living room, have a section titled “TV Stand” with a list of all the items inside it.)

  • Writing a physical list can help you remember better, but a digital list stored in the cloud is the safest choice.
  •  Instead of writing, you can also take pictures. Just make sure that everything can be seen in the picture.

During the pack-up process

Have an essentials box (or multiple boxes) with items for your first few days in the house. Fill them with things like dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, and other essentials.

Make a list that goes inside every box. List everything you’ve packed inside the box, then keep the list inside as you seal up the box. That way, when you start opening boxes, you won’t have to dig to know which boxes have what items.

  • Even if you forgot to label the outside of the box, you’ll know exactly what’s inside when you’ve opened it.
  • Our tip: tape the list to the side of the box when you’re packing so it’s easy to access.

Use up your old restaurant punch cards, gift cards, and coupons for easy meals or treats. Or, you can save them for when you get to your new house, just make sure they’re not regional businesses.

Special Packing tricks

  • Use What You Have

    Use bags and boxes you already have to pack your items. Suitcases are great for hauling heavy items like books, and tote bags can corral stuffed animals or clothes.

  • Think Outside the Box

    Think outside the box (get it?) and use disposable containers, like egg cartons or favor bags, to corral loose items like jewelry or office supplies.

  • Invest in Zip Ties

    If you’re using plastic bins, invest in zip ties. Drill holes in the side walls of the bin and the top of the lid near the handles.

    Then, zip tie the lid to the plastic bin by sliding the zip tie through the holes. Presto, your lid is secure!

  • Label Hacks

    Label your boxes with real labels or index cards, then cover the labels with packing tape to make them waterproof.

    • Buying labels is a chore, but writing directly on a cardboard box can be hard to see, and it could fade if your box gets wet.

  • Label Your Cords

    Label your electrical cords with DIY labels made of washi tape or stickers, so you’re not hunting for the HDMI cable or the camera charger!

Before you leave

Ensure you don’t lose anything by hosting a competition. Challenge your family to see who can find the most items left behind. If it’s just you moving out, see how quickly you can tidy each room.

You’ve heard about creating moving bags, but what about a snack bag? Create a snack bag that you can easily access so you never go hungry while on the move or while unpacking.

Once you get there

Move your ‘essentials’ box(es), personal moving bags, and snack bag first. Put those items away before you do anything else.

Then, it’s time to clean your new house. It’s a lot easier to sweep or wipe down walls when there aren’t boxes in the way!

After cleaning,  get your major appliances like your fridge and microwave hooked up. You’ll want to have hot and cold meals later, so it pays to do this task early.

Speaking of food, plan your meals ahead of time. Don’t assume that you can have pizza delivered at midnight. First look up where you can order food, then plan to pick it up or get it delivered.

  • You can also set up a grocery pickup or delivery so you don’t have to go to the store.

More Tips

For more moving hacks, use this list of moving tips to make moving smoother and less stressful. Once you’re fully moved in, consider adding some technology to your home to help prevent insurance claims.

Then take time to celebrate! Moving is no easy feat, and it’s a huge accomplishment to move homes. But now you may be wondering how you can protect your new home from disaster.

If you haven’t already, consider getting home insurance from Trucordia. As an independent agency, we offer unbiased advice and can help you get discounts! Plus, we have years of experience in most areas of insurance.

We also offer auto insurance, RV insurance, and more to cover your assets from almost anything life can throw your way. Choose Trucordia to take the surprise out of insurance and help you find the best insurance policy.