Stress Free Moving #2: 14 Tips to Make Moving Day Easy

Packing is where moving can get messy. These 14 tried‑and‑true packing hacks will help you stay organized and avoid last‑minute chaos.

TLDR: 14 Tips to Make Moving Day Easy

1. Bag and Label Small Parts: Screws, bolts, and accessories go in labeled bags taped to furniture.

2. Tidy Up Cords: Group cords in bags with Sharpie labels (e.g., “camera chargers”).

3. Create a Box Coding System: Use numbers, letters, or colors to label boxes for each new room.

4. Keep an Inventory: Optional, but great for peace of mind and prioritizing unpacking.

5. Label Box Sides: Easier to see when stacked.

6. Make an “Open First” Box: Pack essentials like toiletries, chargers, bedding, and cleaning supplies.

7. Designate a Key Zone: Use a container or basket for all keys.

8. Plan for Food: Pre‑decide takeout, snacks, or pack sandwiches to avoid decision fatigue.

9. Get Cash in Advance: For tips, parking, or quick errands.

10. Know Your Parking Options: Check truck and car parking rules at the new place.

11. Pack Heavy Items in Suitcases: Roll books and albums instead of lifting heavy boxes.

12. Wrap Fragile Items in Clothes: Save bubble wrap and space.

13. Bundle Cleaning Supplies: Keep them handy for both old and new homes.

14. Download My Utilities Tracker: Keep account details and contacts in one place.
    
    

If that list was just a tad too brief, you're my kind of person.

Here's all of that same advice with just a little more context. Now that you have decluttered, you are ready to get some boxes and start packing! But first I want to let you know a few tips that may help with the process and for moving day. (See also step 5 for keeping cleaning and repair projects in mind.)

1. Keep screws, bolts, and any small parts to furniture in a small plastic bag taped to the item.
I like to write with a sharpie on the bag what the pieces go to. This can look like “vacuum accessory parts”, “dining table bolts” and “screws”. If I am not able to tape the bag to the item, I will put all the bags of parts and pieces in one box together.

2. Similarly, I will organize my cords to move in this way.
A plastic bag with a cord or similar cords inside with the label in Sharpie marker on the bag. This could be for cords like “extra extension cords, “phone chargers”, or “cords for camera”.

3. Make a code for labeling boxes.
I decide on a code for each main area of the new space I’m moving into and label my boxes with that code instead of labeling the box with the room they came from in the old place. This would look like deciding the new living room would be code “A” and the primary bedroom code “B”. You can use numbers, letters, or even colors to code. Then on moving day tape up papers in each room with the codes so movers can figure out where to move the boxes into. A paper with “A” on the living room wall or a pink piece of paper taped to the kitchen wall.

This can help keep the moving process organized a keep hired movers from being tempted to take anything labeled something important such as “office equipment,” “china,” or “electronics.” For anything that doesn’t fit in a box or is oddly shaped or sized, label it with your code using a note card or sticky note and painter’s tape. Even writing on the painter’s tape will work for things like lamps. Keep a reference sheet in your phone or home binder with the code breakdown so you don’t forget.

4. Keep an inventory.
You certainly do not have to go this far with moving organization, but this may be a helpful tip for those with tons of stuff or for people feeling more anxious about their items. Use a secondary code with your box labeling. If a box is labeled “A” for the living room, you can mark it “A.1” and make a note on your phone or a spreadsheet listing the items in that box. You can customize any code system that works for you. I personally enjoy knowing what is in each box by looking at my phone. This can help me to know which boxes to unbox first.

5. Write or place your labels on the sides of boxes instead of the top.
I’ve used this tip several times before it helps so much! I will write my code or label on a couple of sides to give everyone a better chance of seeing it without having to flip boxes all around and is easier to see while they are stacked up.

6. Create an “Open First” box.
This box (or boxes) are the ones I recommend you put items you will need for the actual moving day and for the first couple of days at the new home. If you don’t need much, you may fit it all in a couple of reusable shopping bags and you may be able to keep the bag or box separated from the rest of your items.

If you can’t have it with you, just label it “Open First” and write it on all sides. Write down how many of these boxes you will have that day, for example, I may note that I will have four “open first” boxes. If they cannot be packed in your car, try to put them on the moving truck last so they are the first ones you grab. Many of these things are items I will have packed in an overnight bag or suitcase to help me get through the first couple of days. See the list below for ideas of items that could be useful to have while moving in and during the first couple of days.

Open First Items:

• Hand soap

• Toilet paper

• Trash bags

• Scissors/box cutter

• Packing tape

• Dish soap

• Paper towels or hand towels

• Pet necessities for a couple of days

• Phone chargers

• Laptop and charger

• Basic cleaning sprays or wipes (you can keep cleaning supplies in a bucket or open box together)

• Toiletries for daily use

• Pajamas

• Additional outfit and shoes

• I would also pack bedding supplies in this category as open first or have it separated and clearly labeled so I could find and make the bed on moving day

7. Make a zone for keys!
Use an empty leftovers container or any basket to put in one dedicated spot for all keys. With all the commotion that can happen on moving day, losing your keys can be the worst! You can keep this box in a drawer or on a counter in the house and not necessarily by the door, but if you aren’t keeping them on your person, put them in a dedicated space.

8. Plan for food.
If the move will take most of the day or over lunch, plan ahead for where you can pick up food or have it delivered from. You can send someone out for pick up, get Doordash/delivery, or bring a cooler with sandwiches. Whatever plan works best for you, deciding ahead of time will help you with decision fatigue on the day of. You will probably be giving lots of instructions and receiving lots of information and the physical strain alone can be exhausting. Do future you a favor and pick lunch, snacks, and or dinner ahead of time.

9. Get cash.
If you think you will need tip money for movers or delivery people or if you need coins for street parking, you will need to get cash before moving day. I find it helpful to have some on hand, even if it’s to give to the person picking up pizzas instead of giving my card. It doesn’t hurt to have a few extra fives in your wallet in case something comes up.

10. Speaking of parking…
Please do research on the parking requirements for your car(s), the moving truck, and for any helpers if they are driving themselves. You may need to call your new apartment to find out where they prefer a moving truck to be parked. You might be moving to a house with plenty of driveway space or street parking and not need to plan, but for others, knowing if you will need to park several blocks away before you get your keys can be helpful.

11. Use a suitcase to pack and move heavy items.
I love to pack all my books and photo albums in suitcases to move. I know they are safer if they get wet and it is easier to roll all that weight rather than carry them in boxes. If you do not have enough suitcases for your books, remember to pack them in many smaller boxes to be carried in and not one or two large boxes that might be too heavy once packed. Save your back and roll heavy stuff! You can also rent or borrow a moving dolly or hand truck if you move yourself to help stack and roll heavy boxes.

12. Use the soft towels, cloth, and clothing you already have to wrap breakable items in.
This will help reduce the amount of bubble wrap and newspaper you may need for packing these items.

13. Keep cleaning supplies together and in a bucket or box for when you are done packing so you can clean your home old home and have easy access when you are ready to clean the new place.

14. Download my utilities and important home info sheet so you can keep track of all the new information about your place and any new accounts or information like HOA contact, electricity services, or internet providers.

Packing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Use these hacks to stay organized from start to finish. Grab my Moving Day Essentials Checklist by subscribing to my email list for a printable version.

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