Moving day is a massive struggle. Yet it's an inevitable part of our lives. You may not be able to prevent it, but at the very least you can make it easier, and far less stressful. Here are our top tips for the easiest moving experience of your life.  

1. Thin the herd

Why move more things than you have to? If you haven't thinned out your possessions in a while, it may be time for you to do so. It makes things cheaper as well as easier for you and your movers!  

2. Plan ahead

Did you unplug your refrigerator and allow 24-48 hours for it to fully defrost and dry? If not, you may end up with a leaky and possibly moldy quagmire on your hands! 

3. Photograph your electronics beforehand

Be sure to photograph the back of your electronics (computer, TV, etc.) before disassembling them. This way, you have a template to follow when you plug everything back in! This often saves several hours of pain and heartbreak down the road.

4. Use Saran-wrap creatively and liberally

An especially handy tip is to remove all of your drawers, and wrap them in plastic wrap. This will hold the contents in-place. No unpacking necessary! You can use either commercial rolls of Saran-Wrap, or get a hold of an industrial-sized roll of plastic wrap from a moving company or packaging service.

5. Pack glass and porcelain in clothing

This protects your dishes and fragile items while also saving you a bundle on bubble wrap! Be sure to stack your plates vertically to avoid breakage!

6. Make your own handholds

Since most boxes don't come with pre-cut handles, you can cut slots into the sides of boxes to make your own! Regardless if you hired a moving company or have volunteer help, the movers will most certainly love you for this.

7. Assemble a supply basket

If you carry all your supplies in a handy packing basket, it will dramatically cut down on the time wasted searching for scattered tools. No more lost scissors, and no more hunting for the packing tape!

8. Use toilet paper tubes for various odds and ends

You can reuse those old toilet paper tubes and spent paper towel rolls, so don't throw them away! They work perfectly as containers for small, easily-lost objects like jewelry or screws. Just securely tape up one end, and stuff it full before taping the other end closed.  

9. Use tape and small sandwich baggies to keep screws organized

You can tape screws and other tiny parts to the disassembled furniture that it came from. If there are a lot of individual pieces, you can stick them in a sandwich bag, and then tape the bag to the furniture. Make sure it's secure, so the moving company doesn't lose it in-transit.

For more helpful hints, or if you're looking to move in the near future, see Bell Moving & Storage or another moving company near you.