9 tips to make sure your valuables come out of their boxes in good shape.

1. Use the right size boxes.
   Put heavy items, like books, in small boxes; light items, like linens and pillows, in bigger ones. (Large boxes packed with heavy items are a common complaint of professional movers. They not only make the job harder but also have a better chance of breaking.)
2. Put heavier items on the bottoms of boxes, lighter items on top.
   And if you’re loading the truck yourself, pack heavier boxes first, toward the front of the truck, for balance.
3. Don’t leave empty spaces in the boxes.
   Fill in gaps with clothing, towels, or packing paper. Movers often won’t move boxes that feel loosely packed or unbalanced.
4. Avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box.
   It will make your packing quicker and your unpacking a lot easier, too.
5. Label each box with the room it’s destined for and a description of its contents.
   This will help you and your movers know where every box belongs in your new place. Numbering each box and keeping an inventory list in a small notebook is a good way to keep track of what you’ve packed―and to make sure you still have everything when you unpack.
6. Tape boxes well.
   Use a couple of pieces of tape to close the bottom and top seams, then use one of the movers’ techniques―making a couple of wraps all the way around the box’s top and bottom edges, where stress is concentrated.
7. If you’re moving expensive art, ask your mover about special crating.
   Never wrap oil paintings in regular paper; it will stick. For pictures framed behind glass, make an X with masking tape across the glass to strengthen it and to hold it together if it shatters. Then wrap the pictures in paper or bubble wrap and put them in a frame box, with a piece of cardboard between each framed piece for protection.
8. Bundle breakables.
   As you pack your dishes, put packing paper around each one, then wrap bundles of five or six together with more paper. Pack dishes on their sides, never flat. And use plenty of bunched-up paper as padding above and below. Cups and bowls can be placed inside one another, with paper in between, and wrapped three or four in a bundle. Pack them all in dish-barrel boxes.
9. Consider other items that will need special treatment.
   Vansant says his movers treat TVs like any other piece of furniture, wrapping them in quilted furniture pads. He points out, however, that plasma TVs require special wooden crates for shipping if you don’t have the original box and can be ruined if you lay them flat. If you’re packing yourself, double-box your TV, setting the box containing the TV into another box that you’ve padded with packing paper.

You’ve got the basics — cardboard boxes, newspaper, the phone number of a pizza place so you can feed the friends helping you move all your worldly goods. But do you have enough socks for the stemware?

As with any major home project, there’s always someone out there with more experience and a host of clever ideas. Moving is no different. We’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite quirky-but-useful tips to make trading one roof for another go a little bit smoother.

1. Footwear, Meet Stemware

About those socks and glasses… If you can double up and use some of your belongings to protect others, you cut down on space and moving supplies. Socks slipped around the wine glasses can help pad the delicate stems.

2. Plates on Plates

Instead of painstakingly wrapping each dinner dish in newsprint or bubble wrap, or purchasing those pre-packaged dishpacks, buy one cheap bag of Styrofoam plates. Alternate stacking the real plates with the disposables and — voila! — instant padding. Genius, right?

3. Make Like a Ghost

Worn sheets can be used as an extra layer of protection around your mattress, or any piece of furniture. You may not want to use that extra-fancy satin set, but old, cheap stand-bys can take a stain or risk a tear better than a mattress or sofa upholstery. Bonus: Like the socks, using sheets as packing material frees up more box space.

4. Pack in Color

Sure, you can painstakingly label every box. Or, just slap on some color. Buy color dots or several hues of duct tape, designate a specific color for each room, and stick the appropriate dot or tape on each box. The best part, we think, is the idea of making a legend that can keep track of all of your colors. That way, you won’t mistake the red for the den instead of the kitchen, and unpacking becomes a snap.

5. Use Your Wheels

Have wheelie bags? Use them for heavy things like books, especially if it’s a relatively smaller suitcase and not an Army-size duffel. You won’t be able to get away without ever having to lift the bag, such as in and out of a vehicle, but at least you’ll have a little extra help.

6. Bag Your Clothes

This tip may not work for every move, since some moving companies won’t touch any goods not packed in boxes. However, if such restrictions don’t pertain to you, break out the garbage bags. Pull one bag up around a cluster of your hanging clothes, and tie the open end by the hangers. One blogger bragged that she packed her entire closet in 15 minutes this way.

7. Take Pictures

The serving dishes fit in the dozen breakfront shelves like puzzle pieces now, but such a tight fit may be hard to replicate after everything has been removed to boxes. Pictures can act as an unpacking guide. Photos also protect your goods for insurance purposes — you’ll have proof should anything break or chip in transit.

8. Don’t Just Ditch the Fish

Some people might flush their goldfish, but some tanks are worth serious money and heart. Tanks contain their own ecosystems, including bacteria. Put the fish in a separate container, but keep some of the water the fish are accustomed to so you retain the original bacteria colony when you establish their new home in your new home.

9. Leave the Garage Empty

In the new digs, resist the temptation to pile boxes into the garage, or attic, or back closet, with a promise to get to them later. “Later” can last months. If a boxful of stuff is so unnecessary that a year could pass without needing the contents, maybe that’s a tip to ditch the contents before the move. Otherwise, you risk forgetting where you put important things, or end up parking the car outside all winter.

10. Unpack the TV Last

The desire to relax is strong. The coffee table pushed up against the sofa looks so inviting, but those boxes aren’t going to unpack themselves. Resist the urge to derail your momentum. Otherwise, those boxes will just stand over your head. Unpack the TV last, sink deeply into that comfy couch, and revel in the knowledge of a well-done moving job any pro would envy.

Each year one in five families move to a new home, according to the United States Census Bureau. 

Leaving the familiar can be tough on the psyche for anyone, but for a child it can be a traumatic experience. The only bedroom they’ve ever known might be what they are letting go, so identifying ways to ensure your child’s experience is a positive one is easier than you might expect.

Here are five key thoughts to consider when moving with small ones:

1) Harness the good in change, and frame the move as a grand adventure. Plan a fun event after the move is complete. Make a favorite meal or buy a new piece of furniture you know they’ll love, like a bean bag, canopy netting for the bed, an inexpensive tent for the new room or a wall decal of their favorite cartoon character.

2) Remove the unknown by planning ahead. Keep the move a daily topic, especially as the move nears. You’ll pick up on anxiety triggers allowing you to head off potential issues.

3) Pack special toys and lovies in a carry-on that never leaves the child’s side. Keeping their favorite things close is a sure-fire way to curry comfort and reduce anxiety.

4) Make introductions to strangers on move day. Our movers care about pets and kids, and there are countless stories of our teams going above and beyond for our clients’ loved ones. While moving can be stress-filled, professional movers know they are hired to minimize this to any degree they’re able.

5) Take advantage of opportunities to be inclusive with your children. Many kids just want to have a place in the process. There are opportunities abound that give them a role while keeping them out of the fray. Ensure their special tasks are safe but rewarding.

If you and your chosen movers handle your children’s experience with TLC, your move will be memorable for all the right reasons.

The first thing to decide is how much of the moving work you’ll do yourself and how much will be handled by professional movers.  If your employer is paying for the move you can take it easy and watch the professional movers do nearly all of the work.  If you’re financing the move yourself, you might opt to do your own packing to save money.  But before you decide how much to do yourself, call some moving companies to get estimates for what they charge for different levels of service.

Weed down your stuff: Most people are packrats to one degree or another and if you’ve lived in the same place for several years you probably have closets and junk drawers filled with stuff you really don’t need.  Start making stacks of what to throw out or donate to charities.  Organizations like Goodwill and AmVets will accept a variety of clothing and household goods.

Collect supplies:  If you’re doing your own packing, you’ll need lots of boxes.  The best boxes are the ones that reams of copier paper come in because they’re sturdy, have lids and are easily stackable.  If you work in an office, find out who handles supplies for the copy machine and have them save boxes for you.  You can also buy boxes from supply stores or some large discount stores, but this can really add up.

Identify high-priority items: During a move there are two kinds of high priority items:

1. Your most prized possessions, like family photos, birth certificates, passports, etc.  Plan on packing these yourself and transporting them in your car so they are never out of your control.  Ordinary household items can be replaced if lost or damaged.  If it’s priceless to you, then you should carry it.
2. Things you need every day, such as a handful of dishes, toiletries, Fido’s dog dish, your car keys, etc.  These may not be highly valuable, but you don’t want to lose track of exactly where they are.  Pack these yourself and keep the box handy so you can get in and out of it whenever necessary.  Keep out your cleaning supplies so you can finish up in the old house and take the cleaning materials with you to the new house.

Change your utilities and services:

Contact service providers for utilities such as water, gas, electric, telephone, cable and internet services to inform them of the impending  move.  You can let these companies know when you plan to be out of your home and into your new home so that your services can be switched over.  This will prevent you from paying for services you do not receive or having to provide a security deposit for your new residential service needs through the companies at your new location.

Postal Change of Address:

A change of address kit is available through your local post office branch office.  These forms prevent the possibility of others gaining access to your mail without your knowledge.  The mail will be forwarded to your new address beginning on the date you specify on your change of address form.

Forgetting to Contact Service Providers

This can cause you to be responsible for paying for services that you did not use or create.  You can contact service providers as soon as you anticipate your move and provide them with a final date of service.  This will allow you to only be responsible for services that you used and prevent others from using your services without your knowledge.  If you are moving to a new home within the same area you can even schedule services to be connected prior to your move so that they are ready when you move in.

Failure to Complete a Change of Address

If you do not submit a change of address 14 days prior to your move your mail may end up in the wrong hands.  This can cause your person information to be compromised should others get your mail without your knowledge.

Not Having Insurance Coverage on Your Property

You can contact your homeowner’s or rental insurance company to ensure that you have insurance coverage during your moving experience.  This will provide you with the comfort and security of knowing that should your property be damaged or lost during the move it will be covered for replacement.

Not Completing Proper Move Out Procedures

Individuals that are renting their current residence are required to complete a final inspection checklist with their landlord.  This provides a final account that cannot be disputed as to the condition of the premises when you move out.  Damage can occur within the premises by trespassers following your departure from the home which can be blamed on you if your landlord does not witness the move out condition with you.  If you paid a deposit at the beginning of your lease you may be required by local and state laws and statues to file certain documentation to retrieve this money.  The laws that govern these situations are strict and specific.  Failure to properly adhere to them can mean a loss for you.

Forgetting to Complete an Inspection

It is necessary to report any problems with your property that is moved by a moving company within a certain amount of time if you want to file a claim.  An inspection of these items should be done before signing anything that the moving company may require after the transition is completed.  This will prevent you from having a hard time collecting compensation for damaged or lost items that can occur during your relocation.

You may choose to do all of the packing, but do you really want to do the moving as well?  If so, you’ll need to rent a truck, a couple of two-wheeler handcarts and some pads to protect your furniture.  Then you’ll need to recruite friends to help and probably feed them.  You may want to compare that to the cost of hiring movers.

Avoid scams – As in all professions, in the moving industry there are rogue operators who give you a low price to get the job, then demand a much larger amount before they will unload the truck.  Don’t hire a moving company without checking them out.

• Get recommendations from friends and co-workers, or join Angie’s List to read reviews and rankings from past customers.
• Check out the company with the American Moving & Storage Association, which has a certification program called “ProMover.”  You should be wary of any moving company that does not have ProMover certification.
• Ask for the company’s U.S. Department of Transportation registration number.  You can then search a federally registered mover’s complaint history at protectyourmove.gov.

Questions to ask:

Even when you are using a legitimate, honest moving company you may have a bad experience if you don’t know what services the company is providing at what cost.

• What are the insurance terms for the move?  You will typically purchase an insurance option for items damaged or lost in transport.  Does the insurance cover the full value of the item?
• Is the quote price an estimate or a “not-to-exceed” ceiling?
• Are there any hidden fees?  Moving companies often work from a “tariff,” which lists items for which you could be charged, such as if there are stairs involved.
• How long has the company been in business.
• Information on the moving crew’s status with the company. Are they employed by the company, temporary hires or casual laborers? Do they perform background checks on all?
• A copy of the mover’s bill of lading, liability insurance and valuation coverage policy. All movers must assume liability for the value of the goods they transport. “Released value” is a no-cost option that provides minimal protection, requiring movers to cover any damages at 60 cents per pound, per article. “Full value” is the most comprehensive option, but cost varies.
• A timetable for performing the move, including packing and arrival date.
• Does the company perform the move or work as a household goods broker? A broker can’t represent himself as a mover, doesn’t own trucks and generally has no authority to provide an estimate on behalf of a specific mover.