15+ Packing Tips for Moving [2023 Guide]

Finding a new apartment is an exciting new chapter in your life, but you need the right packing tips for moving to make it a smooth transition. With the right approach and planning, you'll take the guesswork and stress out of packing.

We broke down everything you need in a simple moving checklist, from getting organized to ensuring you have the right kind of truck to get you to your next place.

Whether you're moving down the street or across the country, here are some moving tips to help you start planning.

1. Pack in Advance

Figuring out how to pack for a move can get overwhelming quickly, especially if you need more time to complete it. It would help if you had several weeks to a month to find moving boxes and packing supplies, sort through your belongings, and start hauling out items from your closet or storage. Packing boxes in advance also leaves room for the unexpected, like suddenly coming down with a cold or dealing with a deadline at work that needs immediate attention.

Start by routinely packaging boxes with things you don't use, like keepsakes or seasonal clothing. Then, pack everything properly in appropriate boxes or bags with like-minded items. For example, avoid mixing household cleaners with photos or breakable items that must be packed with care.

2. Declutter

Decluttering is one of those underrated moving hacks that save you time and money without realizing it. You end up with less to pack, which can save money with supplies or a moving company with a per-box fee. It also saves loads of time when you unpack and lets you get organized to enjoy your new place immediately.

Beyond what you save, you'll have a different perspective once you unpack without the usual clutter. For example, you may realize you don't need as much space as you thought and decide to have friends over more often or take in a roommate.

3. Book Moving Services Early

Everyone needs help moving, but you may need more than a few friends and a van. Reputable moving companies are usually booked far in advance and worth the wait. Scour online reviews, ask your friends and colleagues if they have recommendations for moving and packing companies, and start making some calls.

Movers should give you a quote or come out and look at your space in advance to assess how much stuff you have. Make sure you sign a contract so your date is locked in, and follow up the day before to ask if everything is still on track.

4. Schedule Utilities at Your New Apartment

Utilities can take a few days or weeks to get set up and turned on. Some apartments only need services transferred to your name without experiencing any interruptions. Others require a technician to come out and check meters or physically turn on the service.

Although most apartments include water, asking your landlord in advance is essential. You could get stuck without a vital utility or underestimate which bills you're responsible for paying.

5. Set Your Essentials Aside

If you're hyper-organized and want to wrap up the moving process quickly, you may be overpacking. Remember, you'll still need your essentials, from work clothes to weekend outfits and bathroom supplies, so set aside everything you need for a week or two, including cleaning supplies for your apartment.

6. Invest in Moving Supplies

There's more to purchase than buying moving essentials, such as moving boxes and bubble wrap. Investing in quality packing tape that can keep everything secure is a good idea. You'll also need proper padding to keep your breakables safe. Keep box cutters, markers, paper towels, and garbage bags on hand for a seamless move. It's also wise to have some adhesive bandages ready for paper cuts or an unexpected injury.

7. Use Proper Boxes

Free boxes from neighbors or the grocery store may work well for your move, but make sure they're appropriate and secure. Throwing in old blankets and jackets works okay in most boxes. But you still need sturdy boxes for dishes, mirrors, artwork, and heavy items. A few wardrobe boxes will also help keep your clothes organized and free from stains or damage.

8. Pack Heavier Items First

Get the hard work out of the way by packing your heaviest items first. Beyond alleviating stress, it's also good common sense. Your heaviest belongings will help anchor your boxes and alleviate damage to your lightweight items. The only exception is if you want to pack old blankets under heavy objects to keep sharp corners from cutting into your boxes.

9. Don’t Leave Empty Space

Moving supplies are expensive, and your truck or van space is a commodity. Make the most of every inch by filling every space available. There's always a way to squeeze in a book, roll up a towel, or tuck a water bottle into an empty corner. You can also vacuum seal clothes and linens into oversized compressible plastic bags to optimize your space and pack even more into every box.

10. Repurpose Household Items

You can reduce space and necessary moving supplies by repurposing household items for packing. Hampers, suitcases, laundry baskets, and even clean trash cans easily transform to hold clothing and household items. Get creative and fold linens into pillowcases or zip blankets inside roomy couch cushions to squeeze out all the extra space you can.

11. Keep Items from the Same Room Together

Unpacking is a breeze when you keep items from the same room together. For example, your clothes, undergarments, coats, and accessories should go in the same boxes, while bathroom supplies go in another.

Try to load your truck or van with your new apartment in mind. If your living room will also double as your home office, keep those boxes together so you can unpack as quickly as possible.

12. Label Each Box

Keep your moving boxes neatly labeled, so you know how to dive into unpacking from your new apartment. It also makes divvying up chores with a roommate or significant other easier. Designate which boxes each person should unpack to keep things moving on schedule.

13. Avoid Leaks with Plastic Wrap

Spills can quickly ruin a box and everything in it, so stay on top of leaks by wrapping liquid items in plastic wrap. For example, shampoo bottles and lotions need plastic wrap to avoid unexpected oozing, no matter how well you think you've packed them. Depending on the item, you can cover the top with plastic wrap before screwing on the lid or bottle to create an additional seal.

14. Secure Moving Boxes with Tape

While it may seem like some moving boxes don't need to be sealed and taped up, you could leave your belongings vulnerable to damage. For example, clothing that isn't in a secured box could get ruined by spills or anything you place on top of it. It's also much easier to stack taped boxes on top of each other to maximize all available space in a moving truck or van.

15. Use a Truck with a Loading Ramp

While a DIY move can save some money, don't skimp on a truck without a ramp. Otherwise, you'll face the hassle of lifting every box and piece of furniture high enough to place securely into the vehicle. Packing up a truck without a ramp also takes more time, which could ultimately make your rental more expensive than you expected.

16. Create a Moving Folder

A moving folder is a lifesaver when keeping your move organized and at your fingertips. Collect new addresses, your lease, utilities, moving contracts, and significant numbers in one folder. While a digital copy is handy, keep a hard copy readily available in case your phone battery dies, or you set it down in a sea of boxes where it can't be found.

17. Use Special Crafting for Expensive Art

Artwork is an investment and should be protected throughout your move. Costly or fragile artwork should be carefully packed into special crates to ensure it survives the move in one piece.

You might consider wrapping your basic artwork in newspapers and a dedicated box, though oil paintings will stick to newspapers and require special paper. As you prepare your artwork, make an 'X' with masking tape across the glass to reinforce it. The last thing you want to deal with is shattered glass if it breaks. Lastly, keep everything secured with bubble wrap, placing each piece of art in a frame box with cardboard in-between each painting.

18. Know How to Pack a TV

Even experienced movers will often pack up a television without extra caution. Furniture pads can help but often aren't enough to protect delicate plasma screens or high-end TVs.

Purchase wooden shipping crates specially designed for TVs, or use the original box. Lying your television flat could ruin it, so keep it well-insulated with padded packing paper and position it upright as much as possible.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have some reliable at-home tips and tricks for moving and how to prepare for a move, you're all ready to make a move and get set up in your new apartment. Move meticulously through each step, carefully considering your valuables and breakables. Then, with a ready-to-go moving checklist, you'll turn your move into an exciting new chapter in your life.

And if the year passes and you're ready to explore a different neighborhood or city, check out Apartment List to see what's available with your moving checklist readily available.