Packing your belongings and purging your old, unwanted items to move to a new location, whether it’s down the street or across the country, can be a challenging process. 

Keeping track of all of your valuables is a task in and of itself. However, there are steps you can take to make the moving process much more manageable. Finding an efficient way to move to a new home or apartment doesn’t have to be disastrous. 

About 40 million Americans move annually, which is about 13% of the country’s population. People relocate for various reasons — maybe they have family in the military, move for a job or start a spontaneous adventure in a new place. 

Regardless of why you’re moving, it’s critical that you keep the eight tips listed below in mind to make the process easier for you and your loved ones.

1. Throw Out Useless Items

Decluttering your home is a perfect starting point to begin your moving journey. Taking the time to sort through any worthless, useless or unwanted items can make the process of packing the things you do value more straightforward. 

The ultimate goal of packing is only to pack what you need in your new location. By getting rid of unnecessary items, you’ll have less to pack, which means less to move and less to unpack in the future. Consider doing a thorough walkthrough of your home to find what items can be donated or tossed in the trash.

2. Sell or Prep Furniture

Moving furniture is probably one of the more cumbersome tasks in the moving process. It’s heavy and can be awkward to carry, even for the strongest people. One of the best steps you can take is to sell any old, unwanted furniture on Facebook Marketplace or apps like OfferUp. 

Suppose you plan on keeping your current furniture. In that case, it’s wise to use bubble wrap or plastic sheeting to protect the upholstery. The last thing you want is for your cherished furniture to get damaged while being transported to your new home or apartment.

3. Protect Your Floors

You must protect your floors because you may be moving large items like couches, wardrobes, beds, and other large items. It’s wise to remove any rugs and place a floor covering to protect the floors and whatever things you’re moving. 

It’s especially important to protect your flooring if you’ve sold your house to new owners. The last thing you want is to be on the hook for fixing any damage to your flooring. 

4. Choose a Reputable Moving Company

One thing about moving is that you shouldn’t have to do it on your own. Enlisting help from a reputable moving company can make the entire process much easier. Some examples of moving companies that operate nationwide are Mayflower Transit, Allied Van Lines and U-Pack. 

It’s crucial that the company you hire to assist with your move is experienced and can make the process seamless for you and your family. You’ll also need to contact the company so they can advise you on how to prepare for your move before they arrive at your home.

5. Keep Important Items in One Place

Because you likely have a ton of important information in your home, such as birth certificates, social security numbers, passports and other items, you want to make sure you pack those last in a box that you can label. Losing these items could cost you time, money and effort in the future.

You may need easy access to this important information as you move, so it’s a good idea to know exactly where they’re located at all times. 

6. Color Code Your Moving Boxes

Unpacking in your new place is a significant factor you should consider as you’re packing. By color-coding your moving boxes, you’re making the unpacking process much easier on yourself. Take some extra time to coordinate which colors represent categories of items.

For example, use a red sticker for all of your kitchen supplies. Use a pink sticker for any electronics, and so on. Make sure you keep a checklist of what colors match which items. You’ll thank yourself for taking the time to stay more organized, and unpacking will feel like a breeze.

7. Wrap Valuables in Clothing

A neat trick that can save you time and money is to use t-shirts and other soft pieces of clothing to wrap up your valuables, such as laptops, tablets or anything that is easily breakable. 

Rather than spend on bubble wrap costs, you can kill two birds with one stone by using clothing that you need to pack anyway! When you open that last moving box, the last thing you want to find is broken glass or a destroyed device. 

8. Set Up Internet and Utilities Before You Move

When you enter your new home, you’ll want to be able to connect to the internet and use the toilet, shower and anything that requires electricity. Be sure to set up a connection with your local internet service provider and alert them that you’re changing addresses. This way, you aren’t spending days relying on just your phone’s data plan. 

The moving process is typically time-consuming, and you’ll likely need a hot shower afterward to wash the day off and get a fresh start.

Keep all of these tips in mind when planning your next move. Your future self will thank you for taking the time to prepare for your move rather than throw items in a box last minute.

Move to Your New Location With Ease

While moving can be a tedious process, you’ll be happy that you prepared by following the tips listed above. Remember to be patient — not every item will be unpacked within the first few weeks of moving into your new home or apartment. Happy moving!