12 Moving Hacks The Pros Use

Congrats! You’ve found a new home and are getting ready to move. Even though it’s an exciting time, you may have some anxiety about the process. It’s normal — you’re dealing with a lot of details in a short timespan. From selling your current home to getting set up in your new one, the tasks may feel endless, but there are some expert moving hacks that’ll make things feel more manageable.

Planning your move? Start by getting a free moving quote from PODS.

Sure, moving into a new home can be frustrating and emotional, especially if you’re leaving a place you love. But luckily, there are several moving pros who’ve found ways to reduce the stress of moving. And with these tried-and-true moving hacks, the process can transform from overwhelming to efficient, quick, and even — dare we say — kind of fun.

Check out these pro-tested and pro-approved moving hacks and tips to make your next move a positive one.

One of the best moving hacks for remaining organized and staying on track is to use an expertly crafted moving checklist.

12 Moving Hacks That’ll Save Your Sanity … and Maybe Even Some Time and Money

Moving into a new home can be frustrating and emotional, especially if you’re leaving a place you love. But luckily, there are pro-tested, pro-approved moving hacks that make the process more efficient. From organizational strategies to quick clean-out tricks, check out these moving hacks and tips to make your next relocation a positive one.

1. Use a Professional Moving Checklist

If you’re a visual person, this is one of the best things you can do to help make your move as smooth as possible. Download this awesome moving checklist that the professionals use. Save it as a PDF or screenshot and keep it on your phone’s camera roll for easy reference. You’ll be able to see exactly how to prepare for your move six weeks out, four weeks out, three weeks out, one week out, on moving day … and even after you’ve moved in!

2. Don’t Skimp on Supplies

It’s normal to look for moving hacks that focus on setting and keeping a budget, but one area where you don’t want to cut corners is your moving and packing supplies. Why? Because cheap boxes and flimsy tape are basically a disaster waiting to happen.

Trust me, nobody wants to unpack a box of shattered dishes or realize their favorite lamp didn’t survive the trip. Investing in sturdy materials means your stuff actually arrives in one piece and saves you the headache (and heartache) of replacing things later. Plus, good supplies make the whole process smoother, so you can settle into your new place faster and with way less stress.

3. Ask for Help — or Hire It

This is the time for extra hands. If someone offers to help you with your move — and you know they’re being sincere — take them up on it. Have a buddy with a pickup truck? Borrow it to haul off old furniture. Know someone who’s an organizational whiz? Ask them for help staging your home and decluttering (more on that coming up!). If your friends and family are busy, there’s no shame in hiring professional packing and loading assistance.

4. Declutter Your Home

Now is the time to purge your home. Donate what you can, then discard the rest. The fewer things you have, the fewer things you have to move! And don’t be a perfectionist, especially if you’re moving in a hurry. An easy way to declutter your whole home in a hurry is to grab three boxes and label them "keep," "donate," and "toss.” Give yourself 15 minutes of clean-out time per room and stick to the clock. No overthinking, no nostalgia trips. If you haven't worn it, used it, or even thought about it in the last year, it goes. Moving hacks for saving money? Try hybrid moving — it blends DIY with professional assistance.

5. Try Hybrid Moving (Yep, It’s a Real Thing)

If, like many movers, you find yourself not wanting to solely DIY but also not wanting to heft the price tag for full-service movers, there is an in-between option. HireAHelper, a mover comparison and referral tool, calls it Hybrid Moving because it combines aspects from the do-it-yourself and full-service moving approaches to hack together a cheaper, often less stressful, move.

• Rent the moving truck on your own.
• Hire the movers by the hour to come load and unload everything. On average, this costs around $900, in comparison to a full-service move, which will set you back an average of nearly $2,500.
• For a local move, you might be able to cobble together an all-inclusive-style move for just a couple of hundred bucks.
• The hybrid strategy also works if you’d rather not drive a big truck and prefer to use a portable storage container instead.

6. Load Cardboard Boxes Strategically

You’ve got your packing supplies, you’re ar med with your moving checklist — now it’s time to figure out how to pack boxes for moving. One of the top packing hacks for moving? Pack correctly! Here are some ways to do just that:

• Build a sturdy base at the bottom of each box.
• Put heavy items in smaller boxes.
• Use medium-sized boxes for things like pots and pans, shoes, linens, toys, and clothing.
• Use specialized boxes, like dish boxes, for packing fragile kitchenware. Wardrobe boxes can come in handy, too, for your nicer clothing pieces.
• Double-bag your leaky cleaning products, toiletries, and kitchen goods to prevent spills and gooey messes.
• For added protection, take pictures of the contents of your boxes before taping them up. This way, you’ll remember what you have in each one. Making a contents list works, too.

7. Take Photos of Your Electronics Setup Before Unplugging

Nothing says “Moving in a rush” more than a disorganized pile of cords, chargers, and power strips shoved in a cardboard box. To prevent confusion, before you unplug and pack anything, snap a photo of the back of your entertainment center, desk, or router setup. Additional points for labeling each cord with a sticky note or masking tape tag with its function, so in the future, you will actually know which cord belongs to the TV, the soundbar, or the ancient DVD player nobody uses anymore.

8. Change Your Address Before Moving Day (Not After)

You’re so busy using moving hacks and tips for your current home that you may not be thinking about your new one. Make life a little easier by updating your address with the post office, banks, subscriptions, and any important accounts at least a week before you move. You can do most of it online in under 30 minutes. This way, you won't be scrambling to reroute important mail or missing bills while you're in the thick of relocating.

9. Find Alternatives to Large Cardboard Boxes

Some moving hacks for clothes you can try instead of only using wardrobe boxes include:

• Use wine boxes for storing shoes.
• Try vacuum compressed bags for bulkier winter clothing items.
• Put packing wrap over your drawers with your non-hanging clothes inside. Wrap them at least two times to prevent spills.
• Take a large drawstring trash bag, put your clothes inside while gripping them by the hangers, then tighten the drawstrings around the hanger hooks. You could also cut a small hole at the bottom of the bag and pass the hangers through the cut hole. Secure the hanger hooks with a rubber band.

Still not feeling confident about your abilities? These 13 moving tips and pack hacks may change your mind.

10. Use a Color Coding System

Color-coordinating your boxes is one of the most efficient moving hacks. It’s hard to miss a bright blue or red piece of tape!

• Get different-colored fluorescent tape and assign each room or space its own color or design.
• Before you start unloading at your new place, mark the door or entry with the color of the boxes that should go there.
• Create a packing key for your movers on a piece of paper.

11. Maximize Your Container or Truck Space

One of the most stress-inducing parts of the move is worrying if your possessions will survive the trip. If you’re moving far away and loading your own storage container or truck, it’s time to brush up on packing tips for a long-distance move.

Moving Hacks To Remember When Loading Your Truck or Container:

• Move the largest and heaviest items first.
• Load items section by section, using heavy items to make a base along the truck or container floor.
• Turn couches on their ends to take up less room.
• Put lighter, more fragile items on the top of the truck.
• Fill in as many gaps and holes as possible with blankets, small decor, artwork, and other items.

What Not To Do When Loading a Truck or Container:

• Don’t load in inclement weather if your things will be in boxes for longer than a few days. Moisture that collects on the outside of your packages can seep through boxes and lead to mildew or rot — the last thing you want to find when you eventually pull things out.
• Don’t put all the heavy items on one side of the container. If you put a lot of heavy boxes at the back, they can shift and smash against all the lightweight boxes at the front.
• Don’t pack items that aren’t allowed to be transported, like firearms, toxic chemicals, and items with fuel.

Packing hacks for moving don’t just apply to loading the boxes — remember to pack a bag of essentials to get through moving day.

12. Make a “Day-Of” Essentials Bag

This is one of the most important moving hacks. It’s such a simple tip, but one that’s often overlooked.

How many times have you accidentally packed away something important? The night before your move (or sooner), make sure you pack:

• Two changes of clothes and pajamas
• Water bottles (which you can also give to your movers)
• Healthy snacks, like nuts and protein bars, for quick energy
• Important medications
• Personal documents, like birth certificates, passports, and social security cards
• Toiletries, like a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner
• Disposable plates, cups, and utensils — no one wants to do dishes on or immediately after moving day (Bonus points if you place the order on Amazon and have it delivered straight to your new home!)
• Cash/tips for movers

Moving Hacks — FAQs

Q: What are some moving hacks?
A: Some simple moving hacks include using a checklist, decluttering before packing, filling smaller boxes with heavier items (and vice versa), hiring professional help, and making a day-of essentials bag to use on moving day.

Q: What do movers not recommend to move?
A: To keep your move safe, professional movers won’t transport hazardous materials. This includes common household products like paints, aerosols, fertilizers, cleaning solvents, and automotive fluids. Basically, if it's flammable, corrosive, or under pressure, it's not going on the truck.

Q: How can I move fast and cheap?
A: Moving hacks for those in a time and money crunch include asking for free help (Hey there, friends with pickup trucks!), decluttering as much as possible before packing, and loading and driving your own moving truck. If you do need professional help, moving on a weekday, especially during the off-season, is cheaper than a weekend move.

Q: How can I make moving out easier?
A: You can make moving out easier by using packing hacks for moving, like using your linens and towels as packing material, carefully labeling your boxes, and documenting your furniture disassembly. You can also use moving hacks for clothes, like using trash bags to store hanging clothes and packing your non-hanging clothes in your dresser drawers (just wrap them up tightly before transport).  

Q: What should you not pack when moving?
A: Leave the dangerous stuff behind when you’re packing. This includes chemicals, firearms, explosives, etc. You definitely don’t want those materials in a crowded, closed-in space. Skip packing perishable food and plants, too, as they can spoil or attract pests. And keep your valuables, important documents, and meds with you personally for liability reasons.

Moving With PODS

One of the best moving hacks? Partnering with a moving and storage service that allows you to load and unload according to your timeline — because no one likes to be rushed. With PODS, you can enjoy flexible moving services with a PODS portable storage container delivered right to your driveway. Pick your delivery date, load the container yourself or with the help of local packing and loading services, then have it transported to your new home. One month of storage is included in the cost of every move, so you can take the time you need.

Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

LB Gabriel is a freelance writer who lives with her husband, daughter, and Golden Retriever in Memphis, TN. A frequent PODS Blog contributor, she’s a sucker for any tip she can find on downsizing, cutting clutter, or minimalist living. When she’s not on a deadline, you can find her on a tennis court or golf course.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}