If you have not moved a lot, you may feel overwhelmed just thinking about getting all your things boxed up in time for moving day. Follow these six tips to make your move as simple as possible.

1. Buy Packing Supplies

Once you start packing, you will get into a groove. The last thing you want to do is run errands every half hour because you find you didn’t purchase enough or the right kind of packing materials. Before you start packing, make sure you have all your packing materials ready to go. Here is a good list to get you started.

• Boxes
• Tape
• Mover’s blankets
• Bubble wrap
• Zip ties
• Packing paper
• Putty
• Scissors
• Labels
• Permanent marker
• Gloves
• Twine

2. Pack By Room

Unpacking is typically done over a long period as you need certain items. Packing your items by what room they belong in will make your unpacking process much smoother. When it comes time to unpack, you won’t be running all over the house putting things away. You can unpack each room on your timetable.

3. Label Everything

In the flurry of packing, you may think that you will remember which boxes contain specific items. Never make these kinds of assumptions. Help your future self out by religiously labeling every box, crate, and package. When you are at your new house confronted with a mountain of boxes but only needing that one cooking pan, you will be happy for your careful labeling.

4. Pack In Stages

Moving houses is a flurry of activity especially in the days close to moving day. Cheap Movers of Atlanta/Decatur suggests getting ahead of the activity by packing your belongings in stages. Begin with items that you know you will not need such as wall art, decorative knick-knacks and seasonal items. These can be packed up weeks ahead of time. As moving day approaches, begin to pack extra linens, toys, clothes and everything you won’t be using in the remaining time. A couple of days before you can pack up the things you use every day. You don’t want to have a single thing left to pack on the big day.

5. Ship Ahead

If you are making a move outside your current zip code, sending some of your things ahead of you could save a lot of time. Anything you get packed up early is a good candidate for shipping. That means you have less to load and unload on moving day. Bulky items that are awkward to transport are also best shipped to your new address rather than trying to transport them by hand.

6. Pack a Box of Essentials

When you get to your new home, there are certain items you will need immediately. Make sure your first night is comfortable by packing these essentials in a box that you keep close at hand.

• Toilet paper
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Towels
• Pajamas
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper towels
• Sheets and pillows
• Trash bags
• Electronics chargers

This should be enough to tide you over until you can get your basics unpacked.

Packing up an entire household and moving to a new location is a complicated task with a lot of stress. Sometimes it is far easier to hire a moving company to do all the dirty work for you so you can concentrate on making the transition easier for your family.