Tips for Making Your Local Move Easier

Does anyone look forward to moving? Sure, it's exciting to relocate to a new home, a new city and/or a new neighborhood, but the physical act of getting your belongings from one place to another can often be time-consuming and stressful. The good news is there are steps you can take to make this process easier. It goes without saying that you should start as early as possible. In addition, keep the following tips in mind.

1. Use this opportunity to de-clutter.

Moving is a great time to rid your household of those items you seldom or never use. Whether it's collections, books, clothing or sporting equipment, take a close look at the items you're packing and make a pile to send to a local charity, to sell or to give away to friends or family members. You'll be grateful when you have less to unpack and find homes for in your new residence.

2. Label your boxes with colorful paper for easy sorting.

Create a color-coded system for each room of your home. Label your boxes with a colored paper so you'll know easily which room they belong in when you get to the new house. Sticky notes are a great option because they come in a variety of bright colors. Be sure to mark at least two sides on each box and secure the labels with some extra tape so they stay in place during transit.

3. Use small boxes for heavy items.

While it's tempting to fill large boxes to the brim, these can be back-breaking to carry from the house to the truck and into the new place. Instead, opt for small boxes for things like books, dishes, kitchenware and other heavy items. One book or one plate isn't very heavy but an entire set of them can be extremely difficult to lift.

4. Pack a moving day emergency box

Whether you are moving with or without a professional mover, you'll want to pack a box with your essential items and keep it with you. This can include glasses, phones and chargers, prescriptions, toiletries, important documents, cleaning products, a change of clothes for all family members and even a set of plates and utensils to use until you get all of your kitchen boxes unpacked.

Moving your household belongings doesn't have to be something to dread. Make your move less stressful by de-cluttering your rooms and closets before you move, marking your boxes so you know where to put them in the new house and making sure to pack an emergency essentials box.