Especially for kitchen and bathrooms, make “open first” boxes: These are essential items you will want access to right away to make your transition more pleasant :). 

Pack valuables with the 2 Inch Rule: 2 inches of peanuts, newspaper, foam, balled up paper, etc. between items and the box.

If you have smaller important, delicate items use the “2 inch rule,” and then pack that box in a bigger box with padding surrounding it.

You can protect clothes without expensive wardrobe boxes with a box of trash bags. Pull tops of hangers through the bottom of a trash bag, secure them with twist tie & knot the top of bag. You can start this process eary with seasonal clothes you are wearing and hang the bags back in your closet till move day.

Newspaper can be used to wrap and pad when packing boxes but you do take the risk of ink rubbing off on your items. To get paper without ink you can ask your local newspaper for “end run” This is extra paper they throw out as it is not enough for another run, so trash to them and free of ink!

Free Boxes - Liquor stores & supermarkets are a great place to get free boxes that are built to hold a lot of weight. Call ahead & they are usually very happy to give them away instead of having to break them down and dispose of them.

Before disconnecting electronics take a picture of connections to give you a reference when hooking them back up.

Try and keep boxes under 30 lbs and under 50 lbs for sure. This will make unpacking easier & keep your belongings safe instead of breaking through the cardboard.

2-3 months prior to your move start packing belongings you won’t need. Think about downsizing by having a garage sale or donating items.

You can save yourself time and therefore money when hiring movers by removing shelves & having lampshades/light bulbs boxed up when your movers arrive.

Keep sandwich bags and tape handy for the day of your move. The inserts that shelves sit on can get lost easily, keep those safe & any other screws or hardware for beds, dressers, etc by putting them in bags and then tape them to furniture they belong to.

Save on packing materials by wrapping breakables such as dishes and glasses in clothing that needs to be moved anyway.

Mark your boxes on top and side of box. Along with labeling what is in your boxes, also mark what room they came from, so your movers can make unpacking easier by placing boxes in the room they will need to be unpacked in. 

Cover the openings of toiletries such as shampoo with saran wrap, then put the tops back on to ensure they do not leak in transit, this is a great travel tip too!

Protect your valuables: money, jewelry, guns, passports/important documents, laptops, tablets, etc. Most of these items are not covered by any moving insurance so best pack in your personal vehicle, keep on your person or move ahead of time. 

Packing Boxes: Save time & your back by using a cleared-off table/counter to pack. You will find you get more accomplished, faster and save energy.

When packing try not to under or overfill boxes or they won't stack properly. Fill empty spaces with towels, clothes, paper etc. Not only will they stack better but contents will be safer too. 

Pack electronic equipment in the original box if possible or use lots of padding & pack tight in a box so they don’t move around.