Are you moving into a smaller or larger home to better suit your space requirements? Perhaps you're buying your very first home and need to keep expenses down during your transition. Whatever your circumstances may be, the tips listed below can help you save time, money, and other valuable resources during your move.

1. Decide On How You're Going To Move

You'll obviously need to develop a plan for getting from your old home to your new one during the big move. For relatively short moves, your two primary options are either gathering some friends or family members who have trucks or renting your own truck for a day. If your family is very large or you plan to move far away, your best bet is to individually price professional movers.

2. Start Getting Prepared Ahead Of Time

Don’t put anything off until moving day that you can take care of in advance. As long as you're not in some special hurry to move, you should have at least a month or two to draw up a system that makes moving day a breeze. Make a chore checklist and mark off the tasks as you take care of them each day.

3. Choose The Proper Moving Vehicle

If you aren't moving too far away, making multiple trips in a standard-sized truck could be a viable option. But if you're planning a long-distance move, you must have a properly sized truck to haul your things all at once, since making multiple trips is probably impractical.

When it comes to figuring out what size truck will accommodate you, in most instances, the furniture and belongings of a one-bedroom home can fit comfortably within a 16-foot truck provided by your nearby moving company. A furnished home with two or three bedrooms will call for a 24 to 26-foot truck to assure your relocation is accomplished in one trip, and bigger furnished homes may require multiple trucks or trips.

4. Clear Away The Clutter

A move is a very good opportunity to tidy up your possessions and clear out stuff that just takes up space, particularly if you're downsizing. If your seasonal weather allows it, have a garage sale. Alternately, invest some time to organize and donate lightly used clothes to charity, sell unneeded furniture, donate or recycle read books and magazines, and dispose of old paperwork.

5. Make an Inventory List

This tip is particularly relevant if you plan on employing professional movers. Keeping an archive of your household goods is beneficial if anything gets lost. Label the items in every box on a spreadsheet, designate a number for each box, and then you simply need to write the same number on the side of the corresponding box.

6. Safely Store Your Valuable Belongings

Keep your valuables in a safe, protected spot during your move. Get insurance for valuable or fragile items if you choose to hire professional movers. If you’re relocating any computers, be sure to backup all of your critical documents in the event that something occurs during the move.

7. Pack Your Breakables Smartly

Wrap any fragile items like plates and glassware in clothes to avoid wasting bubble wrap. Loading up your clothing and glassware together is an efficient way to save space and avoid breakage. Also, stack your dishes vertically like records to prevent them from breaking.

8. Connect Important Services /Utilities Before You Get There

You need to know how utilities like water, gas, and electricity may be shifted into your name from the former owner. If your home is brand new, ensure you have all the information on how these systems work, too. It's also smart to have your telephone, cable, and internet services set up in advance.

9. Put Together A Box Of Moving Day Essentials

Reserve one box for necessities that will come in handy during and immediately after your move. This includes things like cleaning products, light bulbs, trash bags, some clothing to change into, toiletries, toilet paper, and so on.

10. Label All Moving Boxes

Moving things in boxes involves a lot of stacking and re-arranging from location to location. Be sure to label each side of your boxes with their designated letters so they're easily identifiable.

11. Phase Out Your Grocery Shopping

Make your final grocery run a week or two before moving day. The less unused food in your fridge when you move, the less that will be wasted.

Consider how the above can help you prevent costly mistakes and wasted time during your moving trip. You may even save money, which can be put in savings or used immediately for your new home. We hope these tips can help you start your moving day off right, and end the day feeling relieved and comfortable in your new home.

When you first move in to a new home, it's important to walk around and ensure that it's safe for your family. Our post Your Complete Home Safety Checklist can help guide you to a safer home from day one. 

Photo credits: family packing, packing box, moving day