101 Moving Tips and Hacks

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Moving Tips and Hacks to Make Your Move Easier

If you are moving any time soon (or ever plan on moving), you NEED to pin today’s post! It is LOADED with over 100 practical and easy ideas, genius moving tips and hacks to help you have a smooth move. We’re talking packing, cleaning and moving tips that will save time, energy and reduce stress. 

We like to move it, move it!
Okay, that’s not really true. (But that song has been running in my head ever since I started working on this post.) The truth is, no one likes moving. And for a good reason- it’s a TON of work and stress. Packing and cleaning and prepping for a move is already difficult enough, but the stress doesn’t end when you are actually all packed up. You still have to unpack and get organized in a new location. What if we told you we had a few moving tips and hacks to reduce the chaos and stress. To help you pack in a more organized way so that unpacking is a breeze… well as breezy as unpacking can be! We promise you will love these moving tips!

Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up over 100 ideas to make it easier.

Moving Tips and Hacks

Moving Tips and Hacks from The Dating Divas

 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about ’em, click here.
My family recently moved and let me tell you, I WISH I would have found all of these tips before we did. There are some seriously genius ideas that I’m totally kicking myself for not thinking of. So, do me a favor and use them for me, okay?

To make browsing easier, we’ve divided them into 5 categories: 
  • 8 Ways to Prepare for Your Move
  • 32 Packing Hacks
  • 26 Cleaning Hacks
  • 22 Moving Day Tips
  • 13 Things to Do After Your Move

Yep! We’ve found ideas and tips to help out with EACH stage of your move. From the very beginning, all the way to the end (because we love you!) Along with reading all of these tips, we also recommend researching moving companies if you’re needing to use one! Here are 7 of the Best Interstate Moving Companies of 2022 that we recommend!

Now, you can pin this post now, then come back to it and scroll down whenever you’re ready for the next step. Ready for some serious inspiration?

READY.  SET.  SCROLL…

Moving Tips

Check out these 8 genius ways to prepare for your move. Want to decrease the stress and chaos of your upcoming move? It’s all about preparing for success. Here are some moving hacks and ideas to get ahead of the game!

Moving tips to help you prepare for your move from The Dating Divas

Packing Hacks for Moving

1.  Printable Moving Binder – Get totally organized and prepared with The Ultimate Moving Organization Binder! This baby seriously has EVERYTHING you need for a smooth move including: a Moving Timeline Checklist, Monthly and Weekly Calendars, a Moving Budget Breakdown, a Cleaning Checklist, an Important Contacts Sheet, and MORE! Basically, it does all of the thinking for you so you can stress less and just check things off one at a time. Basically, if you’re moving,  you NEED to get your hands on this ready-to-print binder. {Trust me now, and thank me later.}

2.  Purge & Declutter – Use the months and weeks before your move to purge & declutter. The less stuff you have, the less you have to pack and move. Not only with this save you time and money in the long run, but it will also help get you cleaned up and organized. Consider having a garage sale, selling unwanted items online, or donating to charities, thrift stores, or friends.

3.  Collect Boxes – As soon as you know you’re moving, start collecting boxes! Every time we move, I’m amazed at how many we end up going through. Here are 17 places where you can get free boxes.

4. Packing Supplies Station – Before you actually dive into the packing, consider setting up a supplies station. Just grab everything you’ll be needing (packing tape, scissors, sharpies, and labels) and throw them in a basket or box that you can tote around with you as you pack the different rooms of the house. (By the way, I totally recommend retractable sharpie markers so you aren’t constantly losing and looking for the cap.)

5. Prep Crockpot Meals – Meal planning and cooking always gets challenging once you start packing up the house. And fast food meals can get old (and expensive) fast. That’s why we LOVE this tip: prep some freezer crockpot meals in advance! That way you can pack everything in the kitchen except for your crockpot. And when you’re busy packing all day, you don’t have to worry about making dinner – just dump it and forget it.  (We totally recommend using paper plates, cups, and utensils during this phase. That way you don’t have to worry about dishes at all.) If you don’t go through all of your crockpot meals, you’ll be super grateful for them in your new house when you’re busy unpacking and settling in. Just use your cooler to transport them on moving day.

6. Budget & Save Before your move, we highly suggest sitting down and filling out this Moving Budget Breakdown and starting a moving savings fund. It’s no secret that moving can be expensive and costs can add up quickly! Don’t forget that many companies will charge you a first month’s deposit and a one-time set-up fee when turning on your utilities at your new house. There’s nothing more stressful than unexpected expenses when you’re already in the middle of a costly transition.

7. Schedule Utilities to be Set-Up – Speaking of utilities, this is one step you do NOT want to forget. Moving is stressful enough without adding in the worries of no water, heat, or electricity. Keep in mind that many companies won’t set up service over the weekend so you’ll want to call to schedule and make arrangements well in advance. Often, you’ll need to be at the house when the serviceman arrives to turn on the gas or set up the internet. We highly recommend filling out this Important Contact Sheet with the phone numbers for your new utility companies, just in case you need them. (When we moved last month, we had to call the water company because they accidentally went to the wrong house. I was super glad I had kept their information and my account number handy.)  TIP: There is a free online service, Allconnect, that helps you find utilities (like internet, TV, and electricity) available to you at your new address. All you have to do is type in your address and it will provide you with the best utility options, prices, and plans near you.

8.  Prepare the Kids – This is one tip that a lot of people forget. Remember that moving can be a huge transition and a little scary for a lot of kids, even if they don’t tell you so. Even though you’re going to be super busy, make sure to take a little time to talk to your kids and help ease any fears and anxieties they may have. These children’s books about moving, like Bella and Stella Come Home, Katie Moves, and Boomers Big Day are a great way to start the conversation with young children. (And here are some tips for helping teens transition.) Try to make the move a fun experience by letting them play with the boxes, researching fun things to do in your new town, and having picnics on the floor once the furniture is broken down. (Our first night in our new house, we had a family slumber party in the loft because we didn’t have time to put beds together and it has turned into such a sweet memory.)

Free moving checklist printables

FREE PRINTABLES – Moving Checklists

We’ve put our best tips and the most popular moving to-do tasks onto two simple-to-follow lists! We’ve included a Moving Out checklist to help you stay on track while preparing to move. We’ve included a Moving In checklist to help the transition go smooth! Fill out this form to receive your FREE Moving Checklists BONUS printable and be added to our newsletter!

32 Packing Hacks

If you are looking for moving advice, being organized and thoughtful in your packing is one of the best ways to improve your moving experience. Here are some packing hacks to get you started on the right track.

32 Genius Packing Hacks

Genius Packing Hacks and Tips for Moving

9. Color-Coded Labels – If you haven’t noticed already, we’re huge fans of organization – it makes everything easier! That’s why we love the idea using these ready-to-print Color-Coded Moving Labels on your boxes! Each room in the house is assigned it’s own color. There’s even a place to write down what’s inside the box and mark if it’s heavy or fragile. Easy peasy!

10. Color-Coded Signs – Then on moving day, just put these coordinating, ready-to-print Color-Coded Signs on the outside of the doors on each room in your house. That way the movers (or your friends who are helping you unpack) can look at the colored labels on the boxes and know exactly which room to put them in. Not only does this free you from having to be the moving day “traffic director,” but it also gets all of the boxes in the right rooms from the beginning so you don’t have to do more heavy-lifting once your helpers have left.

11. Keep a Moving Inventory – If you really want to get organized, keep a moving inventory of what’s inside each box as you pack. That way you’ll know exactly where to go when you get to your new house and are looking for the can opener or blow dryer.

12. “First Day Essentials” Bin – It can be so easy for important things to get lost once everything is in boxes. That’s why we LOVE the idea of setting aside a “First Day Essentials” bin. Just label and fill a clear plastic bin (so it sticks out from all the other brown boxes) with everything you’ll need right away, as soon as you get to your new house. The idea is that it will be the last thing out of your old home and the first thing into your new home. (When we moved, my sisters brought me a big bin filled with essentials for our new home: hand soap, dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, scissors, etc. It seriously saved me! Every time I needed something that I couldn’t find, it was in that bin just waiting for me.)

13.  “First Night Essentials” Suitcase – Taking it a step further, make sure to pack a “First Night Essentials” suitcase. Trust me, after moving all day, you’re going to be exhausted, dirty, and sweaty. The last thing you’re going to want to do is dig through boxes looking for your soap, shampoo, a towel, and some clean pajamas so you can shower and get to bed that night. 

14. Cooking Essentials Bin – If you don’t want to spend the extra money on take-out and you didn’t have time to prep any freezer meals (see tip #5 above), it might also be a good idea to set aside a box or bin with all the ingredients, appliances, and pans you’ll need to cook your first few meals. Even if you go the simpler route and it’s just filled with a loaf of bread, a knife, some peanut butter, jelly, and chips, you’ll be glad you have something on hand to grab when the kids are starving and you haven’t had time to unpack or go shopping yet.

15. Place Knives in Potholders – To prevent sharp knives from cutting through the box, place them inside padded potholders before packing them.

16. Place Foam Plates Between Breakable Plates – Place a foam plate between your breakable ceramic or china plates for added cushion. How easy is that?!

Genius Packing Tips

17. Pack Plates Vertically – Make sure you turn those places vertically though; don’t just put them in the box stacked on top of each other. Plates are much less likely to break without the added weight and pressure. It’s also a good idea to place some bubble wrap, newspapers, or cloth around them before taping up the box.

18. Pack Spices Inside Pots – Utilize your space better by packing small kitchen supplies inside larger appliances. For example, throw your bottles of spices inside your crockpot.

19. Use Ziplock Bags for Small Items – When it comes to packing up drawers, Ziploc bags are your friends! They’re perfect for keeping small, similar items together. Then when you unpack, just dump them back into the drawer.

20. Keep Drawers Closed With Plastic Wrap – When moving small storage chests with drawers, use plastic wrap to keep the drawers closed. That way you don’t have to worry about packing the drawers or even taking the drawers out at all.

21. Use Comforter Bags to Store Old Clothes – You can usually find comforter bags like these at the Dollar Store or Amazon and they’re perfect for packing old baby clothes, maternity clothes, or even seasonal clothes. The best part is that they’re ready to store as is when you get to your new house.

22. Use IKEA Bags Instead of Boxes – These IKEA DIMPA Storage Bags are perfect for moving! They’re heavy-duty but still lightweight, and they’re water resistant and keep the pests out while in storage! Plus, they’re so huge, they hold 4 boxes worth of clothes, toys, or anything really.

23. How to Pack Artwork – Protect your artwork and wall hangings by sliding them inside free, flat priority mail boxes, before packing them all inside a larger box.

24. Pack Books in Rolling Suitcases – Pack your books inside rolling suitcases. It’s a lot easier to roll a suitcase out the door than to lift a big box filled with heavy books.

Packing Hacks to Make Your Move Easier

25. Don’t Unhang Your Clothes – No need to unhang, fold, pack, unpack, and then rehang your clothes. Just leave them on the hangers and simply place them inside large garbage bags before loading into the moving truck.

26. Don’t Unload Your Drawers – You don’t need to unload your dresser drawers either! No need to create extra work or use extra boxes. Just pull out the drawers, load the dresser onto the moving truck, and put the drawers back in. Or, use plastic wrap to wrap them all shut in transit (and also to protect your furniture!)

27. Pack Jewelry With Press’n Seal – Prevent jewelry from tangling during your move by placing it between two sheets of Press’n Seal plastic wrap.

28. DIY Vacuum Packing – If you don’t want to spend the money on Space Saver Bags, you can create the same effect with a vacuum hose and some garbage bags.

29. Use Plastic Wrap Over Open Bottles – Prevent leakage with just a little bit of plastic wrap. Simply place it between the bottle and the lid.

30. Use Towels and Sheets Instead of Bubble Wrap – Kill two birds with one stone! By using towels and sheets for padding during packing, you’re not only saving yourself the expense of bubble wrap, but also getting those towels and sheets packed.

31. Use Plastic Grocery Bags for Padding –  Another great option for padding is plain old plastic grocery bags. Chances are, you already have a bunch under your kitchen sink or stuffed in your pantry.

32. Use Packing Partitions for Glasses or China – We’re all about cheap and free packing hacks, but when it comes to packing your fancy glasses or china, we highly recommend these cardboard packing partitions. The peace of mind is well worth the cost.

Moving and Packing Tips and Ideas

33. Pack Seasonal Decor in Plastic Bins – Pack your seasonal decor, or other storage items, in large, plastic bins. Then, when you get to the new house, all you have to do is stack it in the garage.

34.  How to Pack a TV – Take extra care when packing your TV! Follow these steps to see how the professionals pack TVs.

35. Put Tape on Mirrors – Put painters tape across your mirrors to help prevent any breaking or shattering.

36. Bag Screws and Nails – When you’re taking down your furniture, be extra careful to gather up all of the hardware, screws, and nails and put them into a labeled bag before packing. The worst thing is finding a random bag of screws and having no idea what they go to. Or, even worse, wanting to set up the baby’s crib and having no idea what happened to the screws. (This may or may not be the reason why my baby slept in a pack-n-play for the first few days after our move.)

37. Organize Cords With Empty Toilet Paper Rolls – Organize your cables and cords inside empty toilet paper rolls. It’s a great way to prevent tangling. You can also cut down empty paper towel rolls and wrapping paper rolls as well.

38.  Label Your Cords – But before throwing your cords in the box, make sure you have them each labeled! You don’t want to spend forever experimenting and sorting through them at your new house. 

39. Take a Picture of Your Electronics If you’re not very technologically-inclined, it’s a good idea to take a picture of the back of your TV and other electronics before unplugging them and moving. That way when it’s time to set up at the new house, you can just look at the pictures to see which colored cords go where.

40. Host a Packing Party – There’s no way around it, packing is a LOT of work. But you can make the work a lot more fun by inviting your friends and family over and turning it into a “packing party.” Throw in some good food and music and the packing will be over before you know it.

26 Cleaning Hacks

Cleaning is often the worst part of packing up and moving to a new place. When you’re ready to move on, the last thing you want to do is clean up and 

Moving Cleaning Hacks to get your deposit back!

Moving Cleaning Tips and Hacks

41. Use Soap to Fill Nail Holes – Did you know that you can use soap to fill in your nail holes when moving? You totally can! Check out the before and after pics.

42. Patch Holes in Walls – If you have holes in the walls (probably from those pesky door handles slamming into the wall), don’t worry! It’s easier to patch than you may think.

43. Wash Walls – Here are some helpful tips and steps to deep-cleaning those walls after you get your artwork and wall hangings packed.

44. The Secret to Cleaning Crayon Drawings – Did you know that WD-40 is amazing at getting the crayon off of walls without taking off the paint? If you have little ones at home, you’ve gotta check this out.

45.   Use Dryer Sheets to Clean Baseboards – Did you know that wiping your baseboards with a dryer sheet will help repel dust and keep them clean longer?

46. Fix Broken Blinds – If you have have mini blinds and little children in your home, chances are you’re going to need this post. Instead of replacing all of the broken blinds from the littles ones trying to look out the window, fix them!

47. How to Clean Dirty Blinds – Cleaning the blinds is usually a dreaded chore, so chances are, they’ll need some cleaning before you move out. Luckily, it’s not hard to do if you use the right cleaner.

48. Clean Window Tracks – It always surprises (and disgusts) me how dirty window tracks can get. Here’s a painless approach for getting them nice and clean again.

Moving Cleaning Hacks and Cleaning Recipes

49. Simple Tip for Cleaning Vents – If you’re like most people, you probably don’t get around to cleaning your vents very often. No worries, here’s a secret cleaning tip using Turtle Wax. Yep, you read that right.

50. DIY Carpet Stain Remover – Keeping the carpet clean with little ones at home can be nearly impossible. Luckily, we’ve found a recipe for the magic stain remover!

51. Quick Carpet Fix – After you move all of your furniture out of the house, you’re probably going to be left with furniture marks all over your carpet. Here’s a super-easy tip to get your carpet looking good as new. Just place ice cubes all along the marks and wait for them to melt. Then just use a fork to fluff the carpet back up, and it will be like they were never there.

52. Clean Dishwasher Easily – Most people don’t think about cleaning the dishwasher, but the drains on dishwashers can get pretty gunked up. It’s a good idea to do a quick cleaning before you move out (for the new owners), and even at your new house (in case the old owners haven’t.)

53. Clean Microwave with Lemon and Vinegar – If you despise cleaning the microwave as much as I do, you’ll love this no scrub method. We love that it doesn’t use harsh chemicals either, just lemon and vinegar.

54. No Scrub Oven Cleaner – Can you tell I’m a fan on the no-scrub methods? This one’s great just because of that, but it’s also made using ingredients you probably already have around the house.

55. Steam Clean the Ice and Water Dispenser – When we moved into our new house, it was squeaky clean – except for one thing … the ice and water dispenser! It was actually pretty disturbing how gross it was. I get it, those things are hard to clean with all the sediment build-up. Luckily, steam cleaning makes a world of a difference! If you haven’t used a power steamer before, you’re really missing out. They are AMAZING at deep cleaning without all the elbow grease. They’re totally worth renting or buying when you’re doing a lot of cleaning when moving out and in.

56. How to Deep-Clean a Dirty Fridge – Cleaning the fridge is definitely a big chore. If you don’t know where to start, just follow these steps for a super clean fridge.

Easy Cleaning Hacks

57. Shine Stainless Steel With Cream of Tartar – Link is no longer available 🙁 But, did you know that cream of tartar is amazing for shining stainless steel? It’s true! You’ve gotta try it.

58. Clean Gunk Off Kitchen Cabinets – This kitchen cabinet cleaner only needs two ingredients and it’s amazing at removing the gunk and grime.

59. DIY Grout Cleaner – If you’re having trouble getting the grout white again, you might want to try this DIY cleaner. Just spray it on your grout, wait an hour, and scrub away. (Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is also GREAT for grout!)

60. Easy Tip for Cleaning Kitchen Grease – Kitchen grease can be tough to tackle. But did you know that rubbing alcohol is amazing at cleaning it off? Try it on your range hood – you’ll be blown away at the difference.

61. How to Remove Hard Water from Faucets – Hard water is the bane of my existence. Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but it can be SO hard to clean and that nasty build-up is so unsightly. Wanna know the secret? Plain white vinegar!

62. DIY No Scrub Tub Cleaner – I told you I was a fan of no-scrub cleaners. I mean, who likes scrubbing? And this tub cleaner only uses 2 ingredients! Check out the before and after pictures.

63. Clean Glass Shower Doors the Easy Way – We had to include this cleaning solution for shower doors because it’s the real deal! It actually comes from a professional glass repairman and uses Hard Water Stain and Spot Remover and Commercial Scouring Pads (not the kind you can find at any old store).  See? This one is legit!

64. Easily Clean Shower Head – If you need to pass a cleaning inspection, or want to get your deposit back, don’t forget to clean your shower head. You’d be amazed at how gross they get if you haven’t noticed before. Luckily, we have yet another no-scrub solution for you! Because moving is enough work already.

65. Naturally Clean Washing Machine – Can you believe the difference in the before and after picture of this washing machine?! It’s super easy to pull off too!

66. How to Clean Dryer Ducts – You could hire a professional to clean your dryer ducts, but that could cost you up to $150. OR you could follow these steps and clean your own in only 15-20 minutes.

22 Moving Day Tips

The big day is here and you want to pull off a painless move, here are some of the best tips out there.

Moving Day Tips from The Dating Divas

Tips for Moving Day

67. Get a Better Deal on a Moving Truck – Did you know that the price of your moving truck rental has more to do with the dates and pick-up/drop-off locations you pick than on the company? So when you’re shopping around, make sure you check every rental truck provider and play around with the dates and locations. (When we moved, we saved over 100 dollars by dropping off the moving truck in Phoenix instead of Mesa. The longer drive was worth the savings.)

68. Get a Dolly – We were tempted to skip the added cost of getting a dolly along with our moving truck rental, but we’re so glad we went ahead and got it. It’s a huge time-saver to be able to stack lots of boxes at once, and your back will thank you for it. Trust me.

69. Bribe Movers – Tell all your friends and family that whoever helps you move gets first dibs on any furniture (or anything else) you plan on getting rid of. It doesn’t hurt to throw in some free pizza too. 

70. Get a Babysitter – If you have little kids, we highly suggest getting a babysitter for the whole moving day. You’re going to be stressed and busy enough without adding in any crying or tantrums. Plus, it can be easy for kids to get hurt with all the heavy lifting going on. (My mom has R.A. and wasn’t able to help with any of the actual moving and lifting, but she watched my kids all day and it was probably the biggest help we had!)

71. Take a Picture or Two to Remember Your Old House – With all of the practical tasks on your to-do list, don’t forget this sentimental one. Years later you’re going to appreciate the picture and all of the memories that it brings back.

72. Leave a Note for the New Owners – When we moved into our new house, the old owner had left a welcome note along with helpful hints we might need for the house along with warranties for different appliances. With all of the craziness in moving, it was a very thoughtful gesture.

73.  Wear Comfortable Clothes – You’re definitely going to want to be comfortable for moving day! Make sure to wear tennis shoes and pants with pockets. You’ll probably want to tie your hair back or have a hat handy, too.

74. Moving Day Kit – It’s a good idea to prep for moving day by putting together a little “kit” of everything you’ll need that day: box cutter, garbage bags, water bottles, cleaning supplies, etc. (You don’t want to be digging through a million boxes looking for the scissors.)

Moving Day Tips for Smooth Moving

75. Designate a No-Pack Zone – If you have a lot of people coming over to help you load the moving truck, it’s a good idea to designate a “no pack zone.” There are going to be a lot of things that you want packed with you, not on the moving truck. (Like your “first day essentials.”) You don’t want to go looking for your purse or suitcase and find out that it’s buried somewhere in the truck.

76. Take Pictures of Your New Place Before Moving In – Link is no longer available. But before moving all of your furniture and boxes into your new rental, make sure you take pictures of any pre-existing damages while it’s still empty. Property managers will usually have a move-in checklist for you to fill out, but you might miss things if they’re covered by boxes and couches.

77. Protect Your Dining Set with Sheets & Pillow Cases – One of the saddest things that happened in our last move probably could have been prevented with this tip. Our new dining table came out of the moving truck with a gigantic scratch across the top.

78. Carry Mattresses Easily – Even as light as they are, mattresses can be bulky and difficult to carry. Problem solved!

79. Double Sheet Your Mattresses – If you’re worried about your mattresses getting dirty, just put a fitted sheet over each side.  Mattresses are hard to clean, but sheets can easily be thrown in the washing machine.

80. Add Handles to Your Moving Boxes – Make moving even easier by adding handles to your moving boxes. All you need is a box cutter!

81. Lift Heavy Furniture Easier – This awesome 2-person dolly system helps you carry the weight evenly across your shoulders and not your arms or biceps. It’s amazing for lifting heavy furniture.

82. Piano Moving Tip – If you’ve ever helped move a piano you know that it can be nearly impossible to carry those suckers. I was so excited when I saw this tip!

Tips and Hacks for Making Moving Day Easier

83. Rubber Band Door Trick – You’ll be going in and out of the door with boxes all day and won’t have your hands free to turn the knob. That’s where this handy, rubber-band, door trick comes in.

84.  Protect the Carpet – Before you start unloading the truck into your new house, stop to protect the carpet. You don’t want to destroy the carpet the first day with all the dirt coming in and out.

85. Put Water Bottles in the Fridge Right Away – As soon as you get to your new house,  put a case of water bottles in the fright to get cold. Moving is pretty much an all-day event so you’ll want to stay hydrated, and moving helpers will be grateful for the cold water breaks.

86.  Assign Tasks – Moving in goes so much faster when everyone is helping and has their own job. Enlist the troops and delegate. Several people can be unloading the truck with others are setting up beds or unpacking the kitchen. Even the kids can help by running light object upstairs so the adults don’t have to make as many trips.

87. Keep it Fun – Blast some music to keep spirits up and make sure to take short rest breaks for food and water. Ultimately, your attitude will play a huge role in whether the day is stress-free or not, so try to be flexible and positive.

88. Allow Plenty of Time to Return Moving Truck – Moving almost always takes longer than you think it will. With that in mind, make sure that you give yourself plenty of time when scheduling your moving truck drop-off time. You don’t want to be rushed during an already stressful day. (And you don’t want to pay for an extra day if you don’t make it back on time.)

13 Things to Do After Your Move

All these moving tips and hacks will help you get to your new home, but what do you do once you get there to remain sane! Getting set up in a new place can be overwhelming, here are a few ideas to help you transition.

13 Things to do RIGHT After You Move

13 Things to Do After You Move

89. Spray for Bugs – Right after you move in is the perfect time to spray for bugs! Before you unpack, take advantage of the empty house and kitchen cupboards to do a thorough spray with something like this. You never know what pest problems the previous owners had, but you can definitely be pro-active about preventing any for yourself.  (Can you tell I hate bugs?)

90. Set Up Beds First – After a long day of moving and unpacking, you are going to be ready to collapse on your bed. So make sure you set up the beds first! (Some say you should upload the kitchen first, but I say, you can always order take-out. And after carrying lots of heavy boxes, your back probably isn’t going to love the floor or air mattress. Ask me how I know.)

91. Unpack Kitchen Next – If you have time left in the day after setting up the beds, then start on the kitchen next. As long as you get some sleep and some food, you’ll be feeling a lot better about all the unpacking you still have to do.

92. Grocery List for Stocking New Kitchen – After your kitchen is unpacked, take a break from unpacking and make a trip to the store to stock your fridge and pantry with the essentials you’ll need over the next few days. If you have a lot of little ones, I highly recommend putting in an online grocery order so all you have to do is pick it up!

93. Set up Shelves in Garage – One of the first things we did after we moved in was set up some shelves in the garage. That way we were able to quickly stack up all of our storage bins and get them out of the way. (Seasonal decor, baby clothes, camping gear, etc.) It didn’t take much time and it cleared up a lot of space. Before we did that, I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and stressed with how much we still had to do. After the shelves were set up though, it suddenly seemed like we had a lot less left to do.

94. Change of Address In all of the busyness unpacking, don’t forget to change your address! Here’s a change of address checklist you can use to makes sure you don’t forget anything.

95. Get the Kids Set Up for Their New School After you have the essentials unpacked, make sure you have everything taken care of for getting your kids set up at their new school. Keep in mind, besides registering, you’ll probably have to do some school supply shopping and there may be field trip or PTA fees. You may also want to do something fun to help ease any “first day” jitters. Even though it’s not technically the first day of school, it is their first day, and doing something special can help replace nerves with excitement. With all of the things we have to deal with, it’s easy to forget about the transition our kids are facing, too.

96. Find New Doctor(s) – Once you’ve settled in a bit, start looking for a new pediatrician, dentist, ophthalmologist, chiropractor, etc. and schedule any necessary check-ups or appointments. (It’s easy to forget about that next round of immunizations for your baby when the reminders stop coming from your old doctor.)

What to Do After You Move

97. Make a New Budget – Link is no longer available. But Chances are, there are going to be changes in your budget after your move. With the change in your rent or mortgage and your utility companies, you’re probably going to have different due dates as well as different costs. Make sure to sit down and plan out your new budget and timeline.

98.  Thank Movers – Don’t forget to thank all of your friends and family members who helped you move! Aren’t these moving thank you cards the cutest?!

99. Announce Your Move – Announce your move and new address with one of these darling moving announcement cards. There are four different options for you to choose from!

100. Meet Your New Neighbors – Don’t wait for your neighbors to come over to introduce themselves. (Sometimes that just doesn’t happen.) Be proactive and introduce yourself. This little treat is the perfect way to do that. There’s even a free, printable tag.

101. Celebrate Now that you’re all settled in, it’s time to celebrate and “break-in” your new house. *wink*wink*  (Now this will definitely get you the “best wife” award.)

Didn’t I tell you we found some great ideas?! 

Unfortunately, we can’t do the packing and unpacking for you. But hopefully these moving tips and hacks will make your move as painless as possible. 

For MORE ideas make sure to follow our “Moving Tips and Checklist” Pinterest Board.

And don’t forget to check out our Moving Organization Kit!

Moving Organization Kit

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Becca

Besides my amazing husband, I love a good book, sappy love songs, chick flicks, musicals, cute crafts, and all things chocolate. I have four kiddos at home and they definitely keep life at home FUN!

Learn more about Becca
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  1. The tips help for our new adventure. One tip I found is using press and seal to pack my daughters board puzzles. I have a picture of ur interested.

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