So you’re getting ready to move to a new home, and you need to sell your old one. However, some of your rooms are of, shall we say, ‘interesting’ color schemes? You need to make sure that the house can be viewed through the eyes of the new owner, and bright colors that don’t fit can be a big turn off. As such, you’re probably going to need to repaint the walls in order to bring them to a more neutral state.

Painting your house might seem like a big task, but it’s not that hard with some guidance and practice. When you’re done, it’ll be in perfect condition to put on the market. You’ll need a handful of tools to get started, many of which you probably already own. These include:

• Paint Brushes: Angled brushes tend to work better for cutting in ceilings and corners than flat brushes do. 3.5 inch is usually a good size to get a solid amount of coverage per coat.
• Paint Roller: A good 9 inch roller, roller frame, and paint tray will take you far. Go with a shorter nap around the ¼ inch range to get a nice smooth finish.
• Painter’s Tape: Use tape to protect baseboards, window frames, door frames, and other non-painted surfaces during the cutting process. A properly done tape job will save you tons of time in cleanup and help prevent accidental drips or spills.
• Drop Cloths: Drop cloths or runners are vital for protecting your floor and furniture from spills and paint drips.
• Rags: Having old rags on hand is a good idea in case there’s a spill or you need to wipe off the woodwork.
• Ladders: A good 4’ or 6’ ladder will get you by in most normal sized rooms. For stairwells or vaulted ceilings, you’ll have to borrow or rent a larger ladder or a stair jack.
• Spackle & Caulk: Repair those holes and dents in your walls with a good layer of spackle. Seal those cracks with some caulking. Sand it down so it’s smooth, and you’re ready to paint.
• Your Favorite Tunes: Don’t paint in silence, it’s boring! Bust out the radio or your digital music player of choice and go to town.

Now that you have all your tools together and your neutral paint colors ready to go, you can start the preparation process. Why a neutral color, you ask? It’s easier for people to imagine their own possessions in the rooms if they are a white or light tan. This can easily swing a sale in your favor. Let’s get started.

1. Wipe down the walls, corners, trim boards, and ceiling with a duster. This gets rid of particles and dust that can create an adhesion problem or create unevenness in application.
2. Tape off your woodwork. This includes your floor trim boards, window frames, door frames, any shelving units that won’t be removed from the wall, and everything else. Run a straight edge over it to really seal it down against the wall. This prevents paint from getting under the lip of the tape and getting on your woodwork.
3. Fill all nail holes, dents, dings, and cracks with spackle or drywall mud. Let it dry fully (usually about 15 to 20 minutes) and then go back over it with some sand paper to smooth it down. This way when you apply your paint, your walls will look blemish free. Be sure brush any dust off the tape at the trim boards so you don’t drag your brush through it.
4. Lay down your tarps and drops in the area you’re working on. Make sure they’re snug up against the wall so if you dribble any paint or accidently drop some, it’ll stay on the drop cloth and won’t get onto your carpet.
5. Remove all electrical covers and other such things from your walls. It’s easier to just take them down than it is to paint around them.
6. Stir your paint with the stir sticks the company should have provided you. Then pour out a small amount into a container you are comfortable using for your brush. Start cutting in the edges of the wall. It’s best to start low and work high so you can keep the wet edge when you roll the wall.
7. Pour a decent amount of paint into the roller tray, and get your roller thoroughly saturated. Then start rolling the wall with even pressure in uniform lengths. Don’t let your roller get too dry, and re-wet it as needed.
8. Once the paint is dry. Remove the tape from the walls carefully so you don’t peel the fresh paint off of your wall. Take a rag and clean up any places where paint got under the tape.
9. Pull up all your drops, put your covers back up, and voila! You’ve got your rooms in perfect shape for showing off to your potential buyers.

Now that you know how to paint your home to get it ready for sale, you can apply your new found proficiency to your new home as well. After all, there’s no better time to paint a room then when it’s completely empty. If you find yourself worn out after all the painting and house staging and you’d like some help moving all your stuff, then have us provide you with quotes from qualified movers near you. We’ll provide you with multiple options so you’re sure to get the best deal possible. Simply fill out our form and get started today.

When you’re getting ready to move, having a plan of action will help you keep your sanity. There are a ton of things that you’ll need to keep in mind from new addresses to items you need to move. We’ve been involved in the moving industry for years now, and here’s a few tips we’ve got to stay organized during your move. Color Code your Boxes

Use colored markers or tape and designate one color for each room. This will allow you to easily keep all your stuff together so you don’t end up with the toaster in the bathroom or your kids stuffed animals in the basement.

Keep an Inventory List Handy

Make sure that you know what all you’re moving, and print out a list of your inventory so you have it handy. This will be extremely useful to keep track of all your boxes, and ensure that everything makes it to the final destination.

Keep Phone Numbers and Addresses Close

Be sure to save all the important numbers of the folks that will be helping you move. Provide them all with the address on paper so that they have a tangible reference during the move. Small map print outs can also come in very handy from Google or Mapquest.

Find out more about all of our moving resources by delving deeper into our website. If you need help with your move, we can put you in contact with several local movers and provide you with quotes from each. Stay organized, and your move will go quickly and easily.

Broken or damaged items are a nightmare scenario we all imagine when preparing for a move. And while you’d rather have everything arrive perfectly at your destination, the items most expensive and difficult to replace are, understandably, the most important ones to protect. Thanks to their price tag and relative rarity, designer clothes and shoes fall into that category, and if you’re not springing for professional packers, the care of your items falls to you. Luckily, you don’t have to be a professional to be a perfect packer.

So just how can you pack those Christian Louboutins, that Valentino suit or that special Vera Wang dress in a way that will all but guarantee safety? Moveline has some tips.

Protecting clothes & shoes during a move: The basics

• If your pricey clothes are already hanging up in your closet, leave them on the hanger if at all possible. A box specifically made for clothes (aka a wardrobe box) will help keep things in place.
• Invest in some wooden or padded hangers if you can. Those hanger types are more likely to protect your designer shirts and jackets. They’ll also help your clothes hold their shape better than plastic or wire hangers will.
• If you’ve kept shoe boxes, pack your shoes in them, heel to toe, before placing the shoe boxes into a larger moving box. Be sure to place the shoe boxes in before any loose shoes, and keep the heavier shoes on the bottom; they’ll act as a base and make the box more stable.
• Tissue paper can be a lifesaver. Use it around shoes before boxing them up or place it between and around folded clothes to help prevent wrinkles. Bubble wrap can also be a good protector.
• Don’t mix clean and dirty clothes in close quarters. If possible, make sure every piece is clean so there’s less work for you after the move. Additionally, you’ll save time by using your current dry cleaner rather than finding a new one right away.

Pro tips for keeping a wardrobe fresh in transit

• Know that plastic containers don’t allow clothes and shoes to breathe, so anything you pack in those containers shouldn’t be stored more than a few months; otherwise, you risk fabric damage.
• If you’re concerned about any shoes losing their shape, roll up some (clean!) socks and stuff them in the toe.
• If you have a garment bag for your dress or suit, use it – every extra layer of protection helps.
• Don’t forget to invest in mothballs or lavender sachets if you think it might take a while for you to unpack your clothes. Moths love dark places, so if your clothes are packed away for months, you could have a pesky problem on your hands (and feet. Ew).
• Separate old and new shoes into different containers. Otherwise, your brand new dress shoes might get scuffed up by those ratty old sneakers and require special care to look fresh again.

So, are you already exhausted thinking about unpacking those clothes, shoes and everything else in your new home? Check out some tips for unpacking after a move to make the process a little easier. And as always, contact Moveline to help your move be as pain-free as possible.

Cinnamon on September 17, 2014

Whether you’re moving for love, you’ve landed a sweet new gig, or you’re just looking for a change of pace, buying a new home is never not stressful. Doing it from a distance can be daunting, to say the least, but never fear: the pros at Moveline have some tips to help you make sure you’ve got the home of your dreams waiting for you at the finish line.

Know before you go

Get as clear and specific about what you want (and don’t want) before you head out for a weekend of home tours. If you’re working with a professional, don’t be shy about sending emails and hopping on the phone with them often. This way, when you take a trip to look at potential homes, you’re only looking at places that could conceivably be winners. A good agent will expertly narrow the field so they’re not wasting your time with things you don’t want.

Friends of friends

Just because you’re not in your destination city yet doesn’t mean you can’t still gather a ton of information. One of the best ways to do that is, of course, through your social network. Even if you don’t have an immediate friend or family member in the area, you almost certainly know someone who does. When you have conversations about your move, let people know you’re looking to buy a home. You might be surprised how many of your friends know someone who sells real estate in San Diego or who installs flooring in Chicago and is in the know about all the new homes on the market.

The interwebs

If you prefer more firsthand research, the internet is unsurprisingly loaded with resources to aid in your research. Here, a few top selections:

• Zillow has sale listings, for sale by owner (FSBO) homes, foreclosures, new construction, and rentals. They also offer “zestimates” of not only your potential homes value, but those around it as well. Trulia and Redfin offer similar services.
• Does walkability rank high on your list of must-haves? Then you’ll definitely want to check out each neighborhood’s walk score to get a gauge for how pedestrian-friendly it is.
• If you’ve got kids, schools are probably a make-or-break proposition with each property you consider. Check out GreatSchools.org for all kinds of insights.
• Scope out any real estate companies you’re considering through The Better Business Bureau to help you avoid shady agents and outright scams.
• Use City-Data to peruse a variety of stats on various places. The community forum is a great place to get community-based answers to your questions.
• While Google’s street view option may show images that are outdated by a couple of years, it should give you a general idea of what an area looks like; this is especially helpful in places that haven’t undergone any major facelifts in the last year or two. Go to Google Maps, search for the address of your choice, and then drop that little yellow person icon into the street in front of it. Now, you can virtually walk around the neighborhood to get a sense of whether or not it could feel like home.

When you finally find that perfect place in your new city, give Moveline a shout. We’ll get you moved into your new digs with your sanity and your bank account intact. We’ll even give you tips on leaving that place you’ve lived in forever and balancing a move with the process of closing on your new home. We’re here to help, so don’t go it alone.

Although buying or selling a home can be an exciting adventure, it’s also a time-consuming (and in the case of the former, expensive) process. So, when it comes to selecting a person to oversee the purchase or sale from your end, knowing how to find the right agent is key to your success and your sanity. At Moveline, we’ve helped lots of folks move lots of places, and especially for first-time homebuyers and sellers, we’ve got some pointers for choosing the best person for the job.

Realtor vs. agent vs. broker

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports a total of 4.87 million home sales (not including new construction) in 2013. That’s a lot of bricks and mortar, and an awful lot of negotiations, inspections and paperwork to go along with it. Luckily, the US has around 2.5 million agents and brokers to choose from, about half of whom are NAR members, or “Realtors.” It’s important to note that all Realtors are agents or brokers, while not all agents and brokers are Realtors; the distinction comes with NAR membership. Some agents, for instance, may work exclusively for a developer and may not need access to the MLS (the national database which is run by the association and used religiously in most home searches). So if you’ve got your heart set on a pre-construction condo in a particular building, for example, you may not need a Realtor, and the developer’s sales agent might be just fine for you. If you’re doing a broader home search or sale, though, your best bet is to go with a Board-certified Realtor who’s held to the professional standards of their peers, and who can use the MLS to get up-to-the-minute info on homes in your market.

Oh, and a broker? That’s simply a term for a person who passed his or her state’s broker exam and owns (or has owned) a real estate business.

Use word of mouth

It could be argued that the best Realtors and agents bring in the majority of their clients through word of mouth — like any other industry, the proof is in the pudding, and satisfied customers are often a great indicator of a professional’s value. If any friends or family members have bought or sold a home in your city or town in the past few years, ask them who they worked with and whether or not they would hire them again. Bear in mind, of course, that different agents have different areas of expertise and levels of familiarity with different parts of town and types of homes, so make sure that weighs in on your decision as well. The agent who found your parents their dream retirement home on the outskirts of town might not be the best choice to help you snag that trendy loft downtown, and vice-versa, so be sure to balance personal recommendations with other professional strengths.

Weigh your options

Real estate agents are, first and foremost, salespeople, so it’s their job to convince you to buy something. If you’re buying, the best agents won’t force you into anything beyond your price range or ask you to change your home search parameters unless you’re genuinely asking for the moon with nary the money to pay for it. A qualified professional will take your priorities into consideration and offer suggestions based on what you want — not what they want for you. And if you’re selling, the best agents will give you realistic advice on the kind of figure your home can fetch and why — after all, if you don’t make a purchase or a sale, there’s no benefit for them in the end.

To determine an agent’s communication style, compatibility level and depth of experience, it’s important to research them online (Yelp and Angie’s List are often great resources) and in person. If you don’t find someone based on a friendly recommendation, use a home search tool like Zillow, Trulia or Redfin to locate open houses in your area, and then take a day or two to visit some. Talk with the agent at each home and, if you’re interested, dig a little about their experience buying or selling the sort of home you’re looking for or looking to sell, find out how long they’ve been practicing real estate, and ask them for references. Generally, the more closings they’ve got under their belt, the better. You can ask for a list of their recent transactions to get a sense of how busy they are — not to mention how familiar they are with homes like the one you’re hoping to get into or out of.

Next, when you’ve narrowed your agent search down to two or three top candidates, invite them out for coffee or lunch to get to know them a little better. Take this list of homebuyer questions with you to help you along. And a pro tip: if you can meet them during business hours on a weekday, it may be easier to spend a bit more time with them and command their full attention, as their early evenings and weekends are likely filled to the brim — hopefully, anyway — with open houses and client appointments.

Trust your gut

As in any situation where loads of money are concerned, your instincts shouldn’t be ignored. If someone looks great on paper but just feels strange or disingenuine, pay attention to your sixth sense. If someone hasn’t been practicing for very long but seems particularly sharp, ethical and dedicated, it might be worth giving them a chance. Do your due diligence in checking out your options before you settle on anyone in particular, and hold them to a reasonable professional standard when it comes to giving you honest answers, providing valuable insights and being consistently available throughout the entire process.

And once you’re ready to move into the home you’ve purchased or out of the one you’ve sold, Moveline can take the stress out of the process, securing the best moving services at the best prices and making sure to have your back every step of the way. Isn’t it nice to have good people on your side in a stressful situation? We think so, too. That’s why we’re here.

It’s tempting to cut ties and go on a far-flung adventure, starting fresh and leaving it all behind, but let’s be honest: life’s not like the movies. While a clean slate may eventually be just what the doctor ordered, for the time being it’s important to have lots of emotional support, and moving to a new city may actually prolong the healing process. The newness of an unfamiliar place can be invigorating at first, but the isolation that comes with it can make for a pretty swift comedown once reality sets in. And especially where children are involved, a well-thought-out plan needs to be set in place far in advance of a relocation — one that holds the kiddos’ best interests in high regard. So, bide your time before you set off into the great blue yonder and start the next chapter of your life. Spend whatever time you need to grieve the end of the relationship; be available for whatever loose ends need to be tied up with divorce proceedings, child custody agreements and the like; and do yourself a solid by not completely upending your life in the middle of it all. There’ll be time for new beginnings soon enough.

Do:

Redefine your sense of home

If you’re staying behind in the home you once shared with someone, now’s a fantastic time to make it completely yours. While the divorce process and/or the transition to paying all the bills yourself (if you were sharing them previously) can be expensive, a little goes a long way when it comes to making your surroundings as comforting as possible. A fresh coat of paint, for example, may not solve all of life’s problems, but in a small way, it can signify a moment of reclaiming something for yourself, and of making a decision based purely on what you want.

If you’re moving to a new place, give yourself permission to take pleasure in decorating it with things that bring you joy. As strange as it might sound, making your space completely your own can actually be empowering. And even if you’ve just signed a short-term apartment lease and don’t plan on staying there for long, the space itself doesn’t have to feel like a compromise. A few simple short-term decorating tips can help you make it feel more like home without biting into your security deposit — or your bank account.

Take the time you need

Regardless of what anyone tells you, there’s no magic timeframe for getting over a relationship. If you’re able to move on quickly, great. If it takes longer than you’d hoped, that’s okay too. If a few months go by and you’re ready to set down more permanent roots in a place that feels comfortable to you, go for it. If you need to renew that lease until you figure out what’s next, that’s perfectly fine too. Only you know what feels best for you, and how you choose to take your next step in life is up to you and you alone.

When the time comes to pack up your stuff and move on to whatever’s next, Moveline can help ease the stress of the move. Because technology is awesome, and it’s just like the late, great Albert Einstein once said: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Moving, in and of itself, is stressful enough. Add in the (very real) possibility of being taken for a ride, both literally and figuratively, by a rogue mover and it’s enough to drive even the sanest person to pull their hair out. But never fear! The pros at Moveline have some expert tips to help you avoid moving scams. Read on to stay scam-free.

First, your new best friend should become this website. It’s run by the US Department of Transportation and is the go-to spot for making sure everything about your move is on the up and up.

Second, one of Moveline’s resident experts, Susanna Walsh, has the skinny on the three things to look out for in order to avoid getting tangled up with the wrong kind of movers:

1. Nothing up-front. If you’re ever asked for a deposit or to pay cash up-front, even if it’s small, hang up! Think of booking a move like reserving a hotel room: it’s cool if they take your credit card number and hold it, but charging anything before you actually show up to the hotel (or, in this case, any earlier than a day or two before moving day) doesn’t jive.
2. Inventory is essential. If anyone gives you a quote without seeing your stuff, or at least doing a phone or online checklist inventory, that’s… just not possible. There are a ton of quirks to pricing which depend completely on the total of your specific stuff in either cubic feet or weight, especially when it comes to a long-distance move. If a company offers to give you a flat rate based on something like the size or type of place you live in, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a scam.
3. Get the numbers. Every moving company is required to have either a Department of Transportation (DOT) or Motor Carrier (MC) number. If they say they don’t (and especially if you check them out and they actually don’t), then they’re not registered with the US government. If you do get a number, check it out here. Look at the Entity Type and Operating Status fields to make sure they’re listed as a carrier. Make sure there’s an X next to “Authorized for Hire” and alongside any other relevant line items, If the company says they can handle your interstate move but they aren’t marked as an interstate mover, for example, it means your move will definitely be contracted out to another company.

The bottom line: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re ever unsure, just call Moveline. Ask us all the questions you want — we’ll never charge for a consultation. We can give you pointers on anything from how to move with a pet to how much ducks weigh, and offer tips for things like meeting your new neighbors along the way.

And by the way: if you do go with Moveline, we’ll take care of your inventory with our handy app.. Take a look and get moving now.

Whether it’s across town or across the country, Moveline will help get your stuff where it needs to be safely and on time. But if you’re a parent, your most valuable possessions won’t be on the moving truck. Your child may need a little extra care and planning when it comes to moving, even if her new bedroom is waiting just a few ZIP codes away. Here, some tips for making a move with kids as painless and stress-free as possible:

Explain, explain, explain

Your child or children probably didn’t have any input in the decision to move, which can make them feel a bit powerless. To lessen the impact of those feelings, give as much information as possible, as soon as possible.

1. Plan a good time to break the news, perhaps around a favorite meal. Explain the why, when, where and what to expect before, during and after the move. (Will she be packing her own things? What can go with him in the car and what goes on the truck? Will you be donating some of their old clothes and toys before you go?)
2. Be honest. Regardless of age, knowing the details – both positive and potentially negative – will help your child feel less out of control, especially if this is their first time moving.
3. Open the floor for questions and remain positive and non-defensive as you answer, validating her concerns. Be prepared to answer some of the same inquiries over and over again as the move date approaches. Kids, as we all know, often ask more questions when they’re looking for reassurance.

Plan ahead

If you’re still in the process of choosing a new home, consider what each of the potential locations will mean for your child. Where’s the closest day care? What school district will you be in? (If it’s still up in the air, here are some tips on choosing a school.) Does your new neighborhood have sidewalks? Where’s the nearest park? Family doctor? Once you’ve made your decision and your new place is definite, report any exciting finds to your kids to help them look forward to the change.

Set the tone

From beginning to end, try to maintain a positive attitude about the move and your child will often take your lead. Be realistic, but focus on the benefits of moving and of your new home. A little adventure can actually be a lot of fun, but it’s up to you to make sure they know that.

Keep the routines

Kids thrive on routine, familiarity and consistency. The unfamiliar is usually a little scary, so an across-town move can be confusing, while a big move to a new city or state can feel like a major disturbance, which could equal major stress for you! As best you can, maintain typical wake-up, mealtime and bedtime routines. If it’s possible, avoid introducing other life changes during this time, like potty training or transitioning to a big-kid bed. When you arrive in your new home, make getting your child’s bedroom in working order a priority.

Give ‘em a job

Giving kids a sense of purpose during the move is a great way to include them in the process. Tell them you’re depending on them to help you do a very important job and then offer a choice of two or three tasks. Listed by age-appropriate levels, here are a few ideas for moving jobs that are perfect for littler hands:

For younger kids:

• Small cleaning projects, like wiping countertops or windows
• Pack the clothes she’ll need for the first few days
• Decorate and fill a small box of important treasures that will stay with him on the way to the new home instead of going on the moving truck

For older kids:

• Make “keep,” “donate” and “sell” piles of toys, books and other belongings
• Take charge of a younger sibling
• Bring home a meal for everyone
• Minor home repairs, like removing finishing nails or touching up paint
• Make a detailed plan for her new room or living space, including paint colors

Make new memories

Especially if you use Moveline to help you find the right mover at the best price, you’ll be moved in before you know it, scratching your head over how easy it all was. With all the time you saved, your family can get started on putting down roots in your new environment. Participating in teams, clubs or activities hosted by schools or places of worship is a great way for everyone to feel connected more quickly. You may even want to sign yourself up for a free or low-cost pottery class or kickball league at your local recreation center or join a volunteer organization as a way of investing in your new community and making grownup friends in your area (or click here for a host of other ideas). And last but not least: a couple of fun storybooks to help your kids understand moving — Big Ernie’s New Home: A Story for Children Who Are Moving and The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day. Because reading is fundamental, and so is the security of not feeling scared or alone in the midst of a move.

Let Moveline get your family from point A to point B without a hassle. Check us out and get started here.

Today is a hard day for Moveline. Unfortunately, we’ve had to lay off many of our team members as we shift in strategy to focus on developing a more efficient product line. Doing so is extremely difficult but is a necessary measure to set Moveline up for success in the future.

For the last 18 months, Moveline has been pursuing a strategy of using our technology to offer a broad variety of services to our customers and working with a wide range of moving company partners to accomplish this. Based on early success in this model, we began to aggressively grow the company and further expand our reach in the market. We rapidly hired talented Moveliners to support our customers with this mission.

But, as many startups do, we experienced growing pains in scaling the business this way and, after learning from this approach, have decided that it’s best for us to narrow our focus to what we’re best at.

We’ve decided to streamline our service offering and are making some changes to our product to suit a simpler, more satisfying moving experience. Doing so also required that we make some staffing adjustments and as a result, we had to say goodbye to some very talented Moveliners in order to more closely align with our service moving forward.

There’s no doubt this is a turning point in our business but I’m excited about Moveline’s future and confident that with the team we have in place and a fresh perspective on how to sustainably grow our company, we’ll be a stronger Moveline, capable of delivering an even better moving experience to our customers.

It would be an incredible understatement to say that I’ve learned a lot from this experience and I want to thank everyone for the dedication and the commitment they’ve invested in Moveline as we begin looking forward into the next phase.

We live in a do-it-yourself kind of world. From home improvements to tech gadgets galore, there’s not much we can’t at least attempt to accomplish on our own, and for a lot of folks, moving is one of those things. While hiring a professional mover can often be the wiser (and, surprisingly, cheaper) choice, a majority of people prefer to pack their own belongings instead of opting to let the pros do it. If that’s the case for you, don’t lift a finger before reading these five quick tips from the top-notch team here at Moveline to keep your stuff — and your sanity — in one piece before, during and after a move.

1. Don’t procrastinate

This one’s easy to preach but hard to live by. Truly, though — if you’ve got a full weekend to devote to getting ready for the move, use it. It may not seem like a big deal to “just throw everything into a few boxes,” but many are the men and women who have underestimated the time it takes to properly prepare themselves to move their entire lives into a completely new living space. Make a game of it if you have to: set an egg timer for 30 minutes, an hour, or whatever length of time you’d like, and challenge yourself to pack up 5 boxes, or an entire room, or whatever your goal may be. Repeat, and repeat again, until poof! You’re all done.

2. Ask for help

The Beatles most famously said, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” They said a lot of other stuff, too, but when you’re faced with a mountain of boxes or crates and a looming move-out date, it’s probably the best advice you could follow. Use these tips for throwing a packing party and get the job finished in one-third, one-fourth or even one-fifth the time it would have taken if you’d gone it alone.

And a pro tip: if you’re having trouble finding boxes and/or don’t know what to do with them when you’re through, you’re just one Google search away from the eco-friendly option of renting plastic crates. Many companies offer delivery and pickup, and they’re often cheaper than buying cardboard. The planet and your wallet will both thank you.

3. Label and color-code everything

Once they’re on the truck — whether it’s one you rented and are driving yourself, or one operated by moving professionals — most of those boxes are going to look awfully similar to one another, if not completely identical. Particularly if your move is a large one, don’t just scrawl the name of the room each box belongs in; add a few short bullet points afterward (coffee mugs, utensils, tupperware or textbooks, tax files, stationery, for instance).

Better yet, consider using a different color packing tape (or just spread a line of washi tape across a few sides of each box, again switching up the color or pattern for each room) for each room, just to make the load-in process that much easier, as well as the act of keeping your sanity as you try to get out of those boxes as quickly as possible in your new place.

4. Protect your breakables

This may sound elementary, but when you’re in the eleventh hour and don’t much care to spend extra time carefully wrapping those valuables, it’s all too easy to forget how much jostling (and bumping, and cracking, and shattering) just might take place during transit. So do yourself a favor and pack with an abundance of caution, making merry use of specialty boxes (wardrobe, wine glass, etc), bubble wrap, paper, and any other materials that can shield your possessions from destruction between your old home and your new one.

Oh, and we’ve got special tips to keep you sane and your stuff intact if you’re packing electronics or fine china. You’re welcome.

5. Don’t pack immediate essentials

Packing up that bathroom with one big swipe of your arm across the countertop? Not so fast. You’re gonna need toothpaste, face wash, daily meds, and so on within the first 24 hours of moving into the new space, so leave those out where they’re easily accessible. Likewise when it comes to Fido’s food, leash and waste bags, as well as plenty of other items you might need to access during or shortly after the move.

To make life a little easier, here’s a helpful list of documents to keep on hand (you know, just in case), as well as a checklist of what to keep handy on moving day, just to get you through the first day or two after your stuff comes off the truck.

Last but not least, if you’re hiring a mover for a local or long-distance move, let Moveline help. We compare prices, help you secure the best mover for the job, and lock in your rates so you’re not hit with any surprises in the middle of one of life’s most stressful events. Don’t go it alone. Let us help.