Moving is an overwhelming task when you’re relocating just yourself, but throw in a couple of kids and a dog, and you’ve achieved a whole new level of stress. You don’t have to be meticulous to avoid a chaotic moving experience; just a few guidelines can get you and your belongings to the new place in one piece.

TAKE IT ROOM BY ROOM

Cheap Movers Philadelphia (here) suggests starting with areas of the house that are less occupied, like a guest room. If no one utilizes the space or the stuff in it, you can pack it up and have it ready to load onto the truck, and no one will notice. Hit the closets and bathrooms next, as there are always surprising amounts of stuff in these areas of the house that you never see coming. Tackle one room or one closet at a time and declutter as you go. Store packed boxes in the room or closet they belong in until it’s time to load the truck.

ORGANIZE AS YOU GO

Purging your unwanted items before you move makes the move that much easier. Weeks before the move, place a box in each room specifically for items to be donated and start a pile in one corner of the house of things you intend to sell. As you tackle each room in the house, you can decide what will stay and what will go. While you’re at it, take photos on your phone of valuable items and furniture to document their condition. You can also document the photos with a home inventory app like Sortly or Encircle.

PACK ITEMS WHERE THEY ARE

In the kitchen and bath areas, throw the under cabinet items into bins or baskets that will fit back under the cabinet. Pack your hanging clothes in large plastic bags while still on the hanger, then hang them back in the closet. You can still access these items up until your move, but they are ready to be thrown on the moving truck at a moment’s notice.

HELPFUL LITTLE HINTS:

  • Extra bed pillows, throw pillows, curtains, blankets, and towels can be packed with breakables as protection. You’re going to pack them anyway; you may as well put them to work.
  • When breaking down pieces of furniture, place all of the hardware and special assembly tools in a plastic baggie, label the bag for the piece of furniture it is for, and tape the bag to a piece of the furniture if possible so that it all moves together. Once the entire piece moves into the new house, assembly can happen on the spot.
  • Use different colors of packing tape for each family member or room to easily decipher where each box goes. Labels tend to end up on one side of the box, but tape can be seen from any angle or direction the box is facing. Labels are still helpful for identifying the contents of the box, and the more detailed you get, the easier your unpacking will be.
  • Remove and pack decorative items first. Paintings, vases, picture frames, and your kid’s macaroni art are beautiful, but not necessities for living. Get ahead of yourself and pack them first. This gives you time to pack them carefully and well.
  • Give a few packing boxes to each of your kids; let them color and decorate the boxes before filling them with their belongings.