Wardrobe moving boxes can make it easy to move your clothes without wrinkles and snags ruining some of your items. The obvious first step is to hang anything that you don’t want to fold from the metal bars inside the wardrobe boxes. Jackets, dresses and blouses should be first. Make sure you use every inch available so the hangers don’t have space to slide back and forth. This will prevent things from falling off. Bags, ties and similar items can be placed on the hangers as well –Simply put them on top of the clothing. Don’t be afraid of hanging several items on the same hanger. Simply stock them carefully, making sure the smallest one are at the bottom (so they don’t stretch).

Items that you don’t mind folding should be placed in large shopping bags and put at the bottom of the moving boxes. Try placing similar items together, so you end up with bags of sweaters, t-shirts and jeans. Purses can also be placed in bags and at the bottom of the wardrobe boxes , but make sure not to squash them. Pack the moving boxes as tightly as possible to prevent shifting.

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Moving can be dangerous to your possessions. Unless you plan carefully and pack your moving boxes well, you risk things breaking or becoming damaging in the process. To make the moving easier and protect your valuables at the same time, keep these three things in mind:

1. Don’t pack anything that it’s on the banned list. Most moving companies have a list of things that are not covered by insurance and that they won’t put any special care on. These include personal papers, DVDs and CDs, photo albums, laptops, antiques, collectibles and jewelry. Anything that is not protected by the warranty should be taken with you instead of packed into cardboard boxes.

2. Wrap and cushion anything that can be chipped, scratched or dented with moving supplies. Make sure all mirrors and glass objects are properly packed and surrounded by pellets and bubble wrap, so they don’t break due to movement. Also, protect valuable furniture (especially upholstered pieces) by wrapping them with moving blankets or plastic wrap. This will prevent cuts and dents, as well as stains.

3. Buy extra insurance for special items such as pool tables and pianos, or contract a separate company that specializes in moving this type of objects.

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Before you finish packing those moving boxes for your move, you will need to deal with utilities in two ways: by turning off the ones in your old home and turning on the ones in the house waiting for you. While this may seem like a simple endeavor, it’s important to keep some things in mind during the process.

1. Arrange with the utility companies for a day to turn utilities off. Give them an approximate time of day (morning or evening) and make sure to call back a couple of days in advance to verify the appointment. You will either need to transfer the account you have with the companies (if you’re moving within the same city) or open a new account.

2. Start with the essentials: electricity, water and gas.

3. Move on to other bills and services, including cable/satellite, Internet and trash pickup. If you have subscription to special neighborhood services, such as security or renter’s insurance, you will also need to deal with those.

4. Don’t forget to file a notice with the post office to have your mail forwarded to the new address.

5. If you have kids in school, you should start the registration process early, even if you’re moving during summer vacation. You will need paperwork from the previous school and you should talk to the new school to find out if there are any specific forms they need in advance.

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When packing boxes to move, it makes sense to put aside a few items that you will need during the process. A survival cardboard box should contain items that you will need right before you’re leaving and after everything else has been packed, as well as items to be used as soon as you arrive to your new home and before you start unpacking. Examples of things to put in these such moving boxes include:

· A couple of sheets or large towels. You can use one to cover yourself and one to cover the window in the bedroom, so the light doesn’t bother you in the morning. This is especially important if the curtains are still not up in your new home.

· Toilet paper, toothpaste, soap and toothbrush.

· Any medications you need to take on a daily basis.

· A couple of light bulbs, in case there aren’t any already there. You want to make sure you have lights on your first night there.

· Cleaning supplies, including garbage bags, paper towels, small broom (take the handle off so it fits in the box), a multipurpose spray cleaner, bleach and a few rags.

· Basic kitchen utensils, such as knives and forks, a couple of plates and cups and instant coffee or tea bags. You should also research in advance for local food delivery shops and write down their phone numbers in a piece of paper, so you can get pizza or Chinese food (instead of cooking) on your first night.

· Small tools to assemble furniture or fix doorknobs and other essentials on your first day.

· Pet food and their dishes.

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Keeping things organized during the holiday season may prove to be a big challenge. With presents to wrap, cards to send and packing to be done before visiting friends and family, you may find yourself under a pile of papers even before Christmas gets even close.

· Make a list of everybody who’s getting either a card or a present. Write down the name, address and type of present to be given. Those that need to be sent should be bought and prepared first. If you are planning on buying cardboard boxes for the presents, do so well in advance, so you have a chance to get the packages to the post office before the holiday rush starts.

· Label cardboard boxes that contain holiday decorations. Do this before you start taking anything out. This way you’ll know where everything goes when it’s time to put it back.

· Create a wrapping center. Designate a corner of your desk, a drawer or a box to put all the wrapping paper, tape and gift tags.

· Dig on your old boxes before buying anything new to decorate the house, the tree or the porch. Chances are you don’t remember what’s in there.

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As you prepare to pack and move, you probably are keeping track of the big things, such as buying moving boxes, contracting the moving company and getting your stuff packed. In the chaos of the move, however, it’s easier to forget the smaller things. Things that can make the move a lot less painful and the start of your new life a lot easier.

1. Let everybody know you’re moving. This includes the post office (so they can forward your email), magazines you subscribe to, friends and family members, and bill collectors and credit card companies.

2. Talk to your insurance company to inform them about your new address and to ensure coverage continues without interruption.

3. Call companies to schedule turning off your utilities at your old home and turning them on at your new address. You can arrange this in advance and simply give them a date and time (morning, mid-afternoon or end of the day).

4. Find out in advance if you need special paperwork to move your pets with you. If you are planning on stopping en route and sleeping in a hotel, make sure to call in advance and find out if they accept pets. Make a reservation if possible.

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Moving out of a rental place is a lot different than selling your house and moving. For starters, moving dates are usually not flexible. This means you will have to much of the prep work in advance and ensure that everything is packed in moving boxes and out the door by the time you’re meant to turn the keys in. Not doing so could result in penalties or problems with the landlord. Depending on your lease contract, you may need to give advance notice about the move. The requirement is usually 30 or 60 days and you may have to forgo the security deposit if you’re moving before your lease is officially over.

When packing household items in boxes, keep your camera out. It’s always a good idea to take photos of any damage you caused, so they are properly documented in case of a disagreement. This is especially important if you had previous run-ins with the landlord and have a reason to believe he may try to keep the deposit. If possible, arrange for the landlord to tour the place with you after you’ve finished packing all your boxes. That way there’s no mistake about what’s going and what’s staying.

Before the tour, make sure you clean the apartment. You don’t have to shine the floors or shampoo the rugs, but make the place presentable. And always place all the cardboard boxes (already sealed with tape) in a single room, so you can move around freely and inspect every corner.

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Moving doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, moving can be done for just a few dollars if you plan it well and are willing to creative when it comes to packing boxes, organizing and delivery.

1. Go through your stuff before you buy moving boxes and packing moving supplies material. Discard everything you don’t plan on taking along, decide what needs to be boxed and what can be wrapped or shipped as-is and then make a list of the moving supplies you need. That way you won’t buy more than needed.

2. Throw away and discard as much as you can. Only take along things you love. It will save money on moving and storing. Donate, sell or give away what you can replace for little money.

3. Do not use a storage unit. Make sure movers have a place to deliver your things to. Either wait a few days longer so the lease is already running or get there in advance so you can wait for it to be delivered.

4. Ask friends for help. Don’t abuse their generosity, but do ask for help if you’re running out of time or simply can’t afford to pay somebody to help you pack. If you ask for help, be specific. Tell the person what you need and make it easy for them to get on it.

5. Drive your own truck. Hire or borrow one if possible. Avoid the all-included moving experience, in which professionals come around to help you pack. It’s comfortable (and a must if you have antiques or valuable objects) but also expensive.

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It’s not only the packing boxes that can be a nightmare. Getting stuff out of moving boxes and into their right place can also make things difficult on everybody, unless you keep a few tips in mind.

As soon as the packers are done taking everything into the house, make sure there are no boxes missing. If you have a box inventory, make sure everything has been placed where it’s meant to be and that nothing is broken. If it is, show it to the driver right then and there, so making a claim later will be easier.

Move the moving boxes to the rooms where they’re supposed to be. Resist the temptation to start unpacking in the living room. You’ll end up with stuff all over the place and it will take longer to get organized.

For the first day in the house, unpack only the cardboard boxes that contains all the essentials, such as personal bathrooms stuff, linens and maybe a couple of cups and dishes. Leave everything else to be unpacked over the course of the next few days.

Every time you finish unpacking a box, close it flat and put it out of the way (in an empty room or against a wall) so you can get through the room without bumping into empty moving boxes.

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Packing your moving boxes for a smaller place.

Downsizing has become increasingly popular, as people are trying to live more simply, save more money or buying their own (small) space. If you’re moving from a large place to a much smaller one, packing boxes and getting ready is essential for a smooth transition. 

Don’t pack anything moving boxes until you are completely sure it will fit into your new home. If the house is smaller, chances are the spaces to fit furniture will also be. Measure walls, windows, floors and ceilings to know what you can still use and you will need to leave behind.

There are certain items that fall into the “maybe” category, as in “maybe you should leave them behind.” These are: modular seating, love seats, pillows and rugs and glass coffee tables. These are all difficult to place in a home with a different floor plan, are cheaper to replace than move or have too much of a chance to break during transport to be worth the effort.

When it comes to packing items inside moving boxes, be ruthless. Unloved books, big potted plants, appliances you never use, artwork (unless it’s valuable or you really love it) and old, worn up bric-a-brac should be donated or discarded.

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