Most of us move into a new home at some point in our lives. You might be moving out of your parent’s home to go to college or maybe moving into a home to live with a significant other. You might be moving in to a temporary home or your family might be relocating for a job or just simply because you want a new home. No matter the reason, there are some great strategies you can use to make your move easier.

Here are some moving supplies and tips for packing for your move:

·         Traditional moving boxes (small, medium, large)

o   Start packing at least a few weeks before your move, so that you can have time to organize things into boxes, keeping similar objects in one box and boxes that go to one room together as well.

·         Special kits (such as wardrobe kits and glass kits)

o   A wardrobe kit can help keep your dresses and other valuable clothing neat and protected. Glass kits typically include foam pouches, dividers for inside a box to keep glass items from hitting each other, and the box to put the items in.

·         Peanuts, bubble wrap, and packing paper

o   These can help to fill the empty space in a box which protects your belongings from potential damage. Filling moving boxes as much as possible keeps things from rattling around or from the box falling over during the drive, reducing the chances of anything getting ruined.

·         Box sealing tape

o   Don’t forget lots of packing tape. Reinforcing the bottom of boxes helps to ensure that things won’t fall out of the bottom.

·         Mattress bags

o   Use a mattress bag to keep your mattress from getting dirty or torn, especially if you have a valuable mattress or one that you would prefer to keep in its current condition.

·         Labels

o   Labeling boxes with what is in them will make unpacking much easier. Packing and moving can be exciting but also stressful, so the unpacking process should be as easy as possible.

When moving from a larger to a smaller home, you may need to consider renting a storage unit. You might consider using a self-storage storage unit if you have things that you want to keep but you don’t have room for them in your new place. You might use a storage unit if you only plan to be in your next home for a short amount of time and want to be able to keep most of your things so you don’t have to repurchase them when you get your future home.

A lot of people use truck rentals to help make the moving process a lot easier. Getting most of your belongings in one or two loads can be much less stressful than having to use personal vehicles to get everything moved. Space fills up fast when you are packing a vehicle.

When you are moving, remember to keep important things with you or at least in a place that is easy to get to, such as in the front seat of the car or in a special container at the back of the rental truck. Some things you might want to remember to have in a special place include:

·         Cell phone charger

·         Important documents (like social security cards, birth certificates, etc.)

·         Clothes (Keep at least some clothes within easy access for yourself and your kids to make sure you can find clothes for the next few days or weeks in case you don’t have the chance to unpack everything right away.)

Moving to a new home can be an exciting stepping stone in life, but can also come with a lot of things to do that can come with unnecessary stress. Being organized and using the proper supplies can help make your moving experience even better.

Heather Gilmore, LLMSW. Freelance Writer and Guest Blogger for Tropicana Storage. Heather has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work. Heather specializes in health and wellness, children, families, parenting, and home organization and improvement. Learn more about Heather at Google+.