When you mention to someone that you’re moving, you’re likely to be met with a commiserating groan. Moving can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to be.

Remember how excited you were when you closed on your new home? Try to channel that energy to get motivated.

Moving is the perfect time to take inventory of your things and get organized. Make checklists, coordinate the details and simplify where you can.

Here’s how you can pack with perfection and mitigate the hassles associated with moving.

The packing plan

From tips on how to efficiently pack your clothes to dish-packing hacks, there are plenty of ways to make your move a little easier.

Bring on the boxes

You probably don’t have enough boxes at your disposal for a big move. You can start by asking local retailers or businesses if they have extra boxes on hand, as well as checking in with friends and family. Do you know anyone who moved recently? They may have boxes yet to be recycled.

Then go online to check community groups and tech platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Freecycle. If you’re going to buy boxes, there’s a retailer that likely will have a package to fit your needs.

Take inventory of your things before you order boxes so you have a good estimate of how many you’ll need. It’s surprising how quickly they can fill up.

Make an essentials box

Think about all the things you’ll want to pull out shortly upon arrival.

You’ll likely want to plug in the coffeemaker right away. And things like towels, sheets and pillows, as well as clothes you’ll want to wear in the next few days, are nice to have in an easily accessible place.

Label everything

When suddenly it’s 11 p.m. and you’re digging through boxes trying to find a fitted sheet, you’ll wish you had labeled your boxes. Be sure to mark which boxes contain fragile items as well as a description of their contents.

Here’s where color-coding can come in handy. Whether you organize by room or by item type, consider using colored markers or colorful packing labels to mark your boxes.

Pack an overnight bag

Besides the boxes of things you’ll want to unpack right away, make sure to pack toiletries and any items you’ll need that evening or the next morning in a separate bag away from the boxes. Then you don’t have to unpack anything to find your toothbrush, contact solution or deodorant.

Consider these packing hacks

Here’s where garbage bags, plastic wrap and Styrofoam come into play. Instead of pulling all of your clothes out of your dresser and off your hangers, you can leave some things in place. Keep clothes in your dresser but wrap with plastic to ensure they stay in place; leave your clothes hanging and cover with garbage bags, or you can get fancy and pull out some garment bags. And skip hand-wrapping every dish by placing Styrofoam between plates to keep them secure.

Your moving mission

Whether you’re moving many miles or just a few blocks, you’ll need reliable movers or at least some reliable helpers and a rented truck. Here’s what to keep in mind when booking your movers or truck.

Do your research

If you’re hiring movers, start gathering estimates about eight weeks before your move. Try to speak with a few companies to compare prices. Depending on the size of your city and the current demand, you might be able to negotiate the fee.

You’ll also want to look at credentials to ensure the company you choose is licensed and insured, abides by ethical business practices and is compliant with federal regulations. You can email the American Moving and Storage Association to see if the company is a member, and be sure to check reviews online at sites such as movingscam.com or the Better Business Bureau.

Understand your insurance

While most renters and homeowners insurance policies don’t cover items damaged or lost in a move, you’ll want to consider your coverage. This will depend on whether you’re moving yourself, hiring movers or a combination of the two.

If you’re moving possessions yourself in either your own vehicle or a rented truck, homeowners insurance might cover your items. However, there can still be gaps in coverage, so it’s a good idea to look into relocation or trip transit insurance.

If renting a truck or hiring movers, each company will have its own insurance options to choose from. Be aware that there are a variety of circumstances to warrant loss of coverage, such as damage from a natural disaster or not informing your mover in writing about items of significant value.

If you’re moving out of state, federal law requires moving companies to offer two types of coverage: full-value or released-value protection.

Full-value protection makes your mover responsible for the total replacement value of your items, with coverage costs varying by company.

Released-value protection is typically provided at no additional cost but offers limited liability that covers only 60 cents per dollar of a lost or damaged item. 

Get techy

There are multiple moving apps that can help you coordinate your move. From collecting quotes from movers to scheduling logistics, these apps could save you time and money. Here are a few to check out: Moved, Dolly and Unpakt.

Consider the kids

If you’re moving with children, besides the formalities of transferring records, make sure to check in consistently with them. When processing significant changes, kids look to their parents for guidance.

The sooner you can get out and explore your new community with your kids, the better. Enroll them in a class or activity right away so they can make friends and have some exciting things to do to take their minds off all the changes going on.

If your kids are old enough, enlist them for help with packing, unpacking and setting up their new rooms. It’s usually a good idea to pack their rooms last and unpack them first.

Moving for a child can be a good early exercise for resilience, but it doesn’t come without challenges. By being aware of these potential challenges, you’ll be prepared to help them cope when they need you.

Nail the little details

From your mail to your voter registration, you’ll want to ensure everything moves along with you. If you have school-age children, you’ll want to take care of transferring school records and finding a new doctor and dentist. The sooner you do all of this, the better.

Next up, change your address. The United States Postal Service recommends changing your address at least two weeks before your move. Don’t forget about any recurring deliveries you may have, such as vitamins, razor blades or anything on auto-refill that comes directly to your door, as well as switching any prescriptions from your pharmacy.

Also make sure any back-ordered items you’ve been waiting on are going to ship to the right location. You don’t want that piece of furniture you’ve been waiting months for to end up sitting outside your old address.

With some planning, you’ll be able to keep the moving hassles to a minimum. Allow for an adjustment period and a few inevitable mishaps, and know that your hard work will pay off once you get into your new place.