Methods

• When moving, you can choose to either move your items yourself or hire a moving company to do this for you. Do-it-yourselfers often enlist the help of friends to drive boxes from one location to another. Another option is to rent a small moving truck and drive it yourself. If you choose to hire a moving company, interview at least three different firms and ask about their price structure, if they provide any free boxes and how many movers work with each truck. Ask for references and proof of insurance and check with the Better Business Bureau for any complaints. Be sure to get all contract terms in writing to avoid any disagreements over price at the end of the move, which could result in the moving company refusing to release your household possessions.
  
  

Materials

• While nothing is 100 percent guaranteed, packing with the right supplies lessens the chance of any of your items breaking in transit. Use sturdy boxes or hard-plastic storage tubs. Online and local box and moving companies sell and lend boxes with dividers made specifically for glassware, dishes and hanging wardrobe. Wrap china, glassware and fragile items in bubble wrap, which cushions them. Prevent items from jostling in the boxes during the move by stuffing soft items such as towels and sheets into empty spaces in the boxes. A heavy-duty packing tape ensures that the boxes and tubs stay closed during the move.
  
  

Process

• Organization won't eliminate all stress related to a move and packing, but it will help the process run a bit smoother. Keep track of your moving date and make a checklist to ensure that you can get everything done in a timely manner. Start your packing in the least used areas of your home or apartment. Pack up one room at time and keep boxes or tubs a manageable weight. A permanent marker is a great tool to use to mark each box with the contents and the room that it needs to go to in the new home. If boxes contain a family member's personal items make sure to mark the person's name on the box.
  
  

Considerations

• No matter how big or how small, most of us accumulate clutter in our homes. Take advantage of the move as a means to pare down the possessions in your life and in your new home. Before packing an item, seriously consider if you will ever use it again. If an item is in need of repair, if clothing is out of style or not the right size, or if you can't remember the last time you used an item, consider getting rid of it. Donate usable items in good shape to a charity or have a yard sale and use the proceeds to help defray moving costs. Toss any broken, unusable and damaged items and clothing into the trash.