Helpful Moving Apps

We use our phones and apps for all kinds of different things. So it’s only natural that our phones can be a great source for help while moving. Here are some apps that you may find very helpful.

Realtor.com – This real estate app helps users find homes, apartment rentals and open house listings directly from the MLS. It also allows users to research neighborhoods, home prices and schools to find their dream house.

LetGo – Need to purge your stuff before a move? This mobile app makes it easy to sell your belongings at the touch of a button.

Sortly– Described as “the ultimate organizer app,” Sortly helps users create a visual inventory of their belongings with photos, tags, notes, and more.

Nextdoor– Connect with neighbors, sell household belongings and find local home improvement professionals with the Nextdoor mobile app.

Houzz – The mobile app helps users find home remodeling professionals, as well as inspiration for home design and decor.

Create a Moving Binder

Creating and maintaining a master moving binder is one of the best strategies for staying organized during a move. Not only do moving binders make it easy to keep track of all moving contracts and receipts, but they also help consolidate all moving tasks into one easy-to-find place. Items that can be stored inside of a moving binder include: moving checklists, moving receipts, utility company phone numbers, list of donations, donation receipts, floor plans, design/decor ideas, contractor bids, medical records, school records, financial documents, moving company paperwork and more.

Print Customized Checklists

Moving to a new home often involves many moving parts. From dealing with moving company logistics to handling financial obligations, there are numerous details to keep track of during a busy move. Unfortunately, figuring out what you need to do and when you need to do it isn’t easy. The solution? Create a comprehensive moving checklist for your upcoming relocation. Having this list of to-dos on-hand will make it possible to manage the moving parts of your move, and do so in an organized and timely manner. Fortunately, Moving.com’s move planner includes printable moving checklists for every type of relocation. In addition, you can create your own customized moving checklist to organize all of your different tasks by week for a successful move.

Color Code Moving Boxes

Labeling your moving boxes by corresponding room? Take it one step further by color coding those labels. This will make it easier to spot your belongings on the moving truck and in your new home. Fortunately, you can find color-coded labels marked with corresponding rooms from a number of retailers including Walmart and Amazon. You can also create your own color-coded system with multicolored tape. For example, assign all boxes marked with yellow tape to the kitchen, all boxes marked with pink tape to the bedroom, etc.

Plan a Packing Strategy Ahead of Time

Don’t just pack up your belongings willy-nilly. Instead, come up with a room-by-room packing strategy for moving. To begin, decide which rooms and closets to tackle first. Start with the rooms containing non-essentials (in other words: items you won’t need in the weeks leading up to your move). This could include the guest bedroom/bathroom, library, storage closet, playroom, basement, attic and seasonal clothing in your closet. Rooms that should be packed up last include the kitchen and bedrooms. These rooms will most likely need to be used in the days leading up to your move. Once you’ve decided when to pack various rooms, you’ll need to figure out the amount of moving supplies needed. To estimate the number of boxes and supplies you’ll need, check out our free packing calculator.


Make a List of What Each Box Contains

As you pack your boxes, make a list of what each box contains. This will help you to keep track of your belongings (what’s been packed and what hasn’t been packed) and will help with locating your items after the move. A popular method is to number all boxes and then write itemized lists for each corresponding numbered box. Other ways to include itemized lists include placing the lists inside of the boxes or taping the lists to the outside of the boxes.

Keep Contact Numbers for all Utilities Companies

Need to cancel or transfer your utilities when you move? Make sure to keep all utility information organized by keeping a list of contact numbers for each monthly service provider. Utilities may include cable and internet, water and sewer, gas, electricity, satellite, security system, trash and phone. Once contact numbers have been compiled, we recommend keeping the list inside of your moving binder. For tips on how to transfer your utilities when moving, check here.


Organize Donation List and Receipts

Make a list of all furniture, clothing and other household belongings that you wish to donate before or after the move. Once the list is complete, decide where you want to donate these items. A few of our favorite recommendations include the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill. After donating your items to a charity, you should receive tax-deductible donation receipts. To avoid losing these receipts, place them inside of your moving binder, along with your itemized list of donated belongings. For advice on where to donate your stuff before moving, check here.


Tie Cords and Place Them Inside Baggies

If you’ve ever moved electronics, you’re probably no stranger to the twisted up mess that becomes of your cords. Unless you want to spend hours untangling numerous cords from one another, we suggest organizing and labeling all cords before they are packed. To do so, simply wrap and secure each cord with a twist-tie. Then, place the wrapped cord inside of a zip lock bag and label it with a sharpie marker, according to its corresponding electronic device.

Pack a Moving Day Essentials Box

Finally, don’t forget to pack your moving day essentials box or bag. Without it, your move could end up being a less than pleasant experience. We recommend first making a checklist of all moving day essentials. This way you won’t forget something important at the last minute. Essentials may include medications, toiletries, an extra set of clothes, ID and credit cards, important documents, baby necessities, paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, a tool kit, pet essentials and bottled water. For a list of what to pack inside your moving essentials bag, check here.