If you’re in the process of moving from one home to another, the following eight tips can help you have a smoother transition.

1. Find people to help you.
Whether you move on your own or hire a company to help you, it costs to relocate. You may choose to hire someone if you have a lot of large furniture or valuable goods. If you have reliable friends and family that are willing to help, you’ll save money. They may even have some cheap moving boxes on hand that you can use.

2. Clean your new place.
Hire a professional cleaning company to clean your new home before you arrive. This will save you time and hassle, and you may even be able to make it part of your new lease or purchase agreement.

3. Get rid of stuff.
Give yourself plenty of time to get rid of stuff before the packing frenzy starts. You can have a sale, post items online or donate items to charitable organizations to reduce the number of things you’re bringing along.

4. Take it one room at a time.
If you pack one room at a time, you’ll be able to keep like things together and make it easier to unpack later. Fill up cheap moving boxes with items and label them clearly so you’ll be able to find them quickly. You can also use storage bags to safely keep cords, wires and hardware from disassembled furniture.

5. Use green boxes.
Green boxes are strong and come in a variety of sizes. They can be stacked and are also waterproof, so they’re great for packing. You can rent them from a local green moving company, and if you don’t have one available, ask local stores for sturdy boxes.

6. Decide on a layout before you arrive.
If you assess your new home before you move, you’ll be able to decide what will fit well, and that can help you determine which items to sell, give away or put in storage. When you sketch out your layout, visualize where furniture will go and then use that to help place items as they arrive.

7. Keep your cables organized properly.
It can get confusing trying to figure out which cables go where, so take a picture before you start unplugging. Label each cord to make sure it goes back where it belongs. You can even number ports and wires to match them up later.

8. Turn on utilities a day before you move.
You don’t want to get to your new home and find out there’s no water or electric, so contact utility companies ahead of time to schedule your services to be turned on. Don’t forget to also turn of the service to your old place as well.

If you use these eight easy tips, you’ll find that your move is more enjoyable and streamlined.

When planning a move, most people don’t think about the season during which they move. They don’t think this way because they don’t think that it makes much of a difference. This line of thinking is untrue! There are many factors that affect your move such as the type of weather and the holiday schedule you’ll have to work around. Planning when you move will make a substantial impact on the cost of your move and the effort you put into it.

Fall is the best season to move. Summer, by contrast, is the worst season to move. Statistically, summer is the most popular season to move which also makes it the most expensive. Another problem introduced by a summer move is the heat. This makes for a combination of terrible circumstances that should be avoided like the plague! Only move in the summer when it is absolutely necessary.

Winter is the cheapest month to move but it is not as efficient as moving in the fall. Even though it is the cheapest month to relocate, moving in the winter results in having to deal with extremely cold weather. Depending on where you decide to move, you will have to deal with snow and roads coated with ice. This is why regardless of price, winter is a terrible time to move. Fall is an ideal time to move given the fair weather and prices. Below are tips that will help you make your fall move efficient and inexpensive.

The first tip is to keep your walkways clear! This is true regardless of when you move. It seems obvious but on moving day people are focused on the task at hand, not making sure their environment is the safest. Leaves are a specific fall hazard that will likely be dealt with. Be careful if you have to move in the rain as the leaves will be especially slick.

The next tip is to pack accordingly! This is possibly the most important step. Making sure you are organized in this phase of the move is essential to cutting down the time you spend settling into your new home. Randomly packing your boxes will lead you to spend a great deal of time digging through boxes searching for specific items. Packing like items is key to organization. Plan far ahead enough that you have time to discard items that you know you won’t need when you move in.

The most popular time to move is around the end of the month. This causes the rates to rise as the month draws to a close. Make sure to avoid planning your move around the last week of any given month to keep costs down on moving equipment. Another tip is to ask local stores for their empty boxes. Instead of buying boxes from moving companies you will save money on cheap moving boxes. Finally, if you can, find a friend with the necessary equipment to help you move. This will cut moving costs drastically!

Above all make sure to plan ahead. Moving on impulse is the worst thing you can do! Make sure to transfer all of your utilities before the day of the move to ensure you deal with the least amount of discomfort. Fall temperatures are not as extreme as summer or winter, but you would still rather have working heat and air as opposed to waiting for someone to come out and fix it.

Few things are as frustrating as learning that the fragile item your business shipped arrived damaged. Here are our top 9 tips for avoiding this situation.

Select Packaging That is the Appropriate Size

The first decision you make that can lead to your fragile item being damaged is your choice of packaging. Envelopes and mailers are soft and can lead to damage. It’s always best to choose shipping boxes to protect your product. The right size of shipping boxes is also important given a box that is too large can lead to your item shifting within the box and breaking.

Don’t Skimp on Wrapping Materials

The key to making the box the safest it can possibly be is using the right amount of wrapping material. It’s best to use bubble wrap or some other protective wrapper and make certain every part of your item is wrapped.

Prepare for Harsh Elements

When considering how your package might get damaged in transit your mind likely goes to the possibility of your item being mishandled in some way. However, the elements themselves can be as big a threat as mishandling. Prepare your item in a way that it can resist cold, heat, and small amounts of water.

Properly Attach Your Wrapping Materials

It’s important to make sure your wrapping is fastened securely regardless of the type of wrapping you choose. Loose wrapping can allow your fragile item to shift in transit which could lead to damage. Using packing tape can make certain your item is secure.

Take Care Not to Wrap Item too Tightly

You will need to find a safe balance between wrapping your item securely without wrapping it too tightly. Tight wrapping can put unwanted pressure on your item, causing it to break.

Properly Seal the Box

One major cause of damage to packages is a box opening in transit. This is a worst-case scenario for your item as it can easily be damaged, get lost, or arrive incomplete. To be on the safe side you should make certain every potential opening is securely covered in packing tape.

Consider Additional Wrapping Depending on Travel Distance

Every inch your package travels from you increases the possibility your package could be damaged. The farther your package has to go the more people will handle it and the more opportunities for damage to occur will arise. For items you intend to ship long distance, you should consider additional packing or tape to make certain your fragile item is secure.

Double Check Your Label

While it would be great if the people handling your packages would treat them all with the utmost care, the reality is packages labeled as fragile will get more careful treatment. Always label your fragile packages as such to lessen the chances of mishandling.

Purchase Shipping Insurance

Sometimes things go wrong regardless of your best-laid plans and meticulous preparation. Luckily, there are other protection options if you’re deeply concerned about issues arising after your item leaves your hands. You should consider shipping insurance for items you deem expensive or irreplaceable so that you have some recourse in case the worst happens.