Storage Unit Tips: How to Pack, Stack, and Protect What You Store
A storage unit only helps if you can find things in it and they come out in the condition they went in. These tips cover choosing the unit, loading it properly, and protecting what is inside.
January 9, 2025 · 6 min read
The First-Night Box: What to Pack for Your First Night in a New Home
One clearly marked box makes your first night in a new home comfortable instead of chaotic. Here is the full checklist, when to pack it, and where it should ride on moving day.
October 8, 2019 · 5 min read
New Home Safety and Maintenance Checklist for Your First Week
Before the last box is unpacked, spend an hour or two on the things that keep a house safe: alarms, locks, shutoffs, and a few maintenance basics. Here is what to check and how often to check it again.
June 10, 2019 · 6 min read
How to Run a Moving Sale That Actually Clears the House
A moving sale has one job: get things out of the house before the truck comes. Here is how to schedule it, price it, advertise it, and deal with the leftovers.
July 12, 2016 · 5 min read
Decluttering Before a Move: What to Keep, Sell, Donate, and Toss
Everything you own has to be packed, carried, and paid for on moving day. Here is how to decide what makes the trip, room by room, and how to clear out the rest before the truck arrives.
September 28, 2012 · 5 min read
Setting Up Utilities at a New Home: What to Do and When
Lights, heat, water, and internet should all be working the day you arrive. Here is the order to call in, the lead time each service needs, and what to check on move-in day.
March 21, 2012 · 5 min read
Where to Donate Furniture and Household Goods Before You Move
Good furniture and household goods you are not moving can go to someone who needs them. Here are the kinds of organizations that accept them, how pickup works, and what to do about receipts.
February 16, 2012 · 5 min read
What to Unpack First After Moving: A Room-by-Room Order
Unpacking after a move goes faster when you follow an order instead of opening whatever box is closest. Here is the room-by-room sequence and a realistic plan for the first week.
August 15, 2011 · 5 min read
The Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify When You Move
Forwarding your mail is only the first step. This checklist covers how to change your address with the Postal Service and everyone else who needs your new one, with a timeline for each.
February 15, 2011 · 5 min readReady to plan your move?
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Request a QuoteQuick answers about settling in
What should I unpack first after moving?
Start with your essentials box, then set up beds and bedding, then bathrooms, then the kitchen. Those four steps make the home livable on the first day. Read the full guide.
When should I change my address with USPS?
About two weeks before your move. You choose the date forwarding begins, and filing early gives the request time to take effect. Read the full guide.
How far in advance should I set up utilities at a new home?
Start three to four weeks before the move. Internet and television installation need the most notice, while electricity, gas, and water can usually be scheduled two to three weeks ahead. Read the full guide.
What is a first night box?
A first night box is one clearly marked box or tote that holds everything your household needs for the first evening and morning in a new home, so you do not have to dig through sealed cartons for sheets, soap, or a phone charger. Read the full guide.