If the thought of packing up your entire home for a move overwhelms you, you are not alone. But if you break it down into smaller tasks, it suddenly becomes much more manageable. The list of smaller tasks is your packing plan. Take one step at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be ready for your move!

Arm yourself!

Gather all of the supplies that you will need for packing before you begin. You will need:

Moving boxes. Be sure to purchase sturdy boxes that can hold up to the weight and the jostling. Your moving company may supply some boxes.

Packing tape. Use professional packing tape. Other tapes, like masking tape, aren’t strong enough to hold the weight of moving boxes.

Wrapping materials like bubble wrap and newsprint paper. Use unprinted newsprint paper so the ink doesn’t ruin your belongings.

Scissors

Markers and pens.

Paper. A clipboard or notebook would work well.

Declutter!

Before you pack, go through each room in your house and decide what will NOT be coming with you to your new home. It’s better to get rid of something that you don’t use now, than to pay to move it!

Have a garage sale. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! This is also a way to raise a little money to defray moving costs. If organizing a garage sale isn’t something that thrills you, there are professionals who you can hire to take care of this.

Donate items. Contact non-profit organizations to see what they accept. Different organizations take different items. Some take furniture; some take clothing, books, housewares, etc. Many will arrange to come pick up large donations.

Throw it away! Whatever you can’t sell or donate, just dispose of properly. Call your local sanitation department to ask how to get rid of large items.

Pack!

Now that you have gotten rid of what you’re not taking, and gathered your supplies, it’s time to pack.

Pack one room at a time. Start with things that you do not use often, like holiday decorations and out-of-season clothing.

Pack one box at a time. After you seal a box, label it clearly with a marker. Number the box, briefly list its contents, and label which room it goes to. In your notebook or clipboard, you can write a more detailed description of each item in each box. This list will help you check that everything arrives with the movers. It will also help you locate specific items that you may be searching for in your new home.

Keep separate the items you will need until the very end. Pack separately the items you will be carrying along with you, such as clothes and toiletries for a few days, and items you’ll need when you first arrive to your new home.

Make a packing schedule for yourself and follow it. If you stick to your packing plan and pack a few boxes a day, it won’t be overwhelming. Move through every room of your house until it is all packed.