I'm now definitely a planner and pre-packer, even going so far to collect and keep for years, identically sized boxes to make packing and stacking them into the moving truck easier. Of course, I was taught after my first couple of college moves how to pack a box so that it's not too heavy and the weight is easily distributed, etc, by my brother, who has always done the heavy lifting for my moves.

My second to last move was from from Dallas to Baton Rouge. I had exactly two weeks to get rid of stuff, pack and organize, then I took a car full of stuff the 8 hours to Baton Rouge. Two weeks later, my brother and father drove to Dallas, loaded up my boxes and furniture and brought it Baton Rouge. I knew I wouldn't be able to get off work, so I had to carefully label every piece of furniture that would be going (separate it from my roommate's furniture), stow every box in my room and give careful instructions about where things were in the garage. Talk about planning...

I'm a serious planner and prepacker. We did seven cross country moves in 12 years and I had the whole process down to a science. By the time we were ready to pack up the truck, all boxes were packed, inventoried, color-coded, the works. We never lost a thing (even in the moves where we had professional movers--I always packed our stuff) and only broke one bowl (in a box my husband packed). I just don't know how people who do it all last minute can stand it. Of course, I am also the person who has the whole house unpacked in and place in no more than three days...and yes, we have a lot of stuff.

I am who I am too, and have just recently stopped apologizing for it. I got an out of town job in 2006 suddenly and needed to put my belongings in storage with only a week's notice. there was no time to do anything but minimal sorting, and I spent that on trying to avoid moving trash.

I was able to visit my storage and sort without that time pressure AFTER I had moved out of town with only minimal household goods. When my job stopped moving me around, I was able to move my greatly reduced possessions just fine.

Opening unlabeled boxes can be a little like Christmas!

Oh, man. I'm a planner and pre-packer. I'm moving in November, and I'm already culling things and using up craft supplies to make gifts just so I don't have to move it all.

My boyfriend, however, is a last-minute throw-into-Ikea-bags kind of mover. Good thing he has very few belongings. :-)

I am definitely a planner and prepacker. I think having the same size boxes are a great idea. Recently, I came across a green and sensible solution for boxes. You can rent large plastic bins from a company called Frogbox. They delivery the boxes to you before you move and picks them up after. What a great idea...the bonus is you will always have the same size boxes :)

http://www.frogbox.com/

I pre-plan and cull, and then have a last-minute crunched moving craze anyway...

All I want is to get to the age when I know how the heck to pack all my clothes. Wardrobe boxes and suitcases can't be the only solutions aside from garbage bags, right??

My last move was a nightmare - I had 3 weeks to move from Michigan to New Mexico, and the moving company moved my date back 3 times - when I got back from apartment hunting I found out I had 36 hours to pack up everything I own (so that it could all sit in storage for 3 weeks, it turns out - my stuff didn't get to New Mexico until after I'd been living there more than 2 weeks - NEVER use Infinity Movers). I did it - without sleep, with a smidge of caffeine. I'm still not quite sure how I pulled it off, though. Normally I am super organized when it comes to moving, but this last time, I didn't have the luxury.

I'm a planner, but nothing ever goes exactly to plan and I'm still frantically throwing things in boxes at 2 AM the night before the move ;)

We are moving this coming weekend and are all over the place. We got a lot of the unnecessary stuff packed and moved already, but this last week always kills me. There are so many loose ends.

I'm just glad we don't have to be out of our current places until the end of the month. The whole move-clean-unpack in one weekend thing kills me.

Laura
http://www.justalittlebit.net

I am usually a last minute kind of person. But when it comes to moving, I'm much more organized. I've also noticed that my fiance and I pack in different organized ways. He wants to get things done very early, but also very quickly, so he buys lots of boxes and bins, and just throws things in. He does this weeks and weeks in advance, and then lives on as little as possible. I spend hours packing each box so that all the items in said box go to the same room or area within a room, and so that there is no open space left in any box. I start less early than he does, but spend less time once we've arrived at the new home unpacking.

I'm with Home Body and Akay. I try to get stuff prepacked but there are always tons of loose ends. I utterly despise moving and would be thrilled if I never had to do it again so maybe that's part of why it never goes as planned. No practice at it at all.

"Planning" to cull items post-move isn't planning at all - It's a fools-errand.

If you're using friends & family to help move you, you're using them to move things for you that you don't want or need...
...and if you're paying movers, you're paying for things to be packed and moved that you don't want or need.

I havent moved in years, but I've decided that when I do I'm going to have to have a great big sale - then hire the movers to pack & ship everything other than the wardrobe.

I'm getting ready to move in 2 1/2 weeks and I'm going to start packing tonight.
What is the easiest way to move clothing on hangers?!

I'm a pre-packer, but I never get around to actually getting rid of everything I intend to.

To the person wondering how else to pack clothes - I use clothing to wrap dishes and glassware in. Saves finding newspaper (which then has to be discarded), and moves your extra socks and shirts at the same time.

Of course, don't forget to pack yourself a suitcase of essential items - a few days worth of comfy clothes/work clothes, and your basic toiletries, a book, and any comfort items you include - candles, bottle of whisky. ; )

I'm absolutely a pre-packer. When I moved into my current apartment, I handed my brother a diagram of where every piece of furniture was going. I'm contemplating another in town move right now (between a possible new job on the other side of the city and new neighbors who smoke, my apartment isn't quite as attractive as before) and it doesn't sound nearly as overwhelming as a year ago. Of course I'm paying him back for my last move next week by packing his kitchen.

If you know someone who works there, Starbucks boxes are fantastic for moving. For hanging clothes, wardrobe boxes if cross country, one of those bars that hangs across the back seat of a car if in town.

@ sleggo -- U-haul (and I'm guessing other places) sells wardrobe packing boxes that are tall cardboard boxes with a metal clothes rod across the top for those items that you want to keep hung up during the move.

I'm generally extremely well organized, but I've never got the hang of moving. I can figure out most things well enough, but how does one pack and move cleaning supplies, pantry supplies, and toiletries?

For my last move I tried so, so hard to plan, and be able to pack casually, carefully, and slowly for a couple months beforehand. I sold things on CL, I cleaned everything as I went, but somehow there was still all that random stuff left at the end that didn't quite fit in a box, or wasn't able to be categorized into kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc... and the last couple of days were spent frantically buying a couple XL boxes or just two more small boxes, and oh no, we need more packing tape, craziness. Next time, I'm getting rid of everything and starting fresh, seriously.

I'm a big planner. I have a moving checklist and color coded labels (Yes, I know...). I would suggest, however, that the most important bit of planning is to plan to save some money to hire movers. Despite being a big chunk of change, it was some of the best money ever spent. Everything went smoothly and I could walk the next day. (But, to avoid any aggravation or bad consequences, be sure to check out the movers and get recommendations/references beforehand! THAT is where the moving checklist comes in!!!)

I'm exactly like your sister also. I've moved 4 times in the past 10 years so I have it down to a science. I am moving again in August (hoping it will be the last time for a while) and I have already started listing unwanted items on CraigsList and planning trips to my local grocery and liquor stores to pick up boxes as soon as they unload them. I never pay for boxes since so many stores are willing to give you ones of all sizes for free. Same with offices too.

It's good to know that I'm not the only neurotic person who plans floorplans ahead of time too.

As an adult I've moved 13 times and definitely recommend pre-planning and pre-packing if only as a courtesy to the people helping you with the move. It's so much easier to round up volunteers if they only have to haul boxes that aren't too heavy and pack easily in a truck. Good packing also makes the day of the move go more quickly; it's nice to have some daylight left to enjoy pizza and beer before all your friends leave you to start unpacking.

Also, on my last move I hired movers and not only were they pleasantly surprised that everything was neatly boxed and marked they, then, took great care to pay attention to the labels on the boxes, took equally good care of my furniture and had a great attitude from start to finish. Apparently my packing set the tone for the move so that's something to keep in mind.

I too am a pre-packer & planner. My husband an I are moving from Nashville to Atlanta in August. Our 2 bed room apartment is nearly packed and we've been selling items on Craigslist since early May. We both work and I stay busy. I knew that if I didn't get started early, I would loose my mind trying to throw it all together at the last minute. My husband loves the organization too. Some of my friends think I'm crazy to have already be so far along, but we will definitely appreciate it on the moving day!

I am currently in denial about the fact that I'm moving halfway across the country next month (literally, from Florida to Iowa at the end of July). I haven't packed a single box. Even worse, I haven't collected a single box much less packed one. I did cull some books, but besides that, I'm pretending to be blissfully unaware that I really have a lot of stuff to do. Maybe your post will encourage me to get on with it.

I am a planner, discarder and prepacker - in theory. But since my last 5 moves were with my long term partner, they grew more and more unorganised. Chaos is spreading ;)

I've moved five times within the past five years. Two words: hate-ful. Oh, actually it's only one. It doesn't change the fact that moving is a pain though.

I prepacked almost everything and on the moving day my dad calmly informed me that all my belongings weren't going to fit into the van (he's within the business and does some awesome counting just by looking at stuff). Boxes that were very neatly organized before M day were then opened in front of the house for all eyes to look at. I had had nightmares beforehand and had told myself "no no, just relax, you're so organized and have packed almost all of it already, it'll go just fine". Yeah, I wish.

The trash bins were filled with things and some of the things that would still work, I put on the sidewalk (all of which amazingly disappeared during the night). Luckily, I had sold most furniture and what I wasn't able to squeeze into the van, I gave to the next tenants, who were actually glad about them. Also, I had donated many big garbage bags full of perfectly funtioning things, but I still wish I would have done the cure VERY THOROUGHLY :(

I'm still dealing with the aftermath of having too many things - and my husband will finally move in with me in July, so I really have to chuck stuff out. Hateful. I really like the feeling that comes after you've gotten rid of useless things, but what I detest myself at times with true passion is my attachment to papers with "important" information in the shape of a photo or such, because they ruin all of it.

My best advice re: moving EVER is do yourself a favour and don't try to squeeze too much into the immediate time before moving, because you also have to do cleaning and such, with bad luck in both places, which is traumatizing enough without having to add selling things and moving junk to deal with only in the new place. Make your moving day a serene one and cure cure cure regularly...

I reread my comment and have to apologize for the rather appalling language; grammar has gone down the drain etc., but I guess it's because I find the whole concept of moving so truly nasty. Sorry.

@sleggo - Here's a trick. You'll never several large plastic garbage bags and rubberbands.

Cut a small hole in the middle of the bottom of the garbage bag.

Grab a dozen or so hangers with clothes hanging from them and wrap a rubberband around the bottom of the hooks to bind them.

Push the hooks through the small hole and shimmy the garbage bags down over the clothes.

Maybe it isn't the best solution, but it's quick, easy, and cheap. It's worked for me for several moves, one cross-country.

What? You'll "never?" I don't know where my mind is. That should say, "you'll need." D'oh! (What else did I say without my knowledge?)

i've moved about 15 times in my life. used to be a last minute garbage bag mess, but have learned the hard way that careful packing and taking only what your really need/want/use helps. the last time i moved across country about 10 years ago, i was shocked at how much junk i had brought with me. what a waste of time, energy and precious resources!

now i have a day about 2 weeks before where i have a fire sale. i invite friends, neighbors and let them buy any items marked with a big red sticker. anything not wanted left over gets picked up by a local charity truck. the rest of the stuff that is actually going with me is packed carefully and labeled well.

one tip is to tell your movers (friends, family or professionals who are often paid atrociously low wages) that you will be giving them lunch at the beginning of the move and have some cold drinks in the fridge for the crew to enjoy as they need. that little gesture keeps everyone happy and a bit more careful with your stuff.

Karlwk- I'm a mover too. Seven moves in 10 years but only two were cross country the rest were up and down the eastern seabord.

I feel like I want to take a class from you! Color-coded? Do tell?

I also can unpack the house in about 3 days.

I have moved cross country many times. I even married someone who used to be a professional mover, smart thinking, huh? He does all the heavy lifting but I do most of the packing.
As far as clothes, I agree with the socks, swimsuits etc. as cushioning for breakables. I also pack knickknacks right in clothes drawers wrapped in the clothes. Then you don't need boxes for that stuff.
We also put all hanging clothes in the garbage bag and lay flat on top of everything at the end. My aunt was amazed by this technique but I honestly hadn't ever thought of doing it another way. Wadrobe boxes waste more space in a truck but can be used for seasonal clothes storage at your new place.
As far as cleaning supplies, pantry staples and toiletries
You need to clean last and first. So everything goes in your bucket and is put on with the broom and mop last same with the others, go on last. Unpacked first.

Oh, plus a funny moving story.
We once rented a Penske yellow truck and picked up a bunch of free fruit boxes at the grocery store.
Our little 4 year old neighbor saw us packing up and thought we were driving a banana truck!

I am your sister and everybody else I know is her roommate. The last time I moved, the movers told me I was the most prepared person they had ever moved and that most people start packing when they show up. The first thing I do when preparing to move is to do all the laundry and dry cleaning and I pack a suitcase with complete outfits for a few days. I pack out-of-season clothes separately so that I don't have to worry about unpacking them on the other side (I just keep them packed and stored until the season changes.) Then I pack by room and mark each box with a general description of its contents. As I go through each room I keep a box to collect the stuff I really don't use or need and I give that to the neighborhood church. I wrap, mark and pack the artwork, mirrors, and tablescapes separately and I pack a separate box of stuff I am going to need to access and use right away (like whatever book I'm reading, papers I need for work, my curling iron, my favorite coffee cup ... stuff like that). I too take measurements of the new place and have a floor plan for the furniture and since I am already packed by room, I just unpack by room. It generally takes maybe two or three days to pack and a single day to unpack. The last time I moved, I cooked dinner in my apartment that night, and I had my family over for a dinner party that weekend. I actually like to move, because it's a great opportunity to take stock of my possessions and de-clutter. In the past I wouldn’t hire professional movers. I would rent a truck and enlist the help of friends. But the last two moves I hired professional movers and let me tell you, that was the best money I ever spent. Even in high-priced New York City, it only cost me about $700 each time. And that's for a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment. The movers charge by the hour, but because I am so organized -- the boxes are waiting right by the door -- their job is basically just to load and unload. I even tell them how to load the truck based on how I'll want them to unload it on the other side, and because I have a floor plan I have them put the furniture down right where I want it. It's so much less wear and tear on you and your relationships to leave the heavy lifting to the pros.

Growing up, we moved six times. Three of them cross-country and one international. I quickly figured out that a good move is about being organized in the house already, having the 'first night' box packed and ready to go and using small boxes with good labels that match the doors of the new house. My husband makes fun of me to this day because my closets have labeled boxes of craft supplies, fabric, etc in them. But I can pack to move in about half a day...including the kitchen. It takes him a week just to pack his closet!

I'm a nester, and I hate moving. I'm working on getting better at the packing process, but I discovered my new favorite clothing-move method during my last move (a mere 5-6 miles):
Leave the clothes in the drawers. Take the drawers out of the dresser and neatly stack them in the car. Move the dresser separately.
Saved me a HUGE headache during my last move, as I ran short on boxes due to a huge sewing project.

I also will pack my kitchen way ahead of time, since that typically takes the longest. Appliances I don't plan on using, shot glasses, some dishes, etc. And I use a set of sheets to pack the remainder of my dishes when the time comes.

Giant IKEA tarp bags are a lifesaver when it comes to last-minute "how could I forget THIS?!" items.

I'm a big time moving planner. I've got a little trick that I use, and I NEVER move without this now. It's a little more pricey, but I start my rent at my new place (or negotiate to get at least two weeks early occupancy of at least two weeks) BEFORE I move out of my old unit. This way everything's not on one or two days, but I can go into the new unit and paint everything exactly how I want it and bring all of the non-essentials before I must vacate my old unit. This makes my moves so much easier: by the time I must vacate my old space, all I have to move on 'move day' is the major furniture (nightstands, drawer units, and everything small is already moved in). The art is already hung, everything is already in the proper cupboards, and there aren't hundreds of cardboard boxes everywhere. It's pretty lovely!

For example: (my wording isn't always the best)
Find new apartment, start least on July 1, 2010
Give 30 day notice on old apartment on July 1, 2010 (have 30 days to move out everything into new apartment, which I already have access to)

OR
Find new apartment, Start least on Ausust 1st, but Landlord allows early 2 week occupancy to move in July 15th
Give 30 day notice on July 1st (have 2 weeks where I have access to both units, to get everything ready)

This works like a dream...I'm sure lots of other people do it to, but have only 3 or 4 days with the new space and the old space at the same time. When I move in for good to my new apartment, it's not just like I've moved in, but I'm just getting furniture. It's wonderful.

http://www.abbeycatchat.com

My method, which I recommend to my real estate clients all the time, is to seperate everything into three categories:
1. Things I want to take (art work, momentos, etc);
2. Things I need to take (beds/linens, most used frying pan, grooming and first aid kits etc);
3. Everything else.
After that is done, you pack the things you want to take, give away everything in the 'everything else' category, and hold off until the last minute packing the things you need to take.
Makes moving much more manageable!

I have moved seven times in the last four years. Twice to new states, once to a new country. I'd say I'm good at planning ahead, but we're *maybe* going to move in 2-3 weeks, and I won't find out for 1-2 more weeks from now! The circumstances are beyond my control, but we found a great apartment we are trying to grab!

In the meantime, I'm deep cleaning my apartment. If we don't move, it's cleaner. If we do move, the fridge will be clean, as will the cabinets, the random edges of carpet hiding behind furniture, etc.

When I moved out of my dorms or college studio apartments, I was definitely frantically packing the night before. Although my personality is -- and always will be -- a procrastinator who does things last minute, now that I have a full apartment with more stuff and more things of value (physical or emotional), I couldn't possibly pack everything the night before. I'm moving in a week and I've been packing for at least a month. I still have a lot left to do, but I feel really good about how far I've come. This is also the first move where I'm using professional movers and there is no better motivation to get things packed, organized and clearly labeled than knowing NOT doing that could cost you hundreds more in moving costs.

I'm normally a planner/pre-packer. Then two moves back, my first long-distance move, I thought my new employers were paying for the movers to do the actual packing, but nobody told the movers. I ended up with 90 minutes notice to find boxes and, with the help of the truck driver's wife (honest), pack all my possessions. Amazingly, it all worked out. Since then, I think really, really hard before buying things...

I moved May 15th and I started packing, cleaning and de-cluttering in March-the best decision ever!!!