So here you are, found another place to live and can't wait to move in. You might think that it's going to be a major pain or you may think that you won't even break a sweat, but trust us when we say that either way you should plan ahead and get ready to be surprised at how much stuff you really have. Remember that pair of Manolos you were always looking for? Well chances are you are going to find it and a whole lot of other things that you don't remember ever owning. So for those of you still trying to figure out where that tikki doll came from and what you should do to safely transport it to your next abode, here are some tips when packing your worldly belongings.

Start early!
Most people underestimate the number of boxes that they will have. There are a lot of "inactive objects" in your home, this means anything that you don't use regularly. Since you don't use them often you will very likely forget them when estimating the number of boxes. Don't wait until the last minute to pack, start with all the nonessential items and leave the ones that you use regularly like your computer, seasonal clothes and alarm clock for last. If you wait until the last minute, you will be up all night packing and it will be a very boring Saturday night.

Buy moving supplies.
A big part of being prepared for a move is getting all the right moving supplies. This means boxes, bubble wrap and magic markers and packing tape, lots and lots of it. Take a look around your place to see if there are any items that will require special packing materials, such as mattress covers or garment boxes, which are used to transport clothing right on the hanger so there's no need to ask that Gap girl how she folds that shirt of yours so nicely.

Pack similar items together such as dishes or computer equipment.
Remember that you will have to unpack later. The easiest way to lose things is to pack them separately because you will probably forget where you placed that set of rollerblades when you have 30 boxes and they all contain random items.

Label your boxes.
If the movers are not doing the packing for you, they will not know how you packed your stuff so try not to pack in a way that requires special handling. If it does require special handling, please remember to clearly label the box with the instructions such as "This Side Up" or "Do Not Place Heavy Boxes On Top". Label what's in the boxes because if you do number 2 but not number 3, well, that's just not too bright is it?

Wrap anything breakable such as glassware and dishes with soft material to prevent scratches and breakage.
You can use anything from newspaper to towels to old clothes if you don't want to buy packing material. Nothing is as depressing as having to go buy all the china all over again.

Pack all boxes to capacity, things break when they can shift around.
Use blankets or old clothes to fill in any big spaces in boxes. Heavy boxes that are not packed to capacity are also dangerous for movers to move because they might tilt it and the sudden weight shift may injure the mover and an injured mover is usually not a happy mover or one that will finish your move for that matter.

Inspect the moving boxes if they are not new.
If the boxes were used in the last move and have been taped together and then ripped apart, it is probably not safe to reuse them. Use your own judgement, old boxes may be fine for blankets but not for that new expensive flat screen monitor. If the item is expensive, spend that extra buck to get something nice to pack it in.

Keep the boxes under a reasonable weight and size.
Boxes should not exceed 18"x18"x16" in size or 40 lbs in weight. Be considerate of your movers, packing all your books into a huge box will just lead to the mover charging you extra fees. Movers always prefer smaller and lighter boxes to big, heavy ones. Movers aren't usually bodybuilders so if you can't budge it, chances are they won't be able to either.

Wrap your mattress.
Moving is a dirty activity and mattresses are not cheap to come by. Go to your local moving supplies store or go online to purchase a mattress cover. It is inexpensive and will protect your mattress from stains and scratches. Now you won't have to explain where that strange yellow stain comes from at every house party.

If you don't need it, don't pack it.
Moving is a great time to do some house cleaning and get rid of that old set of skis that you haven't used in the last 10 years because well, you really don't ski. We know there are some pack rats out there but as a general rule, if you don't need it, just throw it away or hold a garage sale but definitely keep that tikki doll.

We hope these moving tips are helpful and that your move goes well. If it doesn't, well that's probably your fault so don't give us that look but if you'd like to share some of your trials and tribulations with us, please do not hesitate to email us with any tips that you'd like us to share with our customers.