Moving doesn’t have to be a whirlwind of chaos and last-minute stress. In our new guide, we listed some of our top moving “hacks” that will make settling into your new place a whole lot easier. Read more!

The “Snap and Save” Technique

Before you unplug your TV, computer, or entertainment system, take a picture of the back. Capturing exactly how the cords are connected will save you hours of frustration when you try to set everything up in your new place.

Go a step further and take photos of your current home’s layout, specifically how furniture is arranged. If you love how your living room flows now, having a reference photo will help you replicate that vibe in the new space without endless rearranging.

Use Saran Wrap for Liquids

Toiletries are notorious for leaking during transit. To prevent shampoo explosions inside your boxes, unscrew the caps of your liquid bottles, place a small square of plastic wrap over the opening, and screw the cap back on. This creates a secondary seal that prevents spills even if the bottle gets squeezed.

The “Door-to-Door” Drawer Trick

Emptying dresser drawers into boxes takes time and uses up valuable box space. Instead, use plastic wrap (the heavy-duty kind used for shipping pallets works best) to wrap the drawers with the clothes still inside. This keeps everything contained.

However, a word of caution: if the dresser is extremely heavy, remove the drawers to move the frame separately, then slide the wrapped drawers back in once you’re on the truck. This makes the furniture lighter and easier to maneuver.

Packing Like a Pro: Creative Solutions

Bubble wrap is expensive and bad for the environment. These hacks use items you already own to protect your breakables.

The Hanger Hack

Don’t waste time taking clothes off hangers, folding them, and packing them into suitcases. Instead, group your hanging clothes into bundles of 10-15 items. Take a large trash bag and pull it up from the bottom of the clothes, tying the drawstrings around the hooks of the hangers.

Your clothes stay clean, organized, and ready to hang immediately in your new closet. It’s essentially a free garment bag that takes seconds to create.

Socks for Stemware

Glassware is fragile and tricky to pack. Instead of wrapping each glass in paper, slip your clean socks over your wine glasses and tumblers. The fabric provides excellent cushioning, and it packs two items at once—your socks and your kitchenware. For plates, place a styrofoam disposable plate between each ceramic plate to prevent scratching and cracking.

The “Russian Doll” Method

Maximize your space by nesting items inside one another. Pack spices inside large cooking pots. Put small appliances inside the microwave (padded with towels, of course). Use your suitcases for heavy items like books—the wheels will make it much easier to transport than a cardboard box, which might break under the weight.

Organizing for Sanity

The chaos of moving usually hits when you arrive at the new house and can’t find your toothbrush.

Color-Code Your Rooms

Writing “Kitchen” on a box is helpful, but when you have a stack of 50 brown boxes, reading every label becomes tedious.

Pick a color of duct tape for each room (e.g., Blue for Bedroom, Red for Kitchen, Yellow for Living Room). Put a strip of that colored tape on the box and on the doorframe of the corresponding room in the new house. Movers (or your helpful friends) won’t even have to ask you where things go—they just match the colors.

The “First Night” Survival Kit

Pack a clear plastic bin with the essentials you will need for the first 24 hours. If it’s in a clear bin, it stands out from the sea of cardboard boxes. Include:

Toilet paper
Phone chargers
A box cutter
Basic toiletries
A change of clothes
Paper plates and utensils
Coffee maker and mugs (vital for the next morning!)

The Handyman Service: Your Secret Weapon

Sometimes the best hack isn’t a clever use of duct tape—it’s knowing when to call in backup. While you might think of a handyman service for leaky faucets or broken steps, we are actually a moving day secret weapon.

Here is how hiring a handyman service specifically for your move can change the game.

Disassembly and Reassembly

We all have that one piece of furniture—usually a complicated bed frame or a massive sectional—that was a nightmare to build. Taking it apart without losing screws or stripping bolts is stressful.

A handyman service can professionally disassemble your large furniture before the move and, crucially, reassemble it correctly in your new home. This ensures your bed is sturdy and safe to sleep in on your first night, rather than a wobbling mess of loose parts.

The “Security Deposit” Save

If you are renting, you want your security deposit back. If you are selling, you want the buyers to be happy during the final walkthrough.

As you move furniture out, you will inevitably reveal scuffs on the walls, holes from picture hooks, or scratches on the doorframes. A handyman can follow behind the movers, patching drywall, touching up paint, and fixing those minor damages instantly. It’s a small investment that pays off by securing your deposit or closing the sale smoothly.

TV Mounting and Art Hanging

You’ve just moved in. You are exhausted. The last thing you want to do is find a stud finder, level a bracket, and drill into your new walls to mount the TV.

Handyman services can handle the technical setup of your new home. We can mount TVs, hang heavy mirrors, install shelving units, and even swap out light fixtures to match your style. By the time you’ve unpacked the kitchen, your living room is already set up and ready for movie night.

Junk Removal Integration

Moving is the perfect time to purge, but often we end up moving junk simply because we don’t know how to get rid of it. Many handyman services offer junk removal as part of the package.

Instead of moving that broken treadmill or the old mattress to your new basement, let a handyman haul it away. We can coordinate donation drop-offs or responsible disposal, meaning you start fresh in your new home without the clutter of the past.

Handling the Heavy Stuff

If you are doing some of the moving yourself, physics is your friend.

The Slider Solution

Never drag heavy furniture across a floor without protection. If you don’t have professional furniture sliders, use household items.

For carpet: Place cardboard or smooth plastic lids under the furniture legs.
For hardwood/tile: Place thick towels or old blankets under the legs.
This protects your floors from scratches and makes heavy dressers glide with half the effort.

The Mattress Handle Trick

Mattresses are floppy, heavy, and awkward to carry. If your mattress doesn’t have handles (or if they are ripped), create a sling using a long rope.

Lay the rope on the floor in a U-shape. Place the mattress on top. Pull the ends of the rope up through the loop at the bottom, creating a makeshift handle on either side. This gives you and your moving partner a solid grip, making it much easier to navigate stairs and corners.

Need Help Moving? Contact Flannery’s Handymen Today!

Reach out today on our website or call us at (781) 775 – 9943.