• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Tips for Packing to Move

February 10, 2023 | tips

We moved to Tennessee last summer, and I can honestly say I hope we are in this house for a hot minute, because packing and moving is so exhausting and stressful! Since Bobby and I have been married (16 years), we have moved 6 times, so I would like to think I have learned a thing or two! I thought I would compile a list of my best tips for packing to move in the hopes that it helps make someone’s life a little bit easier!

1.) Plan way in Advance: The worst thing you can do is wait until the last minute to begin your prep. Not only will you potentially be out of luck with your chosen moving dates (especially if moving in a busy time like the summer), but it can get more expensive to hire someone the closer to a date it gets. If you plan in advance it gives you time to breathe and think without feeling rushed and then making poor decisions.

Planning in advance also helps if you need to do any deep cleaning or a few repairs in the home before the next people move in. A lick of paint here and a dust there can make all the difference. If you aren’t like the masses who move in summer and you are actually making tracks during the colder months, give the grass a cut, and shovel any snow off the driveway (you could find the best battery powered snow blower and use that for the house as well as your new one to help save time). It all can make a difference, and you’ll give then new owners one less thing to do as well.

Tips for Packing

2.) Save Boxes: We started saving boxes many months in advance. We would break them down and keep them in the attic along with collecting newspapers, bubble wrap, etc. We had my parents saving boxes and packing materials for us as well. You can sometimes even go to a store and ask for their boxes as they empty them and they will give them to you. Anything we could do to keep from having to BUY boxes or packing material!

3.) Do Your Research on Moving Companies: I spent a lot of time weighing the pros and cons of hiring a company vs. moving ourselves in a UHAUL type truck, vs. just hiring help to load, etc. In the end, for us, it was the most economical to have a trailer delivered in our driveway and slowly load it over the course of a few days with the help of friends and family. Then the trailer was picked up and moved to Knoxville for us, and we hired a couple of local guys by the hour to help us unload the big heavy furniture while Bobby and I unloaded most of the boxes. It was the balance we needed without spending a fortune but also having some help! Be sure to read Google reviews, insurance policies, etc. before making a decision.

4.) Purge: I can’t tell you how many times we have moved boxes from house to house full of items we never use! Not only does it take up space, but if you hire a moving company that charges by weight, you are literally paying to move your junk that you don’t need! As you are packing, throw stuff out or donate it. Think really hard– “is this something that I want in my new house?” If not, toss it before you give yourself time to change your mind.

Tips for Packing

5.) Do a little at a time: Some people wait and pack all in one weekend. To me, this is exhausting and stressful. I pack over the course of several weeks, with the “low hanging fruit” first such as attic items, books, home decor, etc. (things we don’t need to use on a day to day basis.) We clean out the garage, move out our car, and start making stacks and rows in it to stay organized and get the boxes out of the way in the house. This method has worked out well for us!

6.) Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! On the day of the actual move, having someone to watch kids and pets so they aren’t underfoot is a REALLY good idea. We had family watch Emma Kate and Dolly, and we ordered a bunch of pizza for family and friends. If you can get enough people to help you load (if you choose not to pay a moving company) it will take less time. Ask if anyone has a dolly you can borrow if you don’t own one. As if anyone has extra gloves, etc. You won’t get help if you don’t ask for it! We are so thankful for friends and family who gave up their time for us.

7.) Label, label, label!: Get a pack of sharpies and label your boxes WELL! Put what room it will go in at your new house, and don’t forget to put FRAGILE on multiple sides. You will be so thankful when unloading that you don’t have to open each box to see what room it needs to go in.

8.) Make Lists and Organize: I had several lists because we had items that needed to go with us in our cars while we waited a few days for the truck to arrive. You will also want a box or two of items you can quickly get your hands on so you can live in your home the first couple nights. Think things like clothes, sheets and pillows, paper plates, napkins and utensils, snacks, laundry detergent, hand soap, towels, pet food, bed and leash, etc.

Moving is never easy, but I hope this list helps you as you are packing to move, and I hope you enjoy your new home!

Related: Montgomery’s Moving to Knoxville

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sign up for my newsletter

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Family Fun in Tuscaloosa: Your Ultimate Getaway Beyond Game Day
  • 5 Reasons to Try a New Way of Travel
  • Experience Superhero-Sized Fun at Gaylord Opryland DC Summer
  • Digital Nomads: Safely Working Remotely While You Roam
  • Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) as a Travel Ball Mom

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
🌴 GIVEAWAY ALERT!🌴 Ready to escape to para 🌴 GIVEAWAY ALERT!🌴 

Ready to escape to paradise? I spent a few dreamy days at Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers, and I’m giving YOU the chance to win 2 FREE nights at this beachfront oasis! 😍☀️ #margaritavillepartner

Here are 5 things I didn’t expect to love so much (but totally did):
1️⃣ Fins Up Beach Club — live music, great drinks, and cabana vibes for days!
2️⃣ The Rooms — bright, coastal decor and ocean views that make you feel like you’re living inside a vacation postcard.
3️⃣ The Spa — a total hidden gem. My massage was next-level relaxation.
4️⃣ The Restaurants — from casual beachfront bites to more elevated dining, the food alone is worth the trip.
5️⃣ The Vibe — laid-back luxury with the perfect mix of fun and relaxation. It’s always 5 o’clock here! 🍹

✨ Whether you’re staying overnight or popping in with a day pass, Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach is pure island bliss.

🎉 Now YOU could win a 2-night stay!

🏖️ Prize: Complimentary Two-Night Stay at Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach
⚠️ Blackout dates apply.

How to Enter:
✅ Like this post & follow both @HeathersLG and @margaritavillefortmyers
✅ Tag at least 2 friends in the comments (extra comments = extra entries!)
✅ Comment: Are you a pool or beach person?

🌟 BONUS (not mandatory) for 5 extra entries: SHARE this post on your stories and TAG me so I can see it!

Good luck — and remember, it’s always island time somewhere! 🌊🍹

Redemption Details:
Winner must book by August 31, 2025
Valid for travel between August 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Must be 18+ to enter
Giveaway closes midnight July 25, 3025. Not sponsored by Instagram. 

#MargaritavilleResort #FortMyersBeach #BeachClubVibes #CabanaLife #SpaDay #BeachGetaway #ResortGiveaway #FinsUp
I’ve had an interesting first few days of being I’ve had an interesting first few days of being in my 40’s. A bit of a nerve wracking medical week I guess you could say. 

Have you ever had an MRI? Do you suffer from hearing loss? 👂 

#thisis40 #hearingloss #mri #inmy40s #40andfabulous
✨ This is what radiance looks like ✨ #ad Sin ✨ This is what radiance looks like ✨ #ad 

Since turning forty, I’ve been all about simple changes that help me feel strong, healthy, and confident — inside and out. 

Adding Organixx Collagen to my coffee each morning has been one of the easiest ways to support my skin, hair, and joints while juggling busy mom life. It blends right in and makes me feel like I’m doing something good for myself every single day. 

Because for me, it’s not just about looking good — it’s about feeling my best, staying active, and showing up for the people and moments that matter most. 
Radiance starts from within, and @organixxco helps make it part of my everyday routine.

🤩Use code HMONTGOMERY to save 10%! Link is in my bio.

 #organixx #organixxcollagen #CollagenRoutine #GlowFromWithin #BusyMomLife #ThisIsWhatRadianceLooksLike
I LOVE @disneyphotopass photographers! We have met I LOVE @disneyphotopass photographers! We have met some of the kindest most fun cast members while getting our pictures taken. 

If you don’t get pics taken with them often you probably won’t get this reel, and that’s ok. IYKYK. It’s all in good fun! 💚

What did I miss/forget?😆

#disneyphotopass #photopassphotographer #disneypics #disneyfunny #disneymeme
Follow me for more parenting hacks. 💁🏻‍♀ Follow me for more parenting hacks. 💁🏻‍♀️

#backtoschool #parentinghack #backtoschooltips #backtoschoolshopping
I turned 40 today. 🎉 Hitting a milestone like t I turned 40 today. 🎉 Hitting a milestone like this has me reflecting—not just on what I’ve accomplished, but on who I’m becoming.

I’ve always been driven to achieve, to push, to prove. But lately, I’ve been learning to celebrate presence over performance, connection over perfection.

Today wasn’t about checking a box or hitting a goal—it was about pausing, feeling grateful, and eating a ridiculous amount of cake with people I love. And honestly? That feels like growth.

Here’s to 40: more aligned, more grounded, and still a little extra. 😉

#thisis40 #40andfabulous #thankyoujesusfor40years #birthdaygirl❤️ #40andoverclub
Turning 40 tomorrow. 🎂 Big milestones always Turning 40 tomorrow. 🎂 

Big milestones always make me pause and ask:
What am I proud of?
What needs to shift?
Am I becoming the woman I want to be?

💡 As an Enneagram 3, I’ve always been wired to achieve — and for a long time, that meant shaping myself into whatever version I thought people would like best.

There are tables where it’s clear I’m not welcome — and that used to wreck me.
But at 40? I don’t do cliques. I don’t do shrinking or contorting to be accepted. 👀

I’ll always be kind. I’ll always be respectful. But I’m done dragging a chair to tables that were never built for me.

I’m moving over. Making space.
Creating my own table.

✨Who’s in?

#ThisIs40
#OwnYourStory
#ReelTalk
#Over30Club
#ChristianWomen
#PersonalGrowthJourney
#enneagram3

Copyright © 2025 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d