This post was sponsored by PODS®
Moving is widely regarded as one of life’s most stressful events. Even when you’re excited about a fresh start, the whole process—from finding a home to packing, coordinating logistics and settling into a new place—can feel overwhelming. Every move brings a new set of decisions and challenges, whether you’re negotiating an offer, managing financing, coordinating help, or setting up a new household.
No two moves are exactly the same. Your season of life, health, availability, children’s ages and school situations, and the support network in the new location can all change how the move plays out. Buying and selling homes during a move adds complexity, and moving to an unfamiliar area where you don’t have friends or family nearby can be particularly stressful.
With experience you pick up helpful habits, even though each move tends to be different. Having recently gone through a move, I wanted to collect the most useful lessons and tips we learned. These suggestions cover finding a house, packing, and other practical considerations. Because there’s a lot of information, I’ve split the tips into two parts. I hope these ideas make planning your move easier—please share your own tips in the comments so we can all learn from one another.
Note: PIN this post so you can find it later and share it with friends. Check out part two for more tips.
Below are the main tips that stood out to me during our move—practical steps that helped reduce stress and avoid common pitfalls.
1. Start your house hunt online.
Searching for a new home online is a great first step. Real estate sites let you see listings, track days on market, compare recent sales, and research neighborhoods. I used an app that alerted me to homes in my price range and allowed me to save favorites and monitor activity.
Use map and street view tools to do virtual “drive-bys.” They help you check proximity to busy roads, nearby amenities, and the feel of the surrounding homes. Street view can reveal issues not shown in listing photos—like proximity to commercial zones or an undesirable backyard view. Keep in mind street view images may be outdated, so don’t assume curb appeal won’t have improved.
Online research is helpful, but it can’t fully replace an in-person visit. Photos can be misleading. If you can’t see a home yourself, ask a trusted friend or your realtor to preview it and share details before you make decisions.
2. Drive through neighborhoods.
When possible, spend time driving and walking through neighborhoods you’re considering. Being there in person gives you a clear sense of what it would be like to live there—sidewalks, street trees, parking availability, nearby parks, and the general atmosphere. Pay attention to traffic patterns and how easy it would be to commute to work or school. Walking the area helped us eliminate neighborhoods that didn’t feel right, even though they looked fine on a map.
3. Find a great realtor.
A good realtor is essential. Look for someone who understands the local market, knows the types of homes you’re interested in, and has experience with the area’s property values and construction types. You want a realtor who communicates well and genuinely wants you to find a home you’ll love, not just make a sale. A trusted realtor can provide invaluable guidance and save you time and stress during the search and negotiation process.
4. Find a great lender.
Start researching lenders as soon as you know you’ll be moving—don’t wait until you find a house. Getting pre-approved and having financing in place before you make offers makes the process smoother. Consider comparing larger banks with smaller local lenders, especially if you prefer more personal service or have self-employed income. Ask your realtor for lender recommendations and shop around to find the best fit for your situation.
5. Prepare ahead to move out.
Packing and moving take more time and energy than you expect. Start early, even before your home is listed, and use the move as an opportunity to declutter. Be ruthless about getting rid of items you don’t need—downsizing makes unpacking far easier later. Decide which appliances or awkward furniture pieces are worth moving and which are better sold or left with the new buyer.
Plan for pets and plants: pets can be frightened by the activity of moving, so arrange for them to be somewhere safe on moving day. Potted plants often don’t survive a long move or storage—consider gifting them to friends or to the new homeowners.
Think through logistics early and book moving services in advance. We used PODS to load our belongings into a container that stayed in secure storage until delivery to our new home, which simplified timing when there was a gap between move-out and move-in. If you need labor help for loading or unloading, schedule it ahead of time—moving season fills up fast.
Other practical tasks to handle before moving day: stop buying groceries about a week in advance and use up perishables, arrange mail forwarding with the post office, and notify utility companies of your move date. If you’re relocating to a new area, research nearby services—doctors, vets, grocery stores, and other essentials—to ease the first weeks after your move.
Scheduling and planning ahead reduce last-minute stress and help you handle unexpected issues more calmly.
Phew — that’s plenty for one post. What are your best moving or packing tips? Share your advice in the comments!
Thanks again to PODS for their support during our move.
Click HERE to see PART TWO of these moving tips.