Moving has been ranked as one of life's most stressful events, and if you've had to go through it, you know why.

Here are 10 hacks to help you make a smooth move:

1. Pack a 'first-day' bag.

Before you end up packing all your essentials across boxes - pack a bag of things you'll need for your first day in your new home. You're going to be exhausted from the move and the last thing you'll want to do is unpack straight away.

2. Cover your bottles with plastic wrap

Worried that your toiletries or condiments might leak during the move? To ease your worry - unscrew the cap of your bottles and put a layer of plastic wrap over the opening before reattaching it. This seals the bottles tightly and prevents the liquid from leaking.

3. Pack your dishes sideways

Most people's first instinct is to pack dishes flat on top of each other, but they are actually much less likely to be damaged on their side. Don't forget to wrap each dish in paper or bubble wrap to ensure they don't crack.

4. Use coffee filters in between bowls

Coffee filters are easy to pick up and are perfect for protecting your bowls. Place them between each bowl while you're stacking them to make sure they don't rattle too much, otherwise you could end up with chipped or fractured crockery.

5. Protect your mattress with fitted sheets

Wrap your mattress with a sheet over each side to prevent it from getting dirty during the moving process. This simple hack will save you a lot of trouble - rather have some sheets to clean than an entire mattress.

6. Use your towels and linens for protection

Moving is all about packing wisely. Instead of packing your sheets and towels away in separate bags, use them to wrap and protect any fragile assets. This will save you paper and space.

7. Roll up your clothing

If you're running out of packing space for your clothing, rolling them up instead of folding them will save you space. For t-shirts, fold from sleeve to sleeve and roll down from the collar to the bottom of the -t-shirt.

8. Label and colour code your boxes on all sides

This is a step you don't want to forget. Before all your boxes are packed into the moving vehicle, you're going to want to make sure they are visibly labeled on each side. Colour code and catagorise them according to the room they need to go in, and what's inside.

9. Plan how you pack the moving vehicle

Before you pack in, think about what you're going to need to pack out first. This will make the process on the other side a whole lot smoother. Also make sure you have discussed the moving details with your driver before the time (how many trips you'll need, materials needed to secure furniture, whether there is parking and unpacking space on the other side).

10. Use the 'camel clutch' when carrying

Relieve strain from your back by carrying your boxes behind you with your arms supporting underneath. This puts a lot less pressure on your back than carrying in front.

If you are doing a lot of heavy lifting, it might be worth hiring a rubber wheel dolly.

When you've finally made it out the other side, don't forget to give yourself a well-deserved break before starting your unpacking process!

If you need help finding your forever home, get in touch with us today.