There's a saying about moving: "Home is where our story begins, and every departure is a new chapter."
If you are getting ready to start a new chapter in your life, your time will soon be spent packing boxes, wrapping valuables, and changing addresses.
Unfortunately, moving doesn't always go so smoothly. In a study released in 2024 by Anytime Estimate, nearly 82% of Americans who moved that year said it was stressful, with half of them admitting that the process brought them to tears.
Since we don't want that for people either moving to or from Charleston, we asked local real estate experts to share the best hacks they offer their clients to help make the moving process easier.
Make a punch list: There are some ways to make moving easier before you even pack one thing. Bambi Magraw Elstrom, a broker with Charleston Costal Living for eXp Realty, recommends creating a "punch list" on a walkthrough, so you know what to pre-pack, donate or throw away.
"That is anything that's not needed in the next three to four months," she said. "We do this walkthrough with the seller immediately after signing the listing agreement. The punch list gives the seller a clear roadmap of what can be done to ready the property for photos and listing."
Elstrom says the upsides of this approach are beautiful, de-cluttered photos and easier preparations for showings.
"You've already done the most time-consuming task by cleaning out and organizing, so the final pack is much easier," she said.
Pack it now: Once you know that you're moving, it's never too early to start packing.
"You're going to have to pack it anyway, so pack it now," said Realtor Elizabeth Baker with RE/MAX Seaside. "Since I fully stage my listings for my sellers for free, I encourage them to go ahead and pack theirs now. Pack those knick-knacks now, unless you need something to live, such as a real bed to sleep on, etc."
Baker suggests that sellers use her staging items so they are packed and ready to roll at closing.
"This makes it so much easier for sellers when they're about to load the trucks," she says. "Their extras are already boxed up and stored in the garage, at a facility or in a POD [portable on-demand storage]. It reduces that last-minute scramble."
Label those boxes: It's so easy to start packing and get distracted by other things. Then you don't know what you put in that box.
Owen Tyler, regional VP of the Carolinas and Georgia for Williams Raveis Real Estate, suggests labeling the boxes immediately.
"Labels make unpacking so much easier, and you don't spend endless time opening boxes looking for one item," he said.
Use social media: It might sound unorthodox, but searching for #movinghacks on TikTok or YouTube can open you to a world of new ideas to ease the moving transition. For example, several TikTokers shared how they did not pack clothes from their closet and instead grouped them and slid a garbage bag underneath, tying it at the top of the hanger. Then, you just need to hang them up in the closet on moving day and pull the garbage bag off. Easy peasy.
Hire a professional: Life is busy and moving can be a challenge, so why not hire a professional to help get the job done?
Realtor Joy Miller with Dunes Properties of Charleston has hired professionals such as Armstrong Company, and Hauling Hubbies and Handymen, for a move.
"I walked around taking a video of each room, opening cupboards and Armstrong gave me a quote based on that," she said. "They also stepped in at 36 hours' notice when my clients' movers let them down. Couldn't have been nicer and more helpful. Very professional."
Hauling Hubbies helped her son move out of a large home, putting some items in storage and moving the rest. Professional movers make the process easier and free up time for you to work on other aspects of your move - like creating cozy spaces and meeting neighbors.