Moving Advice & Tips

Moving is hard — finding trustworthy advice shouldn't be. For nearly two decades, HireAHelper has helped people complete over a million moves, and we've turned everything we've learned into the practical guides, checklists, and expert tips you'll find here. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, packing a single room or a whole house, our advice breaks every step down so you can move with less stress and more confidence.

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Professional movers packing cardboard boxes with tape for a move

How Much Does It Cost for Movers to Pack and Move You?

Costs & Saving

Hiring movers to pack and move a typical two-bedroom home starts at around $2,700. If you only need professional packing, that starts at $650, but can rise to a thousand dollars or more depending on the size of... Read More

a couple watches two movers load a truck with boxes

Can I Use Movers With My Own Truck?

Moving Trucks

Yes, you can use movers with your own truck. In this setup, you’re hiring labor-only movers to load and unload, while you provide and drive the rental truck or moving container. That’s different from full-service... Read More

A stack of new cardboard moving boxes in various sizes ready for packing

Best Place To Buy Moving Boxes in 2026: Compare Costs at U-Haul, The Home Depot, and More

Moving Supplies

Boxes are one of those moving expenses that don’t seem like much until you realize just how many you need. Walmart generally has the lowest prices for basic moving boxes, but the best place to shop depends on... Read More

A woman lifting a packed box in a bright studio apartment

How Much Does It Cost to Move a Studio Apartment? (Local & Long-Distance)

Costs & Saving

A studio apartment costs about $1,000 to move locally with full-service movers, or about $4,700 for a typical 1,400-mile move. You can spend much less by renting a truck or pairing your own transportation with... Read More

A couple carrying boxes out of a house to a waiting moving truck

Average Cost to Move a 4-Bedroom House: Local and Long-Distance

Costs & Saving

Moving a 4-bedroom house is a big job, and the price can change by thousands of dollars depending on the services you choose and how much stuff you have. For a typical 2,650-square-foot home, a local move can cost... Read More

A mover reviewing paperwork on a clipboard with a customer in a partly packed room

Licensed and Insured Movers: What It Means and How to Verify It

Booking Movers

Hiring a mover means trusting other people with nearly everything you own, but the words “licensed and insured” don’t tell you much on their own. Before you book, figure out whether the company is transporting your... Read More

moving boxes of different sizes and types are stacked in the middle of a room

Moving Box Sizes: The Complete Guide

Moving Supplies

Choosing moving boxes can get confusing, because you can't just throw everything into two dozen of the biggest boxes you can find. You need a good mix, which means small boxes for heavy items like books and dishes,... Read More

Two portable moving containers parked on a residential street, ready to be loaded

What’s a Moving Container? A Guide to Moving With Containers

Container Moves

A moving container is a portable storage unit that a company delivers to your home. You load it with your belongings, then the company picks it up and transports it to your new home or stores it at one of its... Read More

An office chair with armrests and casters being wrapped in plastic shrink wrap for safe moving and transport

How to Pack an Office Chair for Moving

Packing

Office chairs are more awkward to move than they look. Casters can make the chair roll unexpectedly, the seat can swivel while you’re carrying it, and protruding arms can catch on doorways or other furniture. The... Read More

an illustration of a train stopped beside police cars and a Welcome to Illinois sign. In the train cars there are various plants, fruits and vegetables, and a giraffe, cat, and dog. the train conductor is shrugging at the police officer pointing at the contents.

The Stuff That's Illegal To Bring Into Illinois

Long Distance

If you're moving to Illinois from another state, you'll need to know the laws and regulations about what can cross the border so you aren't bringing along something you shouldn't be. Marijuana cannot cross state... Read More

a view through a truck's windshield at a rainy highway

Here's How the Pros Move in the Rain

Moving Day Tips

You can plan your moving day down to every last detail, but the weather, including rain, is a little out of your control. Thankfully, there are ways to prepare, and the safest way to move in rain is to shorten... Read More

A woman reaches up to place a box at the top of a large stack of them, all labeled with various rooms and categories

How to Pack for a Move: The Complete Room-by-Room Guide

Packing

The best way to pack for a move is to start early, work room by room, and save the things you use every day for last. Packing can take longer than almost anything else on your moving list, especially once you get... Read More

A person spreading rock salt onto an icy driveway after a winter storm

How To Get Traction on an Icy Driveway

Moving Day Tips

An icy driveway can turn moving day into a real problem, especially if you have a truck, delivery driver, or helpers carrying heavy furniture across it. The main goal in icy weather is to get traction fast by... Read More

A mover using stretch plastic wrap to secure furniture and protect drawers from opening during transport

How to Use Plastic Wrap (Shrink Wrap) for Moving

Packing

Plastic wrap (AKA shrink wrap) can be helpful during a move, but it’s easy to overuse it or use it on the wrong things. For most DIY moves, it’s worth having around for three main jobs: holding furniture pads in... Read More

moving weed

How Do You Transport Marijuana While You’re Moving?

Long Distance

You can transport marijuana yourself during a local move within a state where it’s legal, but you can never take it across state lines. Because cannabis remains federally illegal, crossing a border with it is a... Read More

A moving truck travels south on a highway approaching the Florida border under a bright sky

The Stuff That’s Illegal To Bring Into Florida

Long Distance

Packing for a Florida move can get confusing fast because not everything that fits in a box, car, or rental truck is legal or allowed to cross the state line. Before moving day, check the rules for plants and... Read More

Two people lifting a torn cardboard box beside a moving van

Does Renters Insurance Cover Damages When Moving Out?

Move Planning

One of the things renters tend to miss about renters’ insurance (also known as tenant insurance) is that it may cover your belongings when you move out if they’re damaged by a covered peril, but it generally does... Read More

a group of children all wearing colorful backpacks run happily towards their school building

A Parent’s Guide to Transferring Schools When You’re Moving

Kids & Pets

When a family moves, the kids often end up switching schools too, and that can make an already big transition feel even more overwhelming. Getting it right comes down to three things: timing the move well, starting... Read More

A four-wheeled furniture dolly with a padded top, ready to support heavy furniture during a move

How to Move a Sofa with a Dolly: A Step-by-Step Guide

Loading & Unloading

Sofas are awkward to move because they are long, heavy, and hard to grip. A furniture dolly can make the job easier, but only if you prep the sofa, measure your path, load it correctly, strap it down, and avoid... Read More

break up checklist

How to Move Out After a Breakup: A Complete Checklist

Move Planning

If you're moving out because of a breakup, you're probably trying to deal with the logistics and heartbreak at the same time, and that can be overwhelmingly difficult. The best approach is to start with the things... Read More