Be clear about insurance and damage. No insurance, no payment for damage (Ca. movers pay 60 cents per pound per article).
Pack everything that can be packed. Use unprinted newspaper.
Transport your jewelry yourself.

be realistic about how much time it will take to pack. use towels and clothing such as socks as padding for fragile items.

Definitely agree with towels and clothes for packing fragile items. I actually got a score of a deal on dog food from Chewy.com and got 12 bags of 30lb dog food for like $60 including shipping, each box was shallow and easy to carry and came with TONS of bubble wrap. Covered out whole move into the new place. It was awesome!

If you have professional movers don't have them unpack. They will unpack everything at once then leave. And there you are with a house full of things to put away!!

sandkshouse has it right. Ask yourself if it is worth paying to have each object moved.

I just moved my elderly grandmother into an Assisted Living Facility. It was a big downsizing event. Even though she's 85 and makes decisions slowly, I got her to tell me everything that she wanted to take so that she was comfortable when she got to the new place.

I am moving in August (hopefully) and I have started packing already. I have been following sandkshouse's formula except I added a #4 - Pack!

I have an inventory of the boxes on a spreadsheet matched with photos of anything of value that I take as I pack. The guest room looks like a photography studio. That's where I am staging it all.

As I pack a room I then paint it, debrass it, replace any fixtures (like shower heads in the guest baths etc) then close it up!

I am usually not so organized but I have more time now, and the last time I moved was so hectic (all done in a week start to finish) I swore I would never do that again.

Due to the stressful nature of moving, my advice is mostly about saving money and using it to make the move fast and easy.

1. Sell everything you haven't used in the last year on CL - you'd be surprised how much money you will make.

2. Use the extra money you made from selling junk you don't need to get a full service moving company - Moving, divorce and loosing your job are the most stressful events in life.

3. Keep your boxes and use the money you save to have someone else move your treadmill...

4. Last but definitely not least, commit to unpacking every last box in a week so you can start enjoying your new home.

Moving Tips that will save you a lot of stress in your next move:

• Donate,
  Sell or Throw away everything that you really don’t need or use anymore. It
  goes a long way when you arrive at your new place and indeed you’ll have enough
  space for the things that really matter in your life. Not to mention that the
  less you pack and carry with you, the faster that you can go ahead and enjoy
  your new residence.

• Sort by simple categories starting with the room
  that you’re actually working on and then the contents in the package. For example: if you’re packing your silverware, a very nice
  label for it will be: Kitchen/Silverware.

The easier the label, the easier will be to
locate and know what’s in it when you off load the items at your new location.
Also, always write on the side of the boxes because if you need to stack up any
boxes, you’ll be able to see what’s in them without having to move them again.

• Pack
  decorative, small items and personal documents carefully ahead of time. By
  doing this, you’ll cut short the amount of time that it’ll take to get out of
  your old place and into the new one, when the movers come. This way, you’ll be sure that your delicate
  and valued belongings are safe. Ideally,
  you’ll like the movers to carry the big and heavy items as well as your packed
  boxes.

Are You needing an affordable moving company?

A Smooth Move has over 17 years’ experience in moving and packing. We offer affordable professional moving and packing. Local and long distance moving available. We have hourly rates and we also offer free in home estimates. You will be quoted a flat rate. The price quoted is the total cost of your move. This way you can budget for your moving cost and you don't have to worry about any hidden cost other moving companies have. Call 513 481-1316 and ask for your free estimate and Make your next move A Smooth Move.
http://www.4asmoothmove.org

the first thing to do when you arrive at your new place is to set up your bed and put on the linens. At the end of a long, tiring and stressful day, that bed is ready for you to collapse into.