If you are packing your household yourself, put together a kit of supplies and keep it in one place. You’ll be surprised how this will smooth and simplify what can be a highly chaotic process. A preassembled kit will save you from the frustration of searching everywhere for packing tape, or discovering at midnight that you don’t have any marking pens.

1. Boxes. Begin collecting them from office supply, liquor, and other stores. Avoid grocery store boxes as they may harbor insects attracted by the food—or their eggs. Consider purchasing certain boxes from a moving company; wardrobe boxes, for example, will simplify moving the contents of your closets.

2. Bubble wrap.

3. Newspapers.

4. Rolls of 2-inch packing tape with dispensers.

5. Masking tape. Use it to fasten rolled-up rugs, to secure moving parts, etc. Masking tape can also be used to label boxes.

6. String. Use it to secure furniture doors or other items you don’t want to put tape on.

7. Small plastic bags with twist ties. These will be invaluable for screws, brackets, and other miscellaneous items.

8. Felt-tip markers.

9. Scissors and box cutters.

10. Tools. You’ll simplify life even further if you keep screwdrivers and a hammer in the kit so they’ll be handy when you need to take something apart.