Moving from one home to another, sometimes even one community to another, is both a time of great excitement and great stress. Here are some tips:

Getting Ready:

• Designate one drawer or a dresser for first-night essentials (sheets, towels, toiletries, plates). Load this last, unload it first.
• Reduce your load by having a garage sale beforehand. Consider the cost of shipping vs the cost of replacement for cross-country moves.
• Pack seldom-used or out-of-season items ahead of time
• Notify friends & relatives of your move. Start submitting change-of-address forms to post office.
• If you have kids, arrange all documents for changing kid's schools
• Gather all important personal, insurance, medical and dental documents
• Arrange disconnect and re-connect of utilities and telephone service
• Transfer banking (savings accounts, personal loans) to the new location
• Return any library books

Packing:

• Keep your pets out of the way (at a friends house) during loading
• pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in larger boxes (to keep weights more consistent)
• Remove bulbs from lamps
• Put pictures in boxes between sheets, blankets or towels for extra protection
• Stack plates and record albums on end vertically, not flat and stacked
• Have kids label their own room's boxes so they become familiar with the new address
• Take your current phone book with you. You may need to call people in your former hometown.
• Dispose of flammable liquids (contact the local fire department)
• Pick up dry-cleaning

Finishing Off:

• Clean all appliances, including the oven. Defrost the fridge
• Before the van leaves for your destination, give the driver a phone number where you can be reached (If you don't have a cellphone, this is a good time to get one with a pay-as-you-go plan)
• Write down your move Registration Number in case you have any questions.
• After cleaning your refrigerator, put an half-cup of coffee grinds, baking soda or charcoal in a sock to keep it smelling fresh.
• Wrap plants well for cold-weather moving (layers of cleaner bags are great). In hot weather, keep them away from windows and exterior walls of vans.
• Check all shelves, closets, and storage areas for items left behind
• At the destination, unload the TV first to keep the kids occupied during unloading