Moving Plan

Create a checklist that covers everything you need to complete your move.
Start early! You can decrease moving-day stress by packing and organizing everything ahead of time.
Have a garage sale, donate or gift the items that just don’t make sense to move.
Get carpets cleaned before you move. They’ll come back cleaned, wrapped and ready to move.
Make sure your car has a full tank of gas. You want to arrive when the movers do.
Always be available during pickup and drop-off to answer your mover’s questions.
Before the van leaves: Check to make sure you’ve left nothing behind.
Make sure to give your mover an accurate assessment of what they’ll be moving. Don’t surprise them on moving day.
Send the kids to Grandma’s house. They’ll add to the stress on moving day.
Check to see if there are restrictions on moving your pet to a new state.

Tips for Packing

Overbuy packing supplies like boxes, bubble wrap and tape. Running out isn’t fun.
Separate your important papers so that you can find them fast.
Separate “right away” boxes. These are boxes you’ll need as soon as you move into your new home.
Hire professionals to pack difficult or fragile items like glass-top tables.
Stack your heaviest boxes on the bottom of the pile.
If possible, keep your clothes inside your dressers and tape the drawers shut.
Keep bolts and screws that go with your furniture bagged separately and labeled.
Make sure tools you’ll need once you arrive are marked so that you can find them quickly.
Label boxes with room destination and contents.
Remember to consider how plants will react to your new home (especially if you’re moving to a new climate).