Moving Tips for a Smooth Move

From some one who has moved a few times, the best of my moving tips of the day are all about planning your move.

To paraphrase an old real estate saying - the three most important factors for a stress-free move are: planning, planning, and more planning.

Moving Tips:

• Plan your move at least one month in advance.

• One of our best moving tips is to set up a moving book, and line up your suppliers - movers, storage companies, delivery of new appliances or furniture. It is a great way to keep track of what's happening with your move.

Find a Mover for a Local or Long Distance Move Here. Plus painters, carpet installers and other services working on your new house prior to your move in date.

• When planning a move, minimize the number of items you have to move. Discard unwanted items, hold a garage sale, and start collecting boxes.

• Order a Moving Kit that is the appropriate size for your household.

Moving kits are convenient and relieve the stress of locating moving material.

• Notify friends, relatives, the post office, and companies you do business with of your change of address. Don't forget about those companies you might contact only once a year, such as life insurance or car insurance companies.

• Contact your lawyer about the changeover of all utilities. Some may be handled by your lawyer as part of the final adjustments included with the sale. Others, particularly cable television and telephone, you'll probably be instructed to handle on your own. Make a list and make sure you contact them all.

• Book your appointments as soon as possible, or you might find yourself on a waiting list at month end. Try to schedule utilities and service connections before you arrive at your new house.

Here's one of my favorite moving tips, something few people think to do:

• Make a floor plan of the new house and plan where everything will go. Don't guess - take measurements of room dimensions and major furniture items and then lay everything out. You don't want to pay movers an hourly rate to move that piano three times because it doesn't fit! On moving day, provide movers with a copy of your floor plan and lay down plastic sheets to protect carpets.

• Prepare a list of the items you wish to move personally such as jewelry and precious breakables.

• Pack your pillows, a set of sheets and blankets, along with your nightclothes, a towel and toiletries to take with you in your car. Then at the end of a long and tiring day, you can get ready for bed without having to sort through 50 boxes.

• You might also pack a lunch complete with utensils, napkins, condiments, (and perhaps a wine opener?) to enjoy your first meal in your home as a picnic amongst the boxes. And if you like a cup of coffee in the morning, you'll want to pack the coffee maker and all the fixings to take in your car as well.

These moving tips for the little things can add up to a pleasant adventure on moving day, rather than an exercise in frustration for you and your family.

Ask your real estate agent, for more advice about hassle-free moves. They've been through this with hundreds of customers, so they're the experts!