| By :
Stephen Daniels
Moving to a new home can be very exhausting and stressful. Planning your move ahead of time though will help you avoid the chaos known as moving day. Whether you're preparing to do everything yourself or will enlist a moving company's services, don't leave it to the last minute. After all, you don't want to find out your belongings don't fit on the truck when the movers come. It's important to take care of these details beforehand. Here are some suggestions to keep you organized throughout the process. The ideal time to get started is a couple of months before the big day: 1) Buy a notebook - You'll be creating many lists and will also need to keep tabs on what you've accomplished and who you've contacted. 2) Ask for a floor plan of your new home - This will provide you with measurements and dimensions so you can decide what furniture, appliances and other fixtures you'll take with you and where they'll fit in your new space. 3) Decide who will do the moving - Will friends and family help out or are you hiring a moving company? Either way you need to secure movers. If hiring professionals, ask for estimates. Inform them about the big-ticket items you'll be transporting so the moving van can fit all the furniture. 4) Gather moving supplies - Whether you use what you already have or buy boxes and the like from your agent or mover, you need to collect them. 5) Keep records safe - As you begin sorting and locating important documents, store them in a lockable box, both to file everything together and prevent it from getting packed away elsewhere. When planning your move, do most of your purging the month prior: 1) Clean out the closets - If you haven't used or worn it in the last year, chances are you won't in your new home either. 2) Put aside what you'll be taking with you - This includes clothing, books, toiletries and children's games. Do a test run though just in case it doesn't all fit inside your car or luggage. 3) Don't neglect your garage, shed or basement - These areas take the longest to clean up, so don't wait until the last minute. 4) Get rid of it - Decide what will be thrown away, donated to charity or sold at a garage sale. If you opt to sell it yourself, arrange for a yard sale a couple weeks before the move. 5) Start packing - Designate a section of your home for moving. Store packed boxes and other items that are ready to be moved here. Try to keep like items together. Also, number boxes. Label those that are fragile and keep lists of what's inside each. The remaining two weeks won't be hectic if you do the following ahead of time: 1) Dispose of paint, oil and household cleaners you'll no longer need. 2) Pack a box of things you'll need for the first day in your new home - This can include coffee, cups, paper plates and plastic utensils, cleaning supplies and paper towels. 3) Remember to arrange for mail forwarding with the post office, and notify utilities of when services should be turned off at your old residence and turned on at your new place. By following the above timeline and staying organized, you can avoid the hassle and last-minute rush of moving.
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