Planning a Move? Check out these great ideas!

Some things to think about if you are planning on moving to a new apartment or home.

•     Start to declutter,  over the years, you have surely acquired a lot of items. Plan to review each room and put aside any items you might want to sell or give away before the move.

•     Start looking for a professional moving company, check their online reviews and references before signing a contract.  This should be completed several months before the move if possible.

•     Start gathering boxes and containers to securely pack your belongings in.

•     Packing – When packing,  label the containers/boxes with the room the items were in and the room you expect them to be placed in when you move.

•     Create an inventory of the items you need to pack.

•      Check with local stores for boxes or your local moving company might also have boxes for purchase. Don’t forget the packing tape and packing material for those special fragile items.

•     Mail forwarding – make sure you notify the post office of your intended move and the dates.

•     Make a list of all your bills so that you can contact each company to let them know your new address, and don’t forget to contact your insurance agent.

•     Gather cleaning materials for cleaning up your current place and the place you are moving to.

•     Make sure you have contacted the utility companies and verified they have the power, water, phone, and cable ready for the day of your move.

•     Packing - set time each day to pack items and plan.  One idea is to pack one room at a time until you finish packing.

•     For clothing, consider using vacuum packed bags to save on space.

•     Taking pictures of the boxes before the move will help you be sure all of the boxes arrive at their destination.   Consider numbering your boxes.  That way you will easily know if one is missing.

•     Taking pictures of your electronic connections such as your tv and wireless router will help you when it is time to reconnect those devices.

 Having a good iTunes play list can help reduce the stress level – have fun and enjoy your move.