As you begin to plan the move to your new place, you might be getting a little concerned about how you’re going to pack everything and have it safe and ready to go by your moving day. Don’t worry, it’s understandable, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Let’s look at the best way to pack your household and make sure nothing is left to chance.

Planning

You might have heard that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. There is much truth to that statement! Organization going forward will prove to be the most crucial step throughout your move. You may not know it yet, but there are several steps and details for each level that you should follow if you want to ensure the move goes as smoothly (and quickly) as possible.

The folks over at RealSimple provide us with a good list of the steps you should take when starting your move. However, their list tells you to start “purging” your less-used items about two months before the move. While that’s a good idea, it’s a little too soon. At the earliest possible time, however, you should create a notebook with sections for receipts and room-by-room inventory lists, then, as you go along, you’ll add more parts as needed. The journal will come in very handy when you move to the next step.

While you’re planning your next steps, it’s time to begin getting quotes from at least three local moving companies when you’re still about eight weeks from moving. They’re competitive and want your business, so they’re willing to negotiate a better price if they know you need their services within the next few months. Get a written hard quote and make sure you understand what you’re getting for the price. Again, get the details in writing.

Decision Time

According to an Austin moving company, approximately two months before your moving day, it’s time to start going through all the stuff you’ve managed to collect over time, but before you tear into everything with reckless abandon (who could blame you?), get that notebook ready to go! For those items you haven’t used for eons, it’s time to part ways with them! If they have sentimental value, should they go or stay? Be sure to list everything that is moving with you on your inventory sheet.

Organization

Don’t forget to keep all of the paperwork created during this time in your notebook, and nowhere else. It’s getting hectic, and your daily routine could evolve into a state of flux unless you stay organized and follow your plan. Below is a list of must-do tasks that have strict deadlines that if you miss them, will only serve to make things more hectic when you arrive: (here’s a more detailed list to have on hand for reference).

• 8 Weeks to Go: Be sure to line up banks, doctors, and schools at your new location.
• 7 Weeks to Go: Check and update your insurance coverages for everything.
• 6 Weeks to Go: Begin the school transfer process if applicable.
• 5 Weeks to Go: As you start packing, list each room’s items clearly and label each box with its new location.
• 4 Weeks to Go: Change of address, especially your doctor and dentist, so they can send your records to you as soon as you arrive at your new address. Also, if you haven’t done so already, request time off for the move.
• 3 Weeks to Go: It’s time to contact the utilities such as electric, gas, water, and sewer to advise them of your moving date and to set up a new connection date regardless if you’re moving across town or the country.
• 2 Weeks to Go: By now, everything should be in good order, but you still need to double check your progress and make sure you haven’t missed anything on this list. You will have a less stressful time knowing that everything is complete and ready to go!
• 1 Week to Go: Have your utilities turned off one day after you move and then turned on one day before you arrive at your new home.

As a final note, it’s a good idea to catalog your expensive items in case something comes up missing. Video or pictures should suffice from an insurance perspective. Also, this is a good read about things you can do before you move to make your first day at your new home even better.