How to Have an Organized Move

Moving can be very stressful, but a few simple tips can make your move go smoothly. For those who have moved a lot, there are simple tricks that can be beneficial for the process. The following offers some of the best practices for preparing for a big move.

Things You'll Need

• Spiral-bound notebook or three-ring binder
• Permanente markers in different colors
• Zip sandwich bags of various sizes
• Packing tape
• Boxes
• Newspaper, packing paper or other padding

Instructions

1. The first step to having an organized move is to make up a "necessities kit" of things that you don't want to pack. These are the things you will need to take with you and have in the first days after you move. Some items to include in this kit are a phone book; paper plates and silverware; a phone; sleeping bags, blankets and pillows; daily medicine; toiletries; a few changes of clothes; maps to your new house and any other items that you do not want to be without in the first few days. Put these items in a specially marked box or a rubberized container.

2. Once you have your essentials packed away, it's time to start packing. Consider color coding the rooms and label the boxes accordingly. For example: assign the living room the color blue. Use a blue permanent marker to label all the boxes that hold living room items. When you get to the new house, put a sign up in the living room, that says "Living Room -- Blue." This way, you will only have to look at the color writing on the box to know that it goes to the living room. This also helps if you have other people helping you move. The kitchen can be red and the bedroom can be green and so on.

3. Another thing that you may want to do is to list all the items that get packed into each box. Label the box "Living room, box #1." In a spiral-bound notebook, label one page "Living Room," and list box #1 and write a summary of the contents of box #1. This may sound time consuming, but when you are searching for your camcorder, you will be able to look in the notebook, find the exact box it is listed in and you won't have to search through seven boxes to find it. This tip is especially helpful if you are going to start packing ahead of time.

4. If you are going to be moving by yourself, get a game plan and start early. Start about two months before you are planning to move and figure out which things you can live without for a while. These items include your nick-knacks, sports equipment or off-season clothes. Go ahead and pack them up and store in an out-of-the way area. It is also a good idea to notify your electric, telephone, water, cable and any other service providers about your move. Don't forget to call ahead to have these services set up at your new place.

5. When you take furniture apart, put the hardware and screws into a zip bag. Place this bag in the furniture if there are drawers or tape the bag to the furniture. This way you will not have to hunt for the pieces to put the furniture back together at the new house.

6. On moving day, put your "necessity kit" in your car so that it will not get packed with the rest of your things. Now you are ready to start packing. It is best to put the heavy items in the front part of the moving truck, such as washers and dryers and large furniture. You can find packing guides at most major moving truck rental companies' website. Try to pack the boxes in such a way that you minimize empty spaces or "holes" in the truck. Fit boxes in like puzzle pieces -- if you have a small space between two large boxes, try to find a box that will fit in that space. This minimizes shifting, keeps your load more stable and minimizes breaking.

Tips & Warnings

• One more tip that can be very important is to record the serial numbers of your valuable items, such as TVs, cameras and other electronics. This will help in case an item goes missing if you hire movers or the item becomes damaged. It is also a good idea to document these items and other valuables, such as jewelry, on video, DVD or take pictures. A little planning goes a long way. Taking the time to organize things before and during the move will make the whole process go a lot smoother for everyone.

References

• Learn to Move: How to Organize for Moving