Tips on Moving Houses

Organization is required to move households.woman packing/unpacking boxes during a relocation. image by T.Tulic from Fotolia.com

Almost everyone experiences moving at some point in life. The work involved in moving an entire household can be overwhelming and time consuming. Planning to move a lifetime of possessions from one house to another requires organization and a detailed plan of action. Taking the proper steps during a move can make the event much less painful and difficult.

Moving Checklist

Before you begin moving the household, make a master checklist of all the tasks that you must complete. A master checklist should include tasks such as moving your utilities, scheduling the cable company, hiring a truck, completing a change of address form with the post office, buying packing supplies, arranging for help, sorting your belongings and packing the house.

Create a box content list for your belongings instead of labeling the boxes with the destination room. For example, create a numbered list of the boxes in a notebook and write down all of the contents of the box. Put the corresponding number on the box. This will help when you are looking for a specific item in your new home. Consult the list, find the item and locate the numbered box to find any item.

Determine the number of boxes that you need to pack up your household. It is better to overestimate the number of boxes rather than run out in the middle of your move. Choose boxes of different sizes for the various items in your home. Pack heavier items such as books in smaller boxes to keep the weight to a minimum.

Pack your personal belongings that you will need right away separately from the rest of your household goods. Use your luggage to pack your clothing, toiletries and some basic kitchen gear. Items such as sheets, pillows, blankets and towels will be needed right away in the new home as well. You can purchase storage totes for everyone in the house to pack up the items that they can't live without for the first few days in the new home.

Keep your important personal papers with you during the move. Pack items such as your birth certificate, financial information and bank records together and carry it with you on moving day.

Moving is a good opportunity to get rid of the clutter in your home. As you go through each room in the house to pack, take the time to clean out the items that you don't use anymore. The more items you can get rid of the less there is for you to pack.