Tip: Ten Tips to Keep You and Your Boxes In a Row

Whether you’re moving across country or across town, the whole process of uprooting, reorganizing, adjusting to new surroundings can make for allot  of undue stress.

Here are few tips to help you reduce stress and smooth your next move:

1. When preparing your home for sale, combine the chore of clearing out clutter (for showings) with sorting and packing for your move. First, put aside the things you’ll sell, give away, throw out. Then, go to a moving company and get yourself proper moving boxes and start your packing by boxing off-season clothes, toys, unneeded books, etc.
2. Make yourself a personal moving book out of a three ring binder with pocket dividers keeping track of receipts, mover information, checklists, labels, etc.
3. Expect a certain amount of stress and you'll be better able to be patient with yourself and everyone else. 
4. Get the whole family involved in the move right from the  start. Get them making lists, planning, packing, and working as a team.
5. Make moving as much of an adventure as possible. Find out all you can about your new surroundings – what’s useful (shopping, transportation, etc.) and what’s fun (swimming, theater-going, etc.). Get pictures, maps and guidebooks of the new town to help plan future explorations. Visit the new place, if it’s not too far away. Plan parties at both ends of your move.
6. As soon as your home is sold, make arrangements to reroute magazine subscriptions, notify delivery services and utility companies of cancellation dates. transfer bank accounts, school, medical records, and send friends "Change of Address" cards.
7. Take your time and pack slowly and carefully, time permitting. Doing a little at a time reduces stress and allows  you time think and organize. Make lists of  everything in every box and identify each box with a room this saves hunting through several boxes for one needed item. To conserve on space and money, pack light things in dresser drawers and other empty containers.
8. Make yourself a "Survival package". Include items you and your family may need the first day you move into your new home. Include such things as: light bulbs, soap, tissues, children’s toys, sauce pans, canned food, drinks, scissors, box cutters, cleaning supplies, etc. Mark the box "UNPACK FIRST" and move it last so it can be the first unloaded upon arrival.
9. Where possible, consider doing major renovating or painting before you move in. This will save your having to move things around after you’re settled. A Bridge loan maybe just what you need.
10. Give yourself plenty of time to recover, unpack and settle in. Consider taking a day of your holidays. Pack away the kitchen first then take a short break. Go out for dinner, or order in. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day.