The single most important piece of advice for people planning a move is to start making arrangements as early as possible.
Choose a good moving company. Good companies guide you through the process and minimize surprises on moving day. They have local knowledge and a proven track record, and they can also advise you on receiving building permissions. Moving companies have no incentive to create extra hours of work, if they work for a flat fee. * Wink, wink.
Order your boxes and moving supplies early so you can start packing. Moving companies provide boxes that are made for specific purposes and easily marked. If your moving company allows you to return unused boxes, order 20% more than you think you’ll need. Likewise, do not scrimp on tape. It is inexpensive and prevents boxes from splitting open. You need fresh felt tip pens for labeling. Use colored ready-stick labels to designate boxes to their respective rooms.
First, pack up what you don’t use. Items, you do not immediately need, such as books, can be packed right away. Keep your list up to date. Do not make the boxes too heavy for a person to carry, and place heavier objects at the bottom.
Keep notes about your upcoming move in one place. Create a “move book,” using a large noticeable notebook, to centralize all the important details of your move. It should contain any lists you make, including that of labeled boxes. Supplement this with a computer printout of box contents. E-mail this to yourself as a backup. You can also access it remotely.
Document your media connections. Take photos of, or make notes on, how your media equipment is set up, including your television, sound equipment, modems and computer equipment. Keep track of your remote controls and wires so you can locate them quickly in your new home.
Place essentials in a suitcase or designated bag, and don’t lose it. Keep crucial items you will need during the move in one easy-to-find place. Include your Move Book, prescriptions, checkbooks, address books, toiletries, phones, and chargers.
Moving can be particularly stressful for animals. You may want to consider leaving them with a friend or retaining a professional pet boarding service.
Keep cleaning supplies handy. If you are planning to clean your old place, or your new one, assemble materials in a special box for moving day. Clean each room as the movers empty it.