Moving to a new house can mean a lot of added stress in your life. Fortunately, it’s not hard to alleviate a lot of that stress with a little careful planning. Read through this list of tips for early moving preparation in order to avoid as many mishaps as possible on moving day. Doing so will free you up to calmly deal with any last-minute moving issues – particularly because you’ll know that you did as much as you possibly could beforehand.

Early moving preparation tips

Whether or not you’re a planner, getting ready for a big move demands some elements of planning. Try a few of these tips to ensure a bump-free move to your new home:

• Pass the buck to someone else. Moving requires planning, and the earlier you start, the better. If you’re a classic procrastinator, ask a friend to help you plan out a timeline for when you should have certain tasks completed by. Ask your friends to help you stick to the plan and to check up on your progress (and maybe take the friend out to dinner as a thank-you).
• Put your home up for sale 3 – 4 months in advance of your move. Whether you plan to use a realtor or you want to conduct the sale yourself, it’s essential that you start spreading the word that your house is on the market.
• Begin packing early. Pack the things that you rarely use or won’t use at all before your move. This could include holiday decorations, fine china, or backyard furniture.
• De-clutter early. Start going through the nooks and crannies of your house to find things you can get rid of. Remember, there’s no need to bring everything with you to your new house – especially if it’s something you never use. Make regular drop-offs to charities or hold regular garage sales instead of planning one big charity trip or one big garage sale. Remember, working incrementally is always better.
• Limit your grocery shopping trips. Instead, work on eating up all the food currently in your pantry and refrigerator. When you do have to go to the grocery store, try not to buy in bulk and make sure you only purchase things you’ll have time to eat before your big move.
• Decide what to do with your houseplants. If you’re hiring professional movers, they’re not likely to take any houseplants. If your move is a long distance one, you may have trouble transporting plants along with your family and personal possessions. Consider giving the plants to friends. If you can’t bear to part with certain plants, consider taking a cutting of your favorites that can be stored in a jar till you reach your new place – then you can work on growing the cutting out into a large plant.
• Plan time between your closing and moving dates. Allow one to two weeks between your move date and the closing date of the home you are departing. Cramming too much activity into a few days can be overwhelming, and if something goes wrong during your move or at your closing you won’t be able to effectively attend to the problem.
• Label and sort your boxes. When packing your boxes, try to keep similar items together. Pack all the kitchen paraphernalia in the same boxes and designate different boxes for bedroom packing. That way each box can be directed to the appropriate room at your new house, saving you a lot of running back and forth between boxes. As a side note, be sure to clearly label each box.
• File a change-of-address form and notify utility and service companies of your move. Keep a record of all the places you contact with your new address information. If possible, ask utility companies and service companies to provide you with written proof that you’ve asked for your accounts to be either closed or transferred to your new address.
• Make special plans to move your pets. If your pet will be traveling with you to your new home, ask that a friend pet-sit while your furniture and boxes are being moved out of your house. Pets can become stressed by the change and excitement of a big move and risk running away if there is too much going on around them.
• Pack your essentials for the day of the move. Pack as if you’re going on a trip and include your toiletries, necessary clothing, and identifying paperwork. It’s also a good idea to pack all moving-related paperwork with you in your vehicle.
• Make arrangements for food on the day of your move. It’s easy to become so caught up in moving activities that you forget to eat, leaving you exhausted for the remainder of the move. Instead, ask a friend or family member to be in charge of making sure you get lunch on the big day. It’ll also be a nice way to spend some final time with anyone you’ll have to say goodbye to.