Plan ahead: Start about 6 weeks before the move with a file and calendar handy. Keep details for utility turn ons, copy of contract, lease or mortgage, and other important papers.
Get organized: Start with boxes and mark on the outsides which room the items will go to. List furniture and which room they will go to. Share with movers.
Don't crack under pressure: Keep plates in one piece by stacking Styrofoam plates between each one. Protect glasses by putting them inside pairs of clean socks.
Vacuum seal out-of-season clothing: Save space, and put into a storage shelf in your new home.
Think of the little things: Keep sandwich bags handy to hold small items that must be taken apart, such as screws for a mounted flat-screen television or a bed frame, and tape the bag to the back of the object. Label bags in case they get separated.
Sweet dreams: If it's time to replace an item, do so during the move to avoid extra packing. It might be a good time, for example, to replace an older mattress, pillows and sheets.
Green thumb: Transport plants delicately by using a plastic bag to keep all of the appendages safe and prevent snapping.
Survival kit: Pack an overnight kit to take and use your first day in the new home. Put in night clothes, a change of clothes for the next day, toiletries and towels. Include moving staples, such as a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags and power strips. Be sure to pack pet’s necessities and a few cans or bags of pet food along with their favorite toys.
