Did you know that for most people, the process of moving to a new home ranks as one of the most stressful events to deal with?

It seems everyone knows of a moving horror story – from couches that had to be thrown over the balcony to beds that didn’t actually fit in the room to a lot of other unexpected situations.
I remember thinking, “where did this never ending pile of stuff come from?” I didn’t realize how much I had accumulated through the years. Looking back though, I think a lot of the stress of moving can be alleviated by being organized.

Here are a few things to consider when you’re preparing to move to a new home.

Weeks before the big move:

1. Take an inventory of the things you’re keeping and getting rid of. If you are getting rid of large items, consider donating them to local thrift stores or booking a junk removal company like 1-800-GOT-JUNK, who will ensure that your junk gets recycled, donated, or disposed of responsibly.
2. Decide whether you want to move yourself or have professional movers handle the job for you. If you’re trying to save on costs, enlist trusted family and friends to help you out on the day. A nice meal or drinks is a great way to say thank you for their help. If you decide to go with a professional moving company, make sure you schedule in advance. Call several companies for quotes and decide on which one best suit your needs. Ask your Realtor for referrals. Personally I think a good moving company is worth the money spent.
3. Start collecting moving boxes, getting packing tape and bubble wrap and start packing!  A lot of offices have excess cardboard boxes from shipments that you may be able to use or borrow. Talk to your office manager to see if there are any boxes you can take. Companies such as UPS or U-Haul sell moving boxes as well. For an eco friendly moving option, you can rent reusable moving boxes from companies like Frog Box.
4. Make sure you keep an inventory of the items and boxes that you are packing
5. Take note of valuables and call your insurance company to make sure they are insured during the move.
6. Contact the appropriate service companies to notify them of your move and schedule your disconnections from your old home and connections in your new home.

Day Before your move:

1. Double check that you’ve marked and separated your fragile items for the movers.
2. Make sure that you’ve marked boxes for the different rooms of your new home
3. Unplug non-essential electronics so they can cool to room temperature and pack them for the move. Best Buy’s Geek Squad has tips for moving electronics. Click here for their tip sheet.

Moving Day:

1. Confirm with your movers that they have the right address to your new home. Provide directions and special parking instructions if necessary.
2. Stay in the old home until all items have been loaded. Check off your inventory list as each item or box is loaded into the moving van.
3. Do a final walk through your home. Make sure the utilities are turned off and that you haven’t left anything behind.
4. Jot down the final utility meter readings to compare against your bills
5. Have a floor plan in your new place to let your movers know where they are going
   6. When unloading, the boxes, take note of any changes or damage to your items.

Have you moved recently? Do you have any tips to add?