Moving How to

Moving is never easy and rarely fun . . . until the move is complete and you are enjoying some cheap pizza and an adult beverage with the awesome friends and family who came to help out. Until the end of the move, it pretty much sucks. I wish I could put a Pollyanna spin on it for you, but I just can't.

I had said in my original moving post, that I would post the best way to organize a move . . . here it is.

Organizing and Packing

1. Find a place to live in your new city/town.
2. Give your current landlord 30 days notice or list your house to be sold and reserve a moving truck.
3. Schedule a walk through with the current landlord to finalize your contract with them.
4. Call you local grocery store and ask them for free boxes. Or call a moving company and buy   boxes.
      A. I recommend Uhaul because they will buy back any unused packing supplies.
5. Pick a room to start in (start as early as possible).
6. Make 3 piles. One to pack, one to donate, one to throw out.
7. Pack items you will not need until you get to your new location.
      A. Daily items and cooking items need to be packed last. Reserve a box for this.
8. Continue packing in one room till it is completely packed. Clean each room as you go.
9. Label each box with the room name and what is in the box.
10. Disassemble any furniture that you do not have to use. Put the screws in a baggie, label it.
11. On Moving Day, put all the daily needed items in a box (don't forget the toilet paper) and take      apart any large pieces of furniture. Finish cleaning.
12. Load the truck as if playing Tetris. This will prevent items from falling.
13. Complete the walk through with the landlord and sign any paperwork. Make sure you leave your new address, so they can mail you your deposit.
14. Get on the road to you new place!

At the New Place
Be sure to take charge. All the boxes will be labeled, so the helpers can place them in the appropriate rooms, but the furniture will need to be placed in the correct spots. Make sure to arrange the furniture when all the helpers are there, so you don't have to do it alone(why do the heavy lifting if you don't have to).

Bills and Personals

1. File a change of address with the post office 1 week before the Moving Day.
2. Call all the utility companies and cancel your service, or transfer to new address one week before  you leave.
3. Don't forget to contact your magazine subscriptions.

If you follow this guide, your move should go off without a hitch, but not without aches and pains. Remember, if you move out of your current city for work related reasons, keep your receipts because you can claim the expenses on your taxes.

FYI- If you move around like we do, and there is a place to keep the boxes break them down and keep them for next time.
Happy Moving Day!