Moving to a new home can causes people to experience an array of emotions. There’s sadness at leaving the place they called home for so long, there’s excitement at the idea of exploring a new area, and there’s stress at the idea of packing and preparing to move to a new home. There’s nothing people can do about the sadness they feel to leave their current home, but there is something they can do to make packing and moving homes less stressful and much more efficient.

• Start packing early to avoid last minute snafus – The earlier a family packs, the less stress they will face leading up to moving day. Since it’s not plausible to pack everything months in advance, it is a much better idea to start packing certain items in advance. As soon as it becomes official that a move will occur it is a good idea to start packing items that are not used on a regular basis, such as holiday decor, seasonal clothing, and knick-knacks.
• Clearly label all boxes for the move – Ask that your movers place boxes in the room they are marked for, which makes moving in much easier. It helps not to have to dig around hundreds of boxes in the garage to try and find the ones that go in specific rooms in the house. It’s much easier when a family labels boxes clearly and has those boxes placed in the rooms in which they belong.

• Schedule movers well in advance. If a family plans on using movers, it is a good idea to schedule them at least two months in advance. Properly guide them through the process of moving your belongings if you have any specialty items that require special service.

• Fill out change of address forms before the big move. It’s easier to head to the post office a few days before the move to fill these out than it is to deal with it the day of the move. Additionally, print out new address cards to send to friends and family so that they will have the new address when it comes time to mail holiday cards or housewarming gifts.

• Pack an overnight bag to take with on the night of the move. This bag should contain water, toothbrushes, toiletries, sheets and blankets, and clothes to wear. This helps families stay prepared when the move is over and the unpacking is still not done.