·     
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.

