Ready, Get Set, Move

The time is almost at hand. You are planning on a long distance move, how to get started with all the preparation? This is a breakdown by week of things to do before the big day.

Six to eight weeks out, sketch a floor plan of your new residence and decide what furniture to take with you. Remember apartments in New York are much smaller than apartments in California. Plan accordingly. Have a moving sale to help rid yourself of unwanted items and to make a little money in the process. Give extra stuff away to friends and family and donate to charity. Many people could benefit greatly by your extras!

Finalize your moving with long distance movers. Find those that specialize in coast-to-coast moves. Decide if a storage unit is going to be necessary and prepare for car transportation. Decide also if you are going to pack yourself or hire the moving company to do it for you. Start gathering packing supplies, tape, boxes, padding, paper, and sharpies.

Four to five weeks out, start notifying people of your move. Friends and family can be sent a letter of e-mail, utilities companies, banks, insurance companies, credit bureaus, health providers and local, schools and federal government agencies can all be sent a change of address notice.

If you are moving with children, let them be involved as much as possible with the move. Don't forget to arrange with the new service providers.

Three weeks out it is time to finalize your details with the long distance movers. They will need concrete dates, inventory lists, vehicle transportation, and routes. Check out parking for the truck on both ends, elevators, and whether or not the truck will fit on your new street. Get check ups for pets, some states require health certificates and rabies vaccinations before entering.

Two weeks before the move, it is time to backup your computer including emails, contact lists, documents, media files, program set up files and favorites. You might want to take these back ups with you. Prepare your car with services and tire checks, a long distance move from New York to San Francisco, or Los Angeles is roughly 2700 miles. This will require some preparation. Google map the drive to find areas of interest along the way. Have fun and enjoy the trip!

Label your boxes well to avoid a mess on arrival.

One week before moving sort the items you are taking and things the truck is going to take. Don't forget medications, pet foods, contacts, and important documents. It is time to pack the kitchen and start thinking about disassembling the furniture.

The day before the move, prepare the refrigerator, freezer, stove and oven. Dissemble and disconnect everything. Pack suitcases; prepare a box of food and snacks and charge mobile phones and music devices. Enjoy the process by being prepared!