So you are getting ready to uproot and relocate your life, and all the preparation you need to do can seem overwhelming. The good news is there is a way to make the task ahead of you seem less daunting. If you use a checklist to make sure you are doing everything you need to do, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that when the big day comes you are plenty ready. The best way to prepare is to make sure you are getting ready as far ahead of time as possible.

Two months before the move

Assuming you have two months to get ready for the relocation, you’ll want to start prepping. While you won’t be packing anything away yet, there are some steps you can take.

• Research your new neighborhood
• Collect medical and dental records
• Create a moving budget and get quotes for movers

Three weeks before

During the early prep, you’re going to want to start a home inventory of everything you plan on moving. Make sure you are using categories you will easily remember when you need to track everything later. You can either inventory what you have by room if you plan on unpacking everything and putting it exactly where you had it, or you can inventory by type of item.

Type of items can mean something like “electronics” or “bedding,” or it can mean you are inventorying using “master bedroom” and “living room.” How you choose to inventory should be how you think you are going to be able to find every last item when you and your belongings have arrived at your destination.

This is also the perfect time to start packing, especially if you’re planning a long distance relocation. Imperial Movers NYC suggests gathering your moving supplies, then starting to pack up to a month in advance. Start with your out of season wardrobe and decorations, then progress to more frequently used items. For instance, if it’s the middle of summer, there’s no reason to not go ahead and pack up your Christmas dishes, Halloween decorations, and bulky winter clothing. Getting a head start on the packing process makes life much easier the week of your move.

One week before

A week before you have to move and start packing things up, you are going to want to go through all your possessions and decide what you need to keep. Moving can be a stressful time but one positive is you can get rid of things you don’t need to bring with you. This is a way to literally “lighten the load” and get a fresh start at your new home.

While you are throwing away what you don’t want anymore, start packing what you do. Do a couple of cartons a week to stay organized and stay focused. Go room by room, don’t pack a little here and a little there. Make sure you are checking off your inventory while you are packing. This way when you get to where you are going, you will know everything was set aside to be packed.

If something doesn’t end up at your new place, you will better be able to track where it went missing.

Moving Day

Now that the big day is here, you’ll need to pack up the things you needed right up until it was time to go. Make a separate checklist for these items and make sure you record everything. All of this will lead to an easier move.