The secret to stress free moving, is proper planning. Having a moving plan and following it can make the difference between having a move you would like to forget, or having a move you'll always remember.

We have assembled a list of moving tips, tools, and advice to help make your move a smooth process. Learn how to plan and organize your move, create a moving timeline, how to pack household items, which packing supplies to use, and how to find the right Vancouver mover. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Moving Tips From Professional Organizer Vicki Norris

Helen Raptis host of AM Northwest is preparing to move. Before she begins, she enlists the services of Vicki Norris from Restoring Order to help her get organized.

Moving is not just about the packing, it's about moving your family and belongings from one location to another. The key to a stress free move is getting organized.

Start by creating a plan.

1. Set out your blue print. Get out pictures and mesurements to help you draw a room by room floor plan of your new home.
   • decide how you want to use each space in your new home
   • this helps you decide how much room you really have
2. The house tour. Go through each closet and storage area to determine exactly what you have.
   • for each item, decide whether you will keep it, sell it, donate it, or throw it away
   • for items you are going to keep, determine where it will go in your new home
3. Organize your kitchen items by type. When items are organized by type groups, it is easier to decide what items you will keep. Always have a donate, sell, and throw away group as well as:
   • small applianes
   • plastics (make sure to match lids with containers. Throw away the containers from store boughten items. Only keep the nice stuff)
   • pots & pans
   • dishes and glassware
   • cookbooks
   • etc.

When packing, think not only of what is going in the box, but where it will be used in your new home. Your new location may have more or less rooms then you currently have. Think of how you want to use each space.

When labelling your boxes, use coloured paper to identify it's location in the new home. You can identify the floor, or even individual rooms by colour. Write down the destination room and box number on your label. Keep an inventory of the content in a moving notebook. By numbering your boxes, it is easier to see if anything is missing once the move is complete.

Start by packing infrequently used items first. Load them in the truck last. Move them into the new home first. The result is the more often used items such as clothing and dishware will be unpacked first.

Notify your utility companies and credit cards companies of your new address by filling out their change of address cards. Many will allow you to change your address on-line or by phone.

Send “We've Moved” cards to friends and family to notify them of your date of move and new address.

Change of address cards from the post office are a way for junk mailers to track you down. If you want to decrease the amount of junk mail you receive, do not fill these forms out.