[bajj]

I have lived in the same town for 10 years now, and in the same house for 9. We are now relocating. I have until the end of March to get everything ready.

What would be on your to do list if you were relocating so suddenly?

[kelceesmom]

For me it would be to get rid of everything I had thought of getting rid of now so that there would be less hassle closer to the date.

If you already know the address of your new place start calling your credit cards to change your address with them and you don't miss a payment.

I'm one for packing my crystal and china so I might do that with breakables.

[nikkianni]

Definitely start changing your address on everything as soon as possible. Some of those companies take a while to get the hint. And make sure to leave a forwarding address with the post office.
You can start packing all the stuff you don't use regularly. Holiday decorations, out of season clothes, that sort of thing. Remember to label everything. I usually do it by room and breakability.
On the children end of things, you might want to contact their school regarding anything like transcripts, etc. that may need to be passed along to the new school.
Oh, and remember that whatever you pack, you will have to carry. During our first move I packed my library all at once. Those boxes full of books just about killed us.

[bajj]

Fortunately, the company will move us, so I will have movers to lift the heavy stuff.

I don't have an address yet and actually won't know a new one until 2 weeks before I leave!

I did contact the school yesterday. They said to give them 2 days notice so I will call back the last week we'll be here.

Keep them coming! Thanks!

[crick]

Since the kids tend to accumulate so much stuff, I would pack a lot of that up. Save a box of toys/books but everything else pack up.

I also would pack most of the clothes up for everyone. For a month, you can wear the same 4-5 outfits and keeping up with the laundry is the last thing you need to do while trying to move.

Pack your "moving box" the moment you think of it instead of waiting til last minute. Always forget something when in a rush to get it done. So whatever you are taking in the car for the kids, extra t.p./papertowels etc. (whatever you will need to open as soon as you get to the new place)
You can leave this box open so you can add to it over the next month and then all you have to do is tape it up. Or use a suitcase instead of a box.

Since you have to paint and do a few things to the house before you go, have a "Friends & Pizza Paint Party" soon. Not only to have help with the painting etc., but it's a good way to have some fun too.

[bajj]

Great ideas, thanks!

[feelingreyt]

Putting a label on each box is very important. When we moved, I put the room it belongs in and always write breakable on anything that you want handled with extra care!
If you don't mind using paper plates and plastic cups, I would pack most of your dishes as soon as possible. It's amazing how fast a month will go by when you are preparing for a big move.
If you have a garage I would store all the packed boxes/plastic bins there to wait for the movers. Less cluter that way.
Good luck with the move! It will be an adventure, to say the least!

[Barksum]

Lists, in a notebook of what you need to do and when it needs to be done. If you use a 3 ring binder and have tabs for each section relating to the move everything is at your finger tips. The moving company's phone number and contact info, lists of the boxes (see below), etc. in one section; the To Do lists in another section; travel info in another.... I also would put the kids' school info, vaccination and copies of all the medical records for the family in this notebook and have it travel at your side when you move.

I had a master list of all the boxes I packed. I put a number on each box, and then put a mini description on the box itself, but then put a full list of the boxes contents in the notebook. (3 ring binder) This was helpful when we got to the new house since I could determine that today I would need to unpack boxes 14, 32, and 44, and go find them.

I also second the 'Immediate Needs' box that travels WITH you. TP, paper plates/cups/utensils, a frying pan, sauce pan, knife, stirring spoon, some quick meals (like mac n' cheese or other quick cooking meal), snacks, small container of laundry soap, dish soap, dish rag, and anything you use daily that is on your desk or your main 'work station' at home. (For me this is the section by the phone in the kitchen and includes my bill paying stuff and address and phone books.) And actually, it was about two boxes, but they travelled with me so that we had them the first night we were at the new house...not with the moving van. I have friends who didn't get their stuff from the moving company for a couple of MONTHS after they moved. (Some mix up somewhere, obviously!)

The last time I moved I also packed everything I could lay my hands on as soon as I could. Off-season clothes, decorating stuff, etc. We kept the bare minimums for the actual transition time between the two homes. (It was at this point that I realized that we could do with a LOT less junk than we thought we needed, so we began to downsize after that.)

[inhiswill]

You can do this!! This month will be crazy, stressfull, exciting, and new all at the same time. You have been given wonderful advice so far. All I can add is.....Let the Lord walk and carry you through this. Rely upon Him to get you through all the daily to do's and worries.

Last year at this exact time, we had one month to move. We had spent years away from family in the deep South. My husband was given a great opportunity to work in the North again. We jumped at the chance. But it was tough. Our kids were 6, 4, and 1. We had to sell our house and then find housing over 600 miles away. And you know what..... we made it. I can not believe how fast things went, but all worked out well. Our house sold in days, we found a vacant house in our first house hunting trip, the kids adjusted, etc...

Good Luck!!!!

[akcskye]

Unless I've over looked someone else mentioning it...

Now is the time to obtain your medical records on you and your family.

It can take up to 30 days to receive copies of your medical records to send to your new physician...and you'll need those shot records for your children's new school.