• Organization is the key for a smooth move and this is the time to start working on the details of your move.

• Check with the movers to ensure your move is scheduled.

• This is the time to decide what items you wish to transport to your new home and what you may want to dispose of. If you decide to dispose of items that you don’t need you should either donate them to a charity or consider having a garage sale. Contact a local charity or pick a date at least two weeks before the moving date for the garage sale. Advertise the garage sale locally. Team up with your neighbors who want to sell some of their old belongings and plan a large neighborhood "sale".

• Start collecting suitable moving and packing supplies if you plan to do your own packing or partial packing. You can purchase all these materials from any van line agent or a moving supply company. All boxes that you purchase from a van line agent or a moving supply company are specially designed for the moving industry to prevent any damages to your belongings. Getting boxes from other sources may create some difficulties when packed in the van. These boxes may be unusually sized and may not be strong enough to prevent damages to items packed inside.

• Think about your new home layout and start thinking about where you'll place the furniture. Create a floor plan of your new home and this will help reduce the stress of making decisions when your furniture arrives at your new home.

• Get familiar with your new community. Request information from the local Chamber of Commerce on schools, community programs, parks and recreation facilities.

• All travel arrangements (hotel, flights, car rental, etc.) for your family should be made at this time. Try to keep your plan as flexible as possible to accommodate any schedule changes or delays.

• Keep all receipts for moving related expenses in a designated moving folder. Many moving expenses are tax deductible. Obtain an IRS Change of Address form, Form 8822, by calling (800) 829-1040 or visiting the IRS website at www.irs.gov website. You will be able to download and print form 8822 and most other IRS tax forms; e.g., Form 3903 to help deduct moving expenses.

• Finalize all real estate and rental needs.

• Contact your insurance agent to transfer medical, property, fire and auto insurance.

• All medical and dental records should be placed in a safe and accessible place. Be sure to include prescription and vaccination records.

• Plan on taking all important documents, such as wills, stock certificates, and other one of a kind items (jewelry, coin collection, photos etc.) with you. Place the items in one easily identifiable and easy to locate folder.

• Return all the things you have borrowed.

• Notify schools in the old and new location and arrange for the transfer of school records and begin the process of registering in new schools.