How to Organize Your Move

If you can afford it, there are many companies that will help you pack up everything, and then once the movers do their thing, they will unpack all boxes. They will even take the boxes with them when they go. They will hang pictures, put your toothbrush in the bathroom and put the sheets on the bed. They will even get the computer up and running.

But, as you can imagine, these services aren't cheap. If it's not in your budget, here are some tips for do-it-yourselfers. Write a house moving checklist.

See-through. Use as much see-through clear packing material as you can. Transparent plastic bins, Ziploc bags for small things, anything that is clear and can hold many items.

Keep a house moving list. Write down what goes in every single box, so when waking up that first morning in a new home and you are longing for that first cup of coffee, just grab that list and see what box number it's in.

Turn on utilities before you move in. Especially important if you have kids. Moves are traumatic enough for adults, but when kids are having their universe torn apart, it helps when they can sit in front of Dora the Explorer while you are recovering from exhaustion.