Follow these simple and easy tips to reduce the headache and stress of moving into your new home…

Prepping for Moving Day…

1. To help avoid last-minute stress, plan your move well in advance… Start by creating a checklist and an attainable timeline.
2. Protect your important files. Store copies on a portable thumb-drive you can carry with you or upload them to a free cloud server such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
3. Take pictures of the connections on your television, sound system, modem and computers so they are easier to reconnect in your new home. Use the camera on your smart phone so you have fast easy access to the photos.
4. Make plans for pets. Reduce your pet’s anxiety on moving day by boarding them at a kennel or leaving them with friends. If this isn’t an option, find a nice quiet spot such as a small bathroom and keep them in their carriers until things calm down in the house. Be sure they have fresh water available.
5. Pick up a “Mover’s Guide” from your local post office. This will help you notify service providers of your new address. It also includes $750 in coupons for businesses and services you might need. Your post office has printed copies or you can fill out a digital version at moversguide.usps.com.

As You Are Packing…

6. Color-code or Room-code your packing boxes. This will make it easy to match them to the right rooms in your new home, especially if you are using movers to do the unloading. In a recent move by one of my TEAM Members, she actually put labels on the doors so that the movers would find it easier to put the boxes in the correct rooms.
7. Purge as you pack! Take the time while you are packing to identify those items you know you just don’t need any longer. Donate your unneeded items to your favorite charity! If you can’t make that purge decision – put those items in another box and mark it to go into the garage at your new home. Then, you can sort through these boxes after all the household items are unpacked and you have settled into your new home.
8. Be sure to label your “Must Have” boxes separately. Anything you might need immediately after your move-in should be marked clearly. And make sure the important boxes get loaded LAST so they come off the truck FIRST.
9. Don’t pack valuables or important documents. Put jewelry, passports, birth certificates etc. in a special “Move File” and carry them with you in your own car.
10. Prepare a furniture-placement map in advance. Plot where all the large furniture pieces will go to simplify set-up. You can use graph paper or a free online layout-tool like www.homediary.com.
11. Create a “1st Night” box of essentials to include medications, toothbrushes, changes of clothing… AND don’t forget the pet food, drinks and snacks, coffee AND the coffee maker!!
12. Assemble “1st Day” cleaning kit to include a vacuum, cleaning supplies and rags so you can freshen cabinets, closets and counters before you start to unpack.
13. Be sure to save all your relocation-related receipts. If your move is associated with a new job or a transfer, you may be able to deduct some of the costs.

Moving Day… By following our simple suggestions, you will save lots of time and energy which will come in handy as you get settled into your new home!

We hope you found this post to be helpful, informative and interesting… Watch for our next BLOG POST on November 17th.

To learn more about Tampa Bay area homes for sale in Spring Hill and Brooksville, located in Hernando County, Florida, explore our state-of-the-art, MLS Map Search Feature. Our MLS Map Search Feature makes it easy for BUYERS to search and find MLS listings and for SELLERS to find out what the competition is doing! And, for even more valuable BUYER and SELLER resources, visit www.GailSellsFloridaHomes.com today!