Very few people in this world enjoy the process of moving. There’s all the sorting, packing, carrying, organizing, and re-organizing that usually comes with it. Seattle movers put together a checklist meant to make it easy and flawless. A lot of pain can be avoided by following these steps:

Step 1 – Set a moving date.

Step 2 – Set two days prior to your moving date as the deadline to have all issues pertaining to your move resolved.

Step 3 – Get rid of all old clothes and other items you know you will not want to keep. One nice way to do this is by giving to charity.

Step 4 – Create an inventory list that includes everything you did not throw out or donate. Start by listing large items, such as furniture. Include a description and also any serial numbers or other pertinent information that can identify each item. Estimate a value in cash for each item. Once you’re done with furniture and other large items, work down to the tiniest – such as jewelry. There will be things you won’t care to list in detail – this of course can be done and you can just include them in one large, generic category.

Step 5 – If you have not already done so, contact a moving company and send your inventory in order to get an estimate from at least three sources.

Step 6 – Call all utilities companies and let them know of your move-out date. Call utilities companies at your destination and set up installation dates.

Step 7 – If you don’t mind using old boxes, you can find them for free at supermarkets. They usually can be had for nothing from the employees who work at the receiving docks in the back part of the store building. Otherwise, buy enough boxes for your items and assemble them. Make the boxes safer by reinforcing the edges and corners with duct tape.

Step 8 – Pack

Step 9 – Make sure you mark every box according to the room the items came from. Give each box a number and use it on your inventory list to reference what box each item went to.

Step 10 – Pack sensitive documents and valuables in small boxes you can take with you on the moving trip.

On moving day, you will be very thankful you followed steps 1 through 10. You will be able to sit back and let the moving company do their job while you relax.

Moving to another house can be one of the most stressing moments in people’s lives. There are so many things that you need to pack that only the process of preparation can take weeks. You probably look at things and wonder how you managed to collect so many objects, and as you start packing, a firm idea to get rid of everything starts to surface.

As getting rid of all of your belongings is probably the last thing you will really do, you certainly need to decide what to do with your stuff. If your future home is bigger, then you probably don’t need to worry much, as you’ll have enough space to keep what you already have. But if your new place is smaller, you’d better organize things and be very conscious of what you want to take with you.

Organization is the key word here. Concentrate on one room at a time, do some cleaning and then pile up your belongings according to the following criteria:

1. WHAT TO KEEP: Keep only the fundamental things, those you can’t live without. This is the place for things you use everyday, and which in practical terms are irreplaceable.
2. WHAT TO THROW AWAY: Get rid of all the objects you keep “just in case”, as they are usually broken or incomplete. If you haven’t used something for a whole year, you definitely don’t need it now.
3. WHAT TO REPAIR: A small tear, a small scratch, or a piece to be changed. Sometimes buying a new item is not necessary; save money whenever you can. Now, if the repair is higher than the cost, just get rid of it.
4. WHAT TO SELL: Why not sell some of your stuff? If you don’t have any space in your new place for your collections, antiques, or ornaments, a little extra money can make you very happy and solve the problem at once. Organize a garage sale and save that money for your new home.
5. WHAT TO GIVE AWAY: Let your unused items have a second life in other hands. Many people need help with clothes or furniture and giving things away will save you a lot of space in your new home.

This clean sweep will make you a lot more confident when deciding on moving companies in Seattle, San Francisco, or wherever you happen to live, as the size of the whole load will be considerably smaller. You can coordinate the packing of items with the movers, or you can do that yourself, as the amount of items will be much less than before. Finally, remember to label all the boxes, so you can know what’s inside keep track of fragile objects all the way. As you will keep only the essentials, there is no risk of moving useless items from one place to the other. Being selective with your belongings will pay off right away, so settling down in your new place will be much faster and easier than you ever imagined.