The tips below come from years of experience! As the daughter of a Naval Officer and the spouse of a former Marine I am a self-proclaimed moving expert! I hope these tips help make your next move a little less stressful!

1.       Pack each child a "moving survival kit" or better yet have them pack it themselves. The kit should include non-perishable age appropriate snacks, drinks, books, toys, and/or portable, non-messy art projects.  This will help keep little ones busy as well as help them to feel a little more at home in the new place. If your child is old enough to choose and pack their own selections it might be a good distraction freeing up a little of your time!

2.       Pack a small kit of things the family will need right away. Toilet paper, paper towels, all-purpose cleaner, light bulbs, trash bags and a flash light will make life a little easier until you can find the necessities you need!

3.       Take the time to mark each box with as much detail as possible. Start with the room the box belongs in and then a one or two word description of items inside. This will make choosing which boxes to unpack first a little easier, saving you the trouble of opening and digging to find things you might need.

4.       Keep a moving file or notebook that contains contact information for utility companies, your new address and phone number, your real estate agent and your loan officer. Also, make sure these contacts all have a transition phone number for you such as a cell phone or the name and number of a relative who can reach you.

5.       Think ahead - does your family take prescriptions on a regular basis? If so make sure you have plenty until you get settled in and transfer the prescription to your local pharmacy. Some national chains such as Walgreen's allow you to refill at any location in the country. Do you have plenty of baby supplies easily accessible to get you through the first few days? If you have children who will be starting school right away make sure to leave any needed school supplies out.

6.       Don't let important papers get lost in the shuffle. Birth certificates, shot records, medical records, etc. should be clearly marked and not thrown in with other less important household papers.

7.       Don't forget to call or visit your bank to change your address and phone number. Banking documents are not always forwarded.

8.       If you can, do your research on local utilities and schedule turn on appointments a couple of weeks in advance. It can sometimes take phone or cable companies a couple of weeks to fit you in. This will help make the transition a little smoother.

9.       If moving into a community where your moving truck will be blocking others parking spots, garages or a main driveway, try to introduce yourself to neighbors right away. Let them know that you will be trying to unload as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience. If they come home in a bad mood to find someone blocking them you can easily get off on the wrong foot. But with a heads up (when possible) you might be able to diffuse a potential situation.

10.   Try to enjoy the excitement of your new home!

Moving to Vancouver, WA? Visit me at www.yvonnebrownrealtor.com for more community information and links!