Start getting the details of the move organized as soon as you can.

If your company is helping you with moving expenses, find out how much they'll pay so you can plan your budget.

Ask the Internal Revenue Service for information about tax deductions on moving expenses.

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

When organizing dental and medical records, be sure to include prescriptions, eyeglasses, and vaccinations.

Wills, stock certificates, and other one-of-a-kind documents are difficult or impossible to replace. Plan to carry them with you instead of packing them.

Bring your children in on the move now. Make it exciting and fun.

Let kids do some of their own packing, or let them suggest layouts for their new room. Ask their opinions on decisions.

Sit down and start organizing your move. Make a list with 3 columns: items to leave behind, items for Mayflower to move, items you'll move by yourself.

At this point you should begin to make some definite decisions.

For each item you aren't going to move, decide whether you'll sell it, give it away, or dispose of it.

Talk to your agent and decide how much packing you need to do yourself, it any. Leave big items for us. Remember, we pack for a living. It's safest and easiest to let us do everything we can.

It's getting to that crucial point where the preparations you make now will make everything smoother later.

Make final packing decisions. Start preparing anything you don't use often for the move.

Clean and clear.

Plan meals that use the food in your freezer.

This is your week to tie up loose ends. Check back through your move planner to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.

Arrange to have the utilities at your old home disconnected the day after your scheduled Move-out Day.

Call ahead to have utilities connected the day before Move-in Day, if possible.

Put "Do Not Load" on all the things you want to take with you. Then, since the last items loaded are the first ones unloaded, put "Load Last" stickers on anything you'll use as soon as you get to your new home.

Pack your suitcases

Relax. You already did most of your work.

Strip your beds.

Be home for the mover's arrival. Then just sit back and watch us work.

Confirm the delivery date and time at your new address, and make sure the driver has the exact street address and directions.

Move-in Day

Breathe easy. Your belonging have been in good hands while in transit.

Be sure you're there when the movers arrive. Plan to stay around while they unload in case they have questions.

Arrange before Move-in Day to have your utilities connected.

It might be a good idea to arrange for a baby-sitter, since this can be kind of a hectic day.