photo by rberteig

Moving can be overwhelming and chaotic. The process will run more smoothly if you’re well organized, plan ahead and recruit help. Readers share their best tips to save your sanity during a move.

SURVIVAL KIT: Have either a box or a suitcase with a few changes of clothes for everyone and a box with anything you think you will need for the first night or two, so you don’t have to sift through boxes the first night. — Pita1213, e-mail

ROOM BY ROOM: The more you pack, the more you have to unpack. Try and concentrate on a room at a time instead of tackling something here and there. Walking into room after room that is half-packed and completely cluttered can make you feel overwhelmed. Take breaks to daydream about how beautiful everything will look. That will help to refresh your spirit. — Mel, Arkansas

SAFETY FIRST: When you pack your boxes, don’t list on the outside of them what’s in them. Instead, just write a number, the room it goes into in the new home and whether it’s fragile. Have a master list on a clipboard that has details of what is in each of the boxes. Keep it with you. This will help prevent theft. It’s safer with movers not knowing what’s in your house. We were warned the movers picked guys off the street to help, and to be sure to change our locks when we moved in. Don’t forget to just leave the clothes in the dresser. They can be moved as is. Other clothes can be used for packing material as well. — Jean, Canada

KEEP IN TOUCH: If moving by yourself, make sure that someone has your itinerary and route and ETA at your new place, and don’t forget to call them with updates. Charge your cell, make sure you have enough money put aside for “just in case” — extra gas, food or lodging along the way. Drive safely, stop if you’re tired and always make sure your load is secure and your lighting/signals and brakes work well. — Shorty, Canada

DOCUMENT INVENTORY: If you are having movers pack for you, videotape it. That way, between your lists and videotapes, if things are broken and the moving company says they didn’t break it, you’ll have proof. If you are driving, I would take all important papers in the car with you to cut down on your risk of identity fraud. — Jamie79, e-mail

WORDS OF ADVICE: This will save you loads of headache. After you call to cancel or relocate all of your utilities — phone, cable, etc. — call them back within a couple of days to confirm your request. — Mumzy, e-mail

BACKUP COPIES: If possible, scan important family photos and burn them to CDs before you pack them away. Keep them with you. You never know whether the family photos will be in the box that gets lost. — Busynut, Pennsyvania

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Make sure to notify any companies that you have subscriptions with, as they usually will not get forwarded. — Coltsmama, Indiana

RECRUIT HELP: One thing we did is ask our realtor on the buying end whether she knew of any college-age kids who were in need of extra money. We packed our moving truck with the help of friends, and they unloaded it all for us. They did all the heavy work, well worth the money. — Denise, Colorado

KEEP KIDS HAPPY: With kids, it’s generally easier to pack their stuff last and to unpack it first. Give them spare boxes to play with. — justpeachy92, North Carolina

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