Dear Just Be: We took advantage of the $8000 tax credit and bought a house! Now we need to move - any moving tips?

Congratulations on your new home! Moving can be an exciting time- a time of new beginnings and fresh starts, but can also be a source of stress for many people. To help alleviate that stress here are some pointers for your next move:

1. Plan ahead and get ample supplies. Get more boxes that you think you may need - you can sometimes find good, sturdy boxes (with lids or flaps to close) at grocery or liquor stores. If not you may inquire at shipping stores or with your moving company about purchasing boxes. Also have bubble wrap and/or newspaper on hand, a spiral notebook, pens, markers and colored stickers.

2. Create a packing log in your spiral notebook. The log can be a simple 3 column list. The first column in the box number, so go ahead and start numbering down the left side of the page; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..... The second column is the room in the new house the box belong in and the third column is a brief but detailed description of what is in the box. It is also helpful to create a color-coded system for your boxes and have this legend on the packing log, i.e. green=kitchen, blue=living room, etc. A you complete your log it will read something like, Box 1, Green/Kitchen, party trays, platters.

3. Create a packing area if possible - this is where you will store your packing supplies and boxes as they are packed.

4. Start packing early. Pack those items you don't need now or right away after the move, such as summer clothes in winter time, Christmas decorations if you are moving in March, etc.

5. As you pack, put like items in boxes together, i.e. lamps with light bulbs, cords with appliances. Also keep things together that will go into the same room in your new home.

6. Once a box is packed, seal it with tape,put the a color sticker on it- corresponding to the room it is to go into, i.e a green sticker for kitchen supplies, and log the box in your packing log. Also, with a marker, write the box number on ALL sides of the box.

Having a color-coded system can assist movers identify where to place the box in your new home, without having to have access to the packing log or read difficult handwriting. Keeping a log, numbering all of the boxes, allows you account for each box as it is delivered.

7. If you have a chance, clean your new home BEFORE you move in, so it is move-in ready on moving day. Sweep and vacuum floors, dust of shelves and clean out drawers. It is easier to do this before your new home is filled with boxes and furniture.

8. Place signs around the various rooms of your new house as to where you'd like boxes to be stacked. If possible make notes on walls/floors as to where you'd like your furniture pieces to be placed.

9. Keep a few boxes aside for last minute items, toiletries, clothes you may need right away, etc. Consider moving these things yourself in your own vehicle so you know where they are at the new location. (You may also want to keep important documents with you, such as birth certificates and passports, keys to both homes, contracts for the properties, recent bank papers, etc.) Also, keep aside cleaning supplies so that you can clean your old home after you've moved everything out.

10. As you are packing be creative with space - use your luggage as a container to fill, along with buckets, trashcans, laundry bins, etc.

Hope you find these tips helpful and we wish a happy and easy move to your new home to you!