Moving can either be out of necessity or an act of desire. Whatever the case, moving rarely comes at a convenient time and involves so many variables that it is difficult to exhale until all of the documents are signed.

Even then, that point in the process instantaneously starts a whole new chapter in the book of moving.

No matter how long it takes to sell (or not sell) your previous home, whether you’re able to find your dream kitchen or settle for less, if you’re moving down the street, across the country, or around the world, the act of moving can be completely overwhelming.

Long story short: Moving is a process.

In the midst of all the uncertainties, there are a few ways to stay organized while moving. This short list is meant to guide you through steps to keep you on track during a stressful time.

Stay Organized While Moving

The largest piece of advice I can give you is to start by decluttering your current living space. Having less to deal with will help you feel more in control of the situation.

Finding a realtor that you trust and feel comfortable working with will put your mind at ease (most of the time) about the process of listing your house and finding a buyer. Let your realtor do the work for you so you can concentrate on keeping your home “show ready” and begin to look at options on the other side of the move, like where you’ll be working, spending your time, and researching schools or neighborhoods.

Make a list of people you’ll need to update contact information with once you leave. This should include any and all businesses you frequent or subscribe to, like pest control services, lawn maintenance, even all of your neighborhood loyal buyer programs you participate in. Do not overlook your banks, investment companies, retirement funds, healthcare providers for you and your family members, and even you pets. And, of course, family and friends.

Here’s a list to get you started so you don’t forget to notify someone.

Having a list prepared before you sell or break your lease will save you a headache when you’re in the midst of chaos. To make it even easier, set aside important documents in advance and have them in a specific box or safe so they don’t get swept away into an unknown location during the packing process. Depending on your destination, you may need to have the title to your vehicle or lien information on hand, along with passports and birth certificates.

If you are decluttering or packing some of your items yourself, I highly encourage you to create a master list of the boxes being packed AS YOU PACK. Simply number a sheet of paper and write a brief description of the items inside and/or the location they are going to once they arrive at the final destination (ie. kitchen). The list should coordinate with labels placed on the box. Either a simple number, or a number and short description or location. You can write this on the box directly if you don’t want to use labels.

I labeled boxes and started my list while I was moving things to the garage while our house was on the market. I continued the list when it came time to pack up the rest and actually move them.

Not sure what to do once the ball gets rolling? This moving checklist can walk you through a suggested timeline once you’ve settled on an offer or you know you have to move within the next two months, regardless.

The last bit of advice is hard to swallow…But here it is:

There are so many things that will be out of your control that you’ll have to take a deep breath multiple times a day and remind yourself that you just can’t control it all.

Your house may not sell, you may not make enough money (if any) on the sale of it, and many things could go wrong along the way.

But then again, it could all go right. Whatever your situation…I wish you much luck!

What is your best advice for moving?

Stay Organized While Moving! Here are some tips for you from Learn Like A Mom! #moving #organization https://t.co/Qmkiamo4KG

— Learn Like A Mom (@LearnLikeAMom) February 21, 2016