That said, how about some help nailing down the most commonly forgotten “to-dos” of any big move, and how you can tackle them proactively?

Start packing as far in advance as possible.
We already said it: Packing is the cumbersome king of moving to-dos. The thing is, you often don’t realize how much stuff you actually have until it’s time to pack it all up and move it to a new place. This is why packing early on is crucial to a smooth, successful transition.

Start by packing up your least-used items in each room, and as your move date draws near, you should manage to have the entire home packed using this “least-used” strategy. Just keep a small suitcase or duffle bag handy so you can pack up your daily necessities on the day of your actual move.

File a change of address with the post office.
It’s beyond frustrating to miss a bank statement, a product delivery or a care package from mom, so make sure you tell the United States Postal Service where they can find you. Thanks to the Internet, this is an easy to-do, because you can quickly change your address online. Visit the USPS site now to get started.

Transfer magazine and other subscriptions.
You’d die without your Chicago Tribune each morning, right? Because no one wants to stare at the wall while they drink their morning coffee. To make sure this doesn’t happen, let the subscriptions department know where they can find you. You may even want to sit down and make a list (yes, another one) of all your mailed subscriptions so you can check them off as you contact them.

Transfer bank accounts and prescriptions.
If you’re new to Chicago, you may have banked with a regional or local institution that doesn’t have offices in the area. You’ll most certainly want to switch banks and close any outstanding accounts at your old institution. Also, if you’re using prescription medication, you’ll want to notify your doctor of your move so that you can have your medicine available at a local pharmacy.

Defrost the refrigerator.
You’ll want your old home ready to vacate when the day arrives, so you should unplug all appliances and defrost the refrigerator 24 to 48 hours before you leave the premises. Consider it an excuse to eat out for a day or two.

You’ve already triumphed in your hunt through the endless Chicago homes for sale, and nothing should diminish your excitement about a new place. So make sure that moving isn’t the thing that steals your moment—plan it out, follow your to-do list and you’ll avoid that dreaded “Oops, I forgot” moment along the way.

The post Your “Ready to Move” To-Do List appeared first on Dream Town.

Making a checklist is a simple way to ready yourself for moving day. Here’s what you should include, assuming an eight-week time frame:

As Soon As You Sign The Papers
Call the movers and nail down an exact moving date. If you have to change it, you’ll have much more leeway if you’ve booked a mover far in advance. If applicable, reserve the elevator in your building for the move and determine what the parking situation is, and if you’ll need to get a permit.

8 Weeks Before The Big Day
Make a file folder so that important information like contact numbers for your mover, your banker and your mortgage broker are easily within reach. Start thinking about your new space and planning out where belongings will go.

7 Weeks Before The Big Day
Learn more about your new neighborhood. Are you going to have to switch doctors or dentists, or are your children going to have to switch schools? Start readying records and making those preparations now.

6 Weeks Before The Big Day
Declutter your belongings. You don’t want to spend the time and expense to move an item if you won’t use it at your new place either.

4 Weeks Before The Big Day
Determine how you will label your boxes for the movers, so that they know what boxes go in what specific room. This will make unpacking much more easy. Contact the utility company to have your utilities disconnected at your current place and connected at your new place. You don’t want to have your services turned off at your current place the exact day you move out, so schedule the electricity to be shut off a couple of days after your move. Have the power turned on at your new home a few days before you move too. If you’ll want to have Internet and cable up and running at your new home as soon as you move, schedule an appointment with the cable company now. When you’re packing, make sure you have the router or any necessary equipment in a clearly-labeled box.

1-3 Weeks Before The Big Day
Use up the last of your perishables and cleaning supplies. As you start to pack up your essential items, put them in a box labeled essential or unpack first.

The Big Day
Have a discussion with your movers and tell them what items you will need right away, such as kitchen supplies or bedding. These items should be loaded into the truck last so they can be moved off first. Check every room, closet and cabinet in your current place to ensure you didn’t miss anything.

The post Moving to A New Chicago Home? Have a Checklist Ready appeared first on Dream Town.

Here are five tips to ensure your Chicago winter move goes smoothly:

Organize and Seal in Plastic
Before you pack any boxes, line them with plastic garbage bags first, then put in your items. That way, if the box has to sit on the ground on a day when it rains or snows, your items won’t be damaged. You should also tag all of your boxes. Whether that means boxes are color-coded or you have some other tried and true method, it helps simplify the move when everything is in order. When the skies threaten to open up outside your new home, you don’t want to waste valuable time trying to figure out which box goes where.

Clear a Path
Make sure to have the driveways and walkways shoveled and sanded (by putting down rock salt) at both ends of your move. The key is to prevent injuries, and to make sure the process goes as smoothly and quickly as possible. Make the driveway entrance as wide as you possibly can, as moving vans require a wider turning radius than passenger vehicles. If you have items located in a lower level that have to be removed from an exit at the rear, make sure to shovel and sand that walkway as well. If you’re moving in a condo or apartment building, let the landlord know your moving schedule in advance so he can make arrangements to shovel and salt driveways and walkways.

Keep Towels Handy and Cover Floors
Even though pieces might be exposed to the elements for just a few minutes, it’s important if it’s raining or snowing to have towels on hand to wipe off furniture as soon as an item is moved in. Not everything you own will be wrapped in plastic, so if you can just towel things off, you have a much better chance of preventing damage. Lay down particle boards in the main entryway, both to prevent the floor from being slippery as movers are carrying heavy furniture and to keep your hardwood floors or carpet as clean as possible.

Consider the Cold Moving Van
Depending on how far movers have to travel, your belongings could potentially be in a cold moving van for a lengthy period of time. Ask the moving company in advance about specific packing materials for items, such as wood products, that could face potential damage if left in cold weather for a long time. Do not pack or allow anything that is liquid to be loaded into the van. Liquids can freeze and the contents could damage your belongings when the container expands and breaks.

Insure the Move
When bad weather is at bay, moving insurance is critical. If you use a moving company, make sure they have insurance and liability, as damage to furniture or injuries to movers can occur much more easily in foul weather.

The post Moving Tips for the Winter Months appeared first on Dream Town.