You're about to close escrow on your new home. It's time to start planning the move. You've hired a moving company to take care of the big stuff, but there are still some minor details that you'll need to take care of. Here are some simple steps you can take that will eliminate some of the moving day stress.

Get Rid of What You Don't Need

There's nothing worse than packing up your home and then finding out that you paid to move useless junk that you no longer needed. About a month before you move, go through each room, one at a time, and get rid of everything you no longer need. It will lighten the load and prevent unwanted junk from following you to your new home.

Pack a Weekend Bag

Once you get to your new home, you're going to want to relax before you start digging through boxes. Unfortunately, you and your family members are going to need clothing and personal hygiene items. That's where the weekend bag comes in handy.

Pack a small bag for each member of your family. Include everything you'll need for a few days away from home. That way, you don't have to stress out over where your pajamas or toothbrushes are.

Take Advantage of Daycare

This is an essential part of your moving plan, especially if you have small children or pets. It's difficult enough to get pack up for a move without worrying about your kids and pets. Just when you get into a good rhythm, your kids are hungry for lunch or your dog needs to go outside. Day care facilities that provide for single day drop-offs will allow you to stay busy, knowing that your kids and pets are well taken care of.

Color-Code Everything

All the boxes you're packing are going to need to be placed in the correct room when you get to your new home. That can be time-consuming if you don't have the boxes properly labeled. Make it easier to unpack by color-coding your boxes. Give each room a specific color. For instance, you might assign red to your kitchen and blue to your living room.

Place a strip of red tape on each box that should go in the kitchen, and blue tape on each box that belongs in the living room. Use a journal to write down each room and the coordinating color. When you get to your new home, you'll be able to look at the color and know exactly where the boxes go.

Moving is hard work. You can eliminate some of the work by utilizing the handy tips provided above. Talk to a moving company, like Affordable Transfer Co Inc., to see what other tips they recommend to simplify the moving process.