Five to Six weeks prior:
Call moving companies to get price quotes. It's wise to get at least three quotes so you have a range spanning low and high ends. With most companies, moves over 50 miles are considered interstate. Differences in price may come from the company estimating the weight of your household goods, based on the information given them. If you know that you have a lot of furniture (or a good amount of heavy things such as weights/a home gym, piano, or other special items) take that into account by estimating your move on the higher end of the spectrum.

The cost of moving is primarily the expense of transporting your goods from point A to point B. You may also choose to pay the moving company to pack and unpack your household items. Ask about what is included when you call for quotes. Look for moving costs to vary depending on several factors. These may include, but not be limited to, whether or not the move is interstate (from state-to-state) or intra-state (within the same state), the time of year (believe it or not, moving companies do have a busy season), services rendered (packing individual boxes or just the truck), and final weight of the entire shipment. Moving costs outside of the contiguous 48 states require additional costs associated with shipping overseas.

If you will be packing your goods yourself, start finding strong boxes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Think about keeping an ample supply of newspaper or other readily available materials to pack goods inside of the boxes. Of course moving companies and packing stores will also sell you boxes and packing paper. You may want to purchase special boxes and packing materials for china and crystal.

Four weeks prior:
Plan a garage sale! This is a natural time to pare down clothes and household items that are rarely used. Liquidate them to help pay for all of the little expenses that add up so quickly and make your move easier by having less to pack.

Pick up any items that were taken in for repairs.

If necessary, inform children's schools of transfer. Make arrangements for enrollment in new schools.

Insurance policies (auto, homeowners, and health) may change from state to state. If making a long move, check with your current company to see if the move will affect your policies or services. It is rare for homeowner policies to offer full coverage for moving. Check to see if your company has an additional policy you can purchase for the move. If not, your moving company may offer this coverage.

Three weeks to go:
Begin packing if you are packing yourself. (As you go through closets, drawers and cabinets, put aside items headed for your garage sale. This is also a good time to return borrowed items as you find them!) You'll need a couple of heavy duty markers to describe contents and rolls of packing tape to seal boxes. Work room by room and try to group items that are used frequently. Numbering boxes such as "Kitchen, 1 of 10, utensils" will help keep track of the boxes you need to find and open first!

When paying your bills for the last time at the old address, be sure to mark address changes on the return portion. Send change of address cards to family and friends, magazine/newsletter and newspaper subscriptions as well as any other periodic billing companies.

Call any special services you have such as water delivery, snow plowing, milk delivery, newspaper, lawn and landscaping services. Set last service date and settle accounts or give them your new address to bill.

Think about your pets! If making a long move, be sure animals are up to date on their immunizations and ask for advice on moving animals. Purchase pet carriers if necessary.

Make travel arrangements for hotel and car rental if needed; and be sure to write down in an accessible place any confirmation numbers you are given.

Have copies made of medical records and collect prescriptions from physicians. Ask a reliable source in your new area for recommendations on doctors.

Keep all medical, insurance and legal records in a safe, accessible place.

Two weeks prior:
Plan meals using fresh and frozen foods already in the fridge and freezer so there is a minimum of waste.

Call utilities (phone, cable TV, electric/gas) to disconnect services at your current address connect services at your new address.

If making a long distance move, have your vehicles tuned up and inspect the tires, brakes, lights, and check all fluids.

One week prior:
Open new bank accounts in your new area if needed and close old accounts.

Drain water from hoses, gasoline and oil from lawn or power equipment.

Pick up laundry or dry cleaning.

Several days prior to the move:
Pack luggage that will accompany you and include anything that you will need before your household goods are delivered. (Think about keeping a phone book for calls to your former hometown.)

Defrost and clean refrigerator.

Your last day at your old address:
Consider having children visit friends or a day care center while the movers are loading (and unloading at your destination). Make room for the moving truck and be there to supervise the movers, point out fragile items, and answer any questions they may have.

If possible, pack your computer, monitor, and printer in their original boxes. If not, moving companies have boxes especially for computers.

Have your towels and blankets and bedding used for in-between items such as photos.

Check the manifest line by line with the driver before you sign off on the inventory list; and get a clear date for the travel of your goods if possible.

Do a thorough walk through, room by room, closet by closet, cabinet by cabinet, and drawer by drawer to be sure there is nothing left in the house that should be going with you! Don't forget to check crawl spaces, attics, garages, and sheds.

Wait until the movers are gone to leave the house, and be sure all windows and doors are locked.