Whether you are going across town or across the country, moving an entire household can bring on meltdowns, even among the best of us. You can minimize stress and increase the likelihood that everything will go smoothly on moving day and afterward when you break down the tasks into weekly to-do lists.

Picture how you want your new home to feel. The best thing you can do to prepare for any move is to let go of excess belongings. Get motivated to clear clutter by viewing this as an opportunity to streamline your belongings and let go of stuff you have been wishing you could get rid of. Now is your chance! When you are considering whether to keep an item, imagine packing it, physically carrying it from your old house to the new one and unpacking it. Is it worth the effort? How would it make you feel to see this item in your new home — if the answer is “weighted down,” let that be your cue to let it go.

8 weeks

• Research moving companies with the Better Business Bureau and get recommendations from friends and family who have recently moved.
• Consider extra insurance coverage you may need for your move. Ask prospective moving companies what insurance is included and check your homeowners’ policy to see what it covers.

7 weeks

• Start a binder or folder where you can keep all of your moving estimates and moving-related paperwork. Any info from your moving or truck rental company, to-do lists, your master packing list and a zip-top bag with memory sticks or other computer data backup can all be stashed inside. Closer to your move date, tuck in a folder with current bills, stamps and your checkbook. Make sure you keep this binder with you at all times during the move. For long-distance moves, you may also want to include flight information and vaccination records if you are traveling with pets.
• Make a list of businesses you will need to contact in order to change your address. Don’t forget to list your online accounts too.

6 weeks

• Get the packing process started by assessing your closets and getting rid of clothing that doesn’t fit or you no longer want. When the closets are done, start to assess items room by room.
• Do a first round of donations of unwanted goods to charity, sell items online, or have a garage sale to help pay for your move.
• Begin packing items that aren’t used frequently. Seasonal items, rarely used gadgets, and items stored in the attic or basement are a good place to start.

5 weeks

• Use up food from the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Refrain from doing too much grocery shopping or buying in bulk before the move.
• Get the word out to friends and family members that you’re moving. Send them an e-mail with your new contact information or consider sending a moving announcement.
• Purchase moving supplies including boxes, packing material, tape, labels, and box cutters. Remember to order specialty items like dish boxes, wardrobe boxes, and mattress bags if your mover is not supplying them.
• Get a box-labeling system in place. Try color-coding box labels depending on which room the box will go in, and then number each box. Keep a separate record with a list of the contents of each numbered box. Then when you are unpacking, you can simply check your master list to see which box you need.
• Make a room-by-room packing schedule and start packing!

4 weeks

• Fill out an official change-of-address form with the U.S. Post Office.
• Consult your list of businesses and services and make address changes on all accounts.
• Put in for vacation time at your job for the days surrounding your move and schedule a babysitter if needed.
• Confirm all paperwork with your chosen mover and double check that the proper insurance is in place to cover your valuables.

3 weeks

• Cancel all newspaper home delivery and set up delivery in your new neighborhood.
• Gather valuable paperwork; birth certificates, passports and other vital records and sensitive financial documents, jewelry, and small family heirlooms. Keep these special items separate from your moving boxes and make a plan for transporting them by hand or via a trackable shipping service with insurance.
• Do an inventory of high-ticket items and videotape or photograph these items. Note any existing scratches, dings, or damage to your furniture.
• Organize your cords now for easier setup later. Label each cord with the name of the device it goes to and you won’t have to worry about searching for the one cord you need. For devices that have multiple cords, use colored dot stickers to label each cord and the hole it plugs into on the back of the device. Then when you go to reconnect it after the move, you can save yourself the frustration of figuring out what goes where.

2 weeks

• How’s the packing going? Keep plugging away and don’t leave it all until the last week.
• Tie up loose ends. Confirm that you’ve changed addresses, have all the proper moving insurance in place, and are ready to make your move.
• Put together a packet for the new owners of your home with any warranties, vendor recommendations, and a note with your contact information in case they have questions or need to forward you mail.
• If you are moving major appliances, make sure that they’re cleaned, unplugged, and ready to go. Freezers need to be defrosted and you may need a professional to disconnect gas lines on particular appliances.
• Fill prescriptions and make sure that everyone has packed medications they need in their suitcase.
• Withdraw cash to tip the movers and make sure you have enough cash, checks, or a credit card to pay for any unexpected expenses.
• Start a stash of essentials. There is nothing worse than arriving at your new house and having to scramble to find basics like toilet paper, pajamas and coffee for the morning. Pick a spot to begin collecting all of those little items you will want access to right away when you move (a cleaned-out cupboard works nicely) so you can organize your essentials even as you are still using them.Here are some ideas to get you started:
  One stack of dishes or a set of disposables
  A teakettle and French-press coffee maker
  Basic tools (screwdrivers, a hammer etc.)
  Trash bags
  Box cutters
  Lightbulbs
  A few rolls of toilet paper and paper towels
  A shower curtain
  Bath towels
  A set of sheets for each bed
  Curtains for the bedrooms (if you know the windows will be bare)
  Favorite snacks
  A fun movie to watch on your laptop the first night

1 week

• Utilities should be transferred in your current home one day after your move-out date. It is helpful if utilities in your new home are turned on one day before your move-in date.
• Dispose of all flammable items that can’t be transported (paint, chemicals, aerosol cans).
• See if you have accumulated anything else in your “donate,” “pitch,” or “sell” piles. After more packing, you may have additional items to donate and should have one last pickup by your chosen charity, if needed.
• Back up all computers and have a plan in place for checking e-mail and paying bills online while your computer is in transit.
• Get each family member to pack a suitcase like they are going on a two-week vacation. Remember all toiletries and comfortable clothes for unpacking.
• Check in with your moving company one last time and confirm that everyone is on the same page. Reconfirm the moving-day arrival time as well as cell phone numbers and last-minute details.
• Hire a cleaning company to come in and do a quick clean after the movers leave or schedule a day that you will come back and make sure that everything is clean and in place for the new owners.

Source: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning-organizing/moving-checklist, http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2928260/list/10-Best-Ways-to-Get-Organized-for-a-Big-Move