Usually, people know months in advance when they will move, giving them lots of time to organize, pack, and get rid of their extra stuff to make the move as simple and easy as possible. If you suddenly have to move because of an unexpected job change or military relocation, your stress levels can climb quickly.

Here are some tips to help you orchestrate a short-notice move with as much finesse as you can muster.

1. Get packing help.

Packing can easily be one of the most stressful parts of your moving experience, and if you don't have the time to do it well, you have even more stress when items like glassware arrive broken in the box. Combined with trying to sell your home, find a new place to live, organize your belongings, sell your furniture, and transfer your children to a new school district, packing should be the last of your worries.

There are some tasks that only you can handle, and packing is not one of them. Hire professional packers to come and prepare most of your non-personal items like kitchenware, books, and office supplies. You may want to pack some of your more personal items like keepsakes and clothing yourself, but even so, using professionals for other packing tasks will free up hours of your time.

Because professionals are skilled at packing delicate or fragile items, they will be able to reduce the risk of breakage during the move and provide the right packing materials. Visit a site like http://www.bekins.com for more information. 

2. Start a safe collection place for all needed documentation.

Each time you move you have things you need to keep. You might need copies of your old lease agreements, financial records, insurance policies, and similar paperwork. If you're getting reimbursed for moving expenses by your workplace, you'll need to keep receipts and copies of truck rental agreements or storage unit fees. Keep all of these in a file folder or a 3 hole report cover to avoid losing any important papers. If you're moving overseas, you can also use the binder to collect needed items like immigration visas, birth certificates, and work authorization. Finally, you can also store your moving to-do list in the binder and check off the items as you complete them.

3. Hire a cleaning service.

Cleaning is a part of moving. If you're renting, you don't want to lose your deposit because you didn't have time to clean. If you're selling your home, you might not have time to deep clean your home to make it more attractive to buyers. A professional cleaning service takes this task off your plate. The amount of time and stress saved is worth the investment. 

4. Declutter and sell items later.

Normally it's better to go through items room by room and clear out the stuff you don't need to take with you. When you have a time limit, you don't have the luxury of finding buyers or organizing a garage sale. Instead, pack everything and move it with you unless you are okay with simply donating or disposing of unneeded items. Then, when you're unpacking each box you can set items aside and sell them once you've settled it. 

5. Don't be afraid to hire short-term day care.

If you have have young kids at home, you'll need some time to commit to moving plans without being interrupted. Hire a nanny or send your kids to a daycare for a few days so you can make all of the arrangements and begin the packing and moving process without children distracting you or causing trouble. 

For more information, contact a professional packer and mover in your area.