Plan and prepare for your move at least three months in advance. Start by getting rid of everything that for which you don't have use. This can include old clothes, broken toys and unwanted files. Go through your house room by room and gather everything that you don't want to take with you. If you feel some of the stuff has value, try hosting a garage sale.
Start shopping around for a moving company at least two months in advance. Decide whether you want a self-service company or a moving company that will transport everything for you. Make the appropriate reservations and get a confirmation. If you are going to transport your belongings yourself, look up the route from California to Missouri. Plan your exact route including rest areas, hotels, gas stations and places to eat.
Start packing at least four weeks before your moving date. Begin early and take your time. Start with unused dishes, souvenirs, extra linen and off-season clothes. Designate one room of the house the moving room and place all of the filled packing boxes in that room. Label the boxes with contents inside. Be as detailed as possible when labeling each box. Try to fill each box to the top, but keep the weight of the boxes below 35 pounds. You do not want to make the boxes too heavy to handle.
Begin to make a note of your incoming mail at least four weeks before your moving date. Make a list of all of your bills including utilities, credit cards, mortgages, car payment and insurance. Call each company and alert them of your upcoming move. Make payment arrangement to include settling any accounts connected to your current residence. While you are making payment arrangement, provide each company with the forwarding address of your new residence in Missouri. Contact your local post office in California and fill out a change of address form to have your mail forwarded to your residence in Missouri.
Contact the local utilities company of your residence in Missouri at least two weeks in advance. Make arrangements with the utility companies for when you want to start services. This should include a power company, a home phone service, Internet service, a water company and a cable or satellite company.
Confirm all of your moving reservations at least one week before your moving date. This should include your housing plans in Missouri, your moving company reservations and arrangements you made with the utility companies in Missouri.
Finish packing at least three days before your moving date. Ideally, you and your family should be sleeping in empty rooms and eating easily prepared meals. Use the last three days before the move to clean up your residence in California.
Pack at least two days worth of clothes, toiletries, bedding and dishware for meals the day before the move. Put these items in a suitcase or in a back pack. During the move, keep these items easily accessible. They are to be used for the first couple of days, once you reach Missouri.
On moving day, load your well-packed boxes into the moving truck and be on your way. The trip to Missouri will likely take more than one day, so take your time. Try to arrange your moving day on a weekday so you have access to government buildings and banks. Make frequent stops and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Arrive in Missouri and begin loading your moving truck. As you unload your furniture, go ahead and place your furniture in their destined rooms. This will save time and effort later. Take your time unpacking non-priority boxes. Setting up your new home will take several days so don't try to do too much at once.
