You've put your house up for sale, and that means one thing for sure - you're moving. However, selling your home can be unpredictable. It might sell quickly, forcing you into a frenzy of packing, but it also might take months, leaving you in limbo. With a little planning, you can strike the right balance between procrastination and living out of a suitcase.

Before you even put your house on the market, you'll want to begin packing. If you're financially able, invest in a storage unit. Begin by moving any unnecessary pieces of furniture out to give your home a more spacious look. Next, pack collectibles, knick knacks, books, and any other items that you can live without on a day-to-day basis. Also, removing personal items gives your home a more neutral feel that appeals to buyers. Go through each room and closet and inventory which items you'll need in the next six months, and which you won't. Don't forget to inventory your garage and attic, too. Then put anything you won't need in the next half-year in storage.

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Keeping Everything Safe in Transit

If you have personal items that are going to be in storage or in your garage for several months, it's crucial to properly protect them. Get creative with objects that you already have around the house. For example, use off-season clothing to wrap delicate items. Use spare towels to pad heavier items such as electronics and ceramics. Use rolled-up socks inside glasses and other hollow items. Running low on boxes? Pack light items such as pillows, lampshades, stuffed toys, hangers, lingerie, or plastic food-storage containers in sturdy shopping bags or handled grocery bags.

Be a Packrat - In a Good Way

When you know you'll be relocating, start saving packing materials as you get your hands on them. Ask friends and family members to save not only boxes, but bubble wrap, newspaper, Styrofoam peanuts, and anything else useful for packing. With so many people shopping online these days, most folks will have supplies available if you ask them.

Conversely, this is the time to begin weeding out items that aren't worth moving. If you won't be taking them to your new home, it's better to get rid of them before you show your house to buyers - and of course, before you put energy into packing and moving them. Since uncluttered houses get the best responses from buyers, start paring down as soon as you know you'll be moving. If it's seasonally appropriate, have a yard sale. Sell, give away, or throw away as much as you can bear to part with. You'll be glad that you did when you begin the process of unpacking.

Plan For the Big Day, Whenever It May Be

Even though you might have no idea when your house will sell, you can still prepare a lot of things ahead of time. Are you going to hire movers? They'll need to come and give you an estimate after evaluating everything that you have to move. Get your estimate done at your leisure, and that way when the offer does come in, you simply have to call the movers back and set a day. This will be very handy if you have buyers who are eager to get into their new home.

Also spend some time making a moving plan so that you won't have to stress about it during the actual sale. For instance, if you have a car or two that will be driven to the new home, take advantage of that space for your move. Will you have kids or pets to transport? How much can fit in your trunk or cargo space? Do you have delicate items like a computer or an antique vase that you would rather take in the car than pack on the truck?

Make a master list of appointments that need to be made and people who need to be called, both before and after you move. Also make sure that you set aside a special box or tote bag with items that you'll need to have during the move and before you get unpacked, such as medications, cell phone chargers, your address book, a pen and notepad, your checkbook, etc. Then you'll never find yourself tearing through boxes in a panic when you should be taking time to relax.

Moving can be stressful, but a little organization goes a long way towards keeping your sanity intact!

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