Ordering as far in advance is important because you'll have the supplies on hand. You can start investigating schools in your new area and list any questions you may want to ask. While considering which the best school in the area is, you also have to consider how accessible it is, whether there's a school or public bus route to take your children there and whether you need to pay for this. Mailing redirects are a great way to make sure you don't lose your mail without having to remember or track your mailings you should always confirm with the post office depot in question what this redirection service covers and whether its available to you. They will be able to advise you on how best to take care of this, and probably advise you of anything that can't be redirected, such as parcel deliveries from third party delivery companies. These can include the welfare and comfort of your children, the support structure you'll have when you move (are you moving nearer your family, further away from your family?), ease of commute to your job, schools and more. Children usually feel moves the most, as they often find it hard to settle into new environments and like, above all else, security, and safety. You may also need some basic information on the amount of items you want to move, the sizes of your bulky items, and whether you'll be moving into a house that's up stairs or an elevator - and what access you have, as some companies charge premiums for this if you're using their team to move. Access includes whether its a long way to your front door, or if parking is readily available, or conversely, difficult. It is possible for your belongings to be damaged in storage, but highly unlikely you'll be given a list of belongings that you're checking in and you should check at that time that everything is secure, sealed and stacked or placed well. If you're moving long distance, its always good to research, throughly, by phone and if possible, in person, how much access you'll have to your furniture, and belongings, and what sort of notice you need to give you'll also need to work out what is going into storage and how much space you'll need for it all. Moving back to one, or both families guarantees that your life will probably be filled with help or interference, depending on how you view your family's input either way, its worth it, once you find clear and consistent boundaries. The move itself should be planned the same way as you would any other move but remember, the more you're moving, the more petrol you'll need.