Yes, you read that right. Two moves of 350 miles each. One was in February, the other in May.

And the answer to the next obvious question -- why? Suffice it to say, a woman, and an engagement that didn't last. Enough said? I thought so.

I’ve published this magazine for three years, and one would think after having done so I’d know a thing or two about apartments and moving. Well, let’s just say there is no teacher like experience.

So, if you’re planning a move (and chances are with you picking up this magazine you are) here are a few suggestions you can use to make the move a bit less stressful, possibly a bit less hurried, and with any luck, a great experience.

Find the right apartment or home

Congratulations: For one reason or another, you’re picking up your life and moving somewhere else. You’ve just committed to making your life a really hectic, bizarre and trying existence for the next couple of months.

It’s not as bad as it sounds. After all, if the move is job or family related, and many are, the rewards of the new job and becoming acquainted with the people and surroundings in the new community can make it easier to adapt.

Of many things you’ll want to keep in mind while searching for the next apartment, town house or house you’ll call home, that age-old top selling point will immediately come to mind: location. How far is it from where you’ll be working? Is this the kind of neighborhood you’re looking for? Location is definitely one of the most important factors in choosing a new abode.

The size of the apartment or home is also very important. Unless you’re Dr. Who (a fictional character who traveled through time and space in a telephone booth that had an unending amount of space inside) you’re going to need to find a place big enough to accommodate your and your family’s things, and/or the stuff your roommate (if there is one) will have.Also, take note of what amenities are offered by the apartment or rental properties in the area. If having washer and dryer hookups or a dishwasher are important to you, make sure the property offers these things.

Most importantly, live within your means. Look for an apartment or rental property that is within your budget. Not sure how to budget? Check out the guide on Page 7 of this magazine. By learning to budget on housing, you’ll also learn to budget for other things, and if you live within the budget, and within your means, it can only help your credit rating, which will come in handy if or when you enter the home-buying market.

Plan ahead

Time can be one of two things to movers: a friend or enemy. With a little planning, you can make time the former instead of the latter.

Once a decision is made to move, the time to start packing is immediately. This is a no-brainer to anyone who has moved before: boxing up a few things each day during a two- or three-week period will make the move a lot less stressful than trying to get it all packed in one week. Don’t wait until the week before the move; most people don’t realize just how much they have in the way of furniture, trinkets, clothing, etc., until it comes time to wrap these things and box them up. Time is of the essence here; start with items you’re less likely to need as you box up your current home or apartment, and then progress to where the last items you’ll have to pack are things you use on a daily basis.

It's also a good idea to visit the post office immediately and pick up a mover’s packet. These envelopes are full of coupons and information you’ll need in order to change services, such as phone service and change of address cards. The quicker the change of address cards get in the mail, the better the chances your mail won’t be delayed by a week or two while it is routed from one address to the other.

The information packet also includes a time line of when things should be done in preparation for the move, including having utilities (cable, electricity, etc.) turned off at the old address and calling ahead to have the utilities activated at the new address. Depending on the area you move to, there can be at least a week’s wait to get some services, such as phone or cable, turned on or changed over. The earlier you call, the better the chances of having the service available when you arrive at the new destination.

Color Coded

Greg Ellis, with his wife and young son, moved to Tupelo in 1999 from Indiana. He said a simple but very effective tool they used in their move was color-coding rooms in their new house with boxes using small color stickers on the boxes, indicating in which rooms in the new home certain boxes should be placed.

"Whoever thought of that is a genius," Ellis said.

The concept is very simple: put, say, a blue sticker on all boxes which should go in the master bedroom, a green sticker on boxes going into the kitchen, and so forth.

This comes in especially handy when utilizing the services of a moving company, but can be just as handy for people moving themselves, as Ellis and his family did. He and his wife put color stickers on the boxes, then kept a list of the colors and which rooms they represented, then put the corresponding stickers on the doors of the rooms where each of the boxes was to go. This meant they knew exactly where to put the boxes, and the couple and their son spent less time searching for items during the unpacking stage.

Final word

Once you get moved in, take time to rest. Moving is a physically and emotionally draining experience. Treat yourself and your family or a friend to a nice dinner out, or just kick back and relax. And, with any luck, you won’t have to do it all again in three months time.

This story originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2000 Tupelo edition of the Apartment Finder & Newcomers Guide.