Americans suffer from a terminal case of wanderlust — studies show that the average American life includes 11 moves. Unfortunately, moving also can inject a strong dose of chaos and mayhem into your life.

“The idea of moving is enough to get anyone's heart pounding,” says Richard Roll, president of American Homeowners Association (AHA). “But remember, you know your home and your possessions and you have a moving date. Those elements are the beginning of a plan what will help get you, your family, and your belongings into a new home, intact.”

First, try to avoid moving during the summer months. This is the most crowded time of year when most moving takes place.

If you must move during the summer, try to schedule your move for mid-month, when moving companies and rental agencies are not as busy.

If you are doing the packing yourself, work out a general schedule for when certain rooms should be packed.

Begin hoarding boxes! The photocopy center in your office building, as well as grocery and department stores are good places to find them, especially after the stores have completed inventory and before the boxes are thrown out.

The Internet is a good source for information on packing tips. Most moving companies provide packing tips on their Web sites. Look for specific details about how to pack different household items, from fragile artwork to bulky lawn mowers.

The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) is the industry guild that certifies movers and provides professional standards for members. These movers have agreed to a Code of Conduct that requires “complete disclosure of moving information to consumers, written estimates of charges, timely service and prompt response to claims and complaints.”

Ask your potential moving company if it is a member of AMSA, or check the AMSA website's membership list www.moving.org .

It is easy to get stressed out when uprooting your life from one house to another, but moving is simply a series of tasks that need to be accomplished by a certain date.

The easiest way to eliminate moving stress is to make a schedule that includes all the tasks, and stick to it.

For more information on any aspect of buying, selling or owning a home, go to www.ahahome.com or www.realhome.com , the web sites for American Homeowners Association.