Planning a move anytime soon? Many people cringe at the thought of having to plan a move, whether across town, across the country, or across the globe. Moving is stressful. It’s usually accompanied by a major life change, such as a new job that requires relocation, and as if that weren’t enough stress in and of itself, it requires carefully sorting through all your possessions, packing them carefully, and hoping that they arrive at their ultimate destination no worse for the journey. Fortunately, good movers can ease much of this stress.

There are obviously many advantages to using the services of professional movers. Good movers can pack and move your items more quickly and easily than most individuals can. Moving companies already have all the necessary equipment and experience to get your valued possessions from point A to point B. But, if you choose poor movers, moving day can quickly become a disaster.

What can you do to make sure that your experience with movers is as positive as possible? First, assess your personal belongings. Do you have certain pieces that are highly valuable, for either financial or sentimental reasons? If so, get them insured. The moving process can be hazardous for these objects, and you need to protect yourself from the potential losses.

When choosing movers, ask friends, family members, and colleagues for advice based on their personal experiences. Moving companies’ websites and reputations can provide much of the information you need to make an informed decision.

Long before the movers actually come to your home on moving day, start making lists of all the things you need to do. Don’t limit yourself to lists of things to pack, but instead consider all the things you’ll need to do to vacate your current home and move into a new one. Some things are obvious, such as calling the gas and electric companies, but if you’re moving to another city far away you’ll find many, many more things on your list. Some can be done far in advance of the move to minimize your stress.

On moving day, the movers will take your possessions from your old house to your new house. Some companies will pack and unpack your goods as well, but this is a more expensive service. The basic service just involves picking up boxes that you have already packed and moving them into the van, as well as placing protecting padding around large pieces of furniture before placing them in the moving van.