Maybe you’ve gotten a new job or outgrown your current home. Perhaps you want more land to grow crops or need to downsize so you can afford to travel. Whatever the reason, if you’re moving, and there are a few things you should keep in mind to make the process a little easier on the mind, body, spirit, and bank account.

Not All Movers Offer The Same Services

In case you’re wondering, yes, you do need to hire a professional moving company. If you try to go it alone, you risk injury to yourself as well as potential monetary loss if something happens to your belongings. TVs, sofas, and valuable family keepsakes likely aren’t covered by your home insurance if there’s a mishap en route. A moving company will have insurance for just such an issue. But you can’t scroll through Craigslist hoping to find a bored college kid with a truck.

It’s easy to select the company (or individual) that offers the lowest price, but you might regret that decision. Get at least three quotes, and check the find print. Some companies bundle packing materials in their quote, others don’t. One company may provide a timeline and expected delivery date, but another may leave you waiting in the wind.

The moving cost calculator by Hire-A-Helper can help you compare prices and services between reputable moving companies in your area.

It’s A Great Time To Purge

You probably have too much stuff, and it’s in your best interest to avoid overfilling your new digs. Take a few weeks before moving day to purge your current home of things you haven’t laid eyes on in at least 12 months. Realtor.com also suggests taking into account the size of your new home and getting rid of any duplicate items you no longer need. Downsizing your belongings will also lower your moving fees, so do this before getting a quote.

There is an Art to Packing

Your first order of business when it comes to packing is to check with your moving company and ask about weight limits or special requirements before chucking your entire house into boxes. Once you know what they require, you can begin packing. Keep in mind, however, that it’s not just a matter of stuffing your clothes and pictures into a box. There is an art to it. Books, for example, need a sturdy box, and expensive hardbacks should be wrapped before being put away for transport. The Denver Post offers additional packing tips and advise on how you can use trash bags as part of your packing plan.

The Kids Can Help, Too

Let the kids pack their non-breakables. Moving is tough on children, who might not understand why their life is being upended. Giving them responsibilities will help them feel more in control. However, while they should handle some tasks, outsourcing the heavy lifting will give you the chance to talk to and listen to your kids throughout the moving process. You’ll be better able to focus on their needs, and free up time to gather everything you need to help them settle into their new school, neighborhood, and life.

Your Dog Might Get You In Trouble

If you’re moving with pets, you need to be aware of your new state’s requirements when transporting a dog, cat, bird or other animal across state lines. Colorado requires a veterinary inspection certificate no older than 30 days prior to the move. Other states require full certificates of health and may even have restrictions on the animal’s body temperature or mandate certain vaccinations before calling their new house a home. Don’t forget to ask your moving company if they offer animal transport services; never assume they do.

Before heading down the highway, make sure you’ve done your research. Hiring a moving company based on value instead of cost, get rid of the belongings that have been holding you down, and don’t forget about the kids and the family pet. Nothing is going to completely take away the stress of moving, but the process doesn’t have to wreck your nerves.

This article was posted on behalf of Kelli Brewer.

Kelli Brewer is an admin writer at: http://deploycare.org