Packing up your whole life and making a new house a home is a large endeavor. While moving into a new home is exciting, it can be a very stressful process. Here are eight tips to prepare you and your family for moving day and remove as much stress from the processes possible:

1. Find a good moving company. There’s no harm in rounding up a few friends and family members to help you make a quick, free move but it’s worth the investment to hire professional movers. Be sure to do your research before you pick the moving company who will be handling your family’s most precious and personal possessions. Start your search by looking at the customer reviews for different companies and keep an eye out for good reviews. The more positive the reviews, the more likely you’ll have a good experience. Once you’ve narrowed down your search, reach out to your top three moving companies to get quotes. Before giving you a quote, some companies will offer a free survey to assess how many and the size of belongings you need moved. Be careful of lower quotes. Cheapest is not always best, especially knowing that the moving company will be handling your valuables. It may be worth it to spend a few hundred more dollars to avoid mishap and stress, plus ensure good service.

2. Declutter your home. Before you start packing your belongings, get rid of items you no longer need or plan to use in your new home. There’s no reason to spend the time and effort packing something you’ll just throw away later. Go through each room in your house and organize items you don’t want into recycle, donate, and trash piles.

3. Make a packing plan and let’s start packing! Packing is a tedious and time-consuming process. To make the endeavor more manageable, create a packing schedule. Start by making sure you have all the packing materials you need—boxes, tape, labels, etc. Purchase a few extra packing materials just in case you need them during the moving process. You can always return any unused and unopened materials later, so, go ahead and purchase more than you think you will need. Packing up your whole home can feel like a daunting task but just take it one step (or one room) at a time. It’s recommended to begin with the least used room in your home and save the most used spaces for last. If the packing process feels overwhelming for you to tackle alone, reach out for a little help. Consider hosting a “packing party” to make the packing process more fun. Invite friends and family to help, order in some food and play music to keep the process enjoyable. Family and friends are not only extra sets of hands, but also great sources of comfort and support.

4. If you’re going to pack it, pack it right. Packing up your home can be stressful but unpacking your belongings can be just as stressful if not done properly. Do yourself a favor and pack your items efficiently and correctly. Try to pack your heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in bigger boxes. This packing method prevents boxes from breaking during the moving process and potentially damaging your belongings. It also helps avoid injuries when lifting and moving the boxes. If certain items belong together, keep them together. For example, keep lightbulbs in your lamp, hooks with your picture frames, and tape your remotes to the coordinating TVs. Take pictures of anything that will be disassembled before your move and pack all the parts together. This will help you put the item back together properly and save you the headache of locating all the parts later. Another packing tip to help you stay organized is to color code your boxes for the rooms they go in. For example, use a red marker or red tape for all boxes that will go in the kitchen. This will make it easier for you and your movers to organize your items in your new home.

5. Clean and take inventory of your new home BEFORE moving day. If possible, try to get access to your new home before you move all your belongings. Deep cleaning your house or apartment while it’s empty is a huge time-saver on moving day. And while you’re there, take inventory (and measurements) of the space to see if you’ll need to order anything beforehand. For example, you could measure windows, walls, and flooring to understand what size furnishings will fit certain spaces in your new home.

6. Sort out your utilities. Before your big move, be sure to give your utility companies plenty of notice to avoid unexpected costs or delays. Let them know you’re moving so they can turn off service and take any final readings of your current home meters. And it might prove useful to take picture of your meters prior to a move for your records, as well. It is also wise to give utility companies plenty of notice to transfer or turn on new services.

7. Pack an essentials kit. You may not be able to unpack all your belongings on moving day, so it’s a good idea to pack a suitcase full of essentials that might be needed for the first couple days. The suitcase should include clothes, toiletries, towels, water, and snacks.

8. Manage your expectations. Moving is exciting, but it can also be tiring. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge all that goes into moving day beforehand to help manage your expectations. Keep yourself nourished by taking time to eat, drink fluids, and get plenty of rest before moving day. If you’re dreading moving day, try to distract yourself with something you enjoy. Make dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant, go see a new movie, or hang out with friends and family to clear your mind.

Congratulations and enjoy your new home!