Moving to a new home or apartment can be incredibly stressful and time-consuming. Not only is it difficult to put all your belongings in boxes and containers, but it can also be emotionally difficult to say goodbye to your home. Planning your move down to the letter can reduce your stress and sometimes make leaving your nest a little less difficult. So whether you’re looking for local movers Greensboro NC, or a cross-country moving company, here are some easy tips to make everything run smoothly.

Set a Budget

Relocating can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to set a budget for your project. Try to calculate how much you’ll need to spend on boxes, a rental truck, movers, food, security deposits and other upfront costs at your new home. Be realistic with your estimations, and if it comes out that you’ll be spending more than you’d like to, see if there’s anything you can cut out to save a little money.

Use Labels

It might be tempting to stick anything within reach into the same box, but this can make unpacking a confusing process. Try to label each box for the room its contents belong in and pack accordingly. Keep your kitchen materials together, living room tchotchkes in a separate box and books for different bookshelves can all be separated too. When packing books, just remember to use smaller boxes because the weight will add up quickly.

You also want to find a safe place to store all of your important documents. One great option is to have a small locking filing cabinet in your home where you keep things like birth certificates, tax papers, or unpaid bills. This way, you can simply lock the cabinet and stick it right into your moving truck so nothing important is lost!