Moving is no walk in the park. After getting over the excitement of buying your dream house or getting that great apartment, the stress of moving is (somewhat) inevitable. Fortunately, recognizing common moving mistakes can help you prepare for the worst and make moving day a breeze. From giving yourself enough time to labeling your boxes properly, here are a few things to avoid when planning to move.

1) Procrastination

When you have a lot of things to do, it’s often easier to just set them aside and get to them later. However, when it comes to moving, procrastination is something you’ll just have to conquer. Leaving things until the last minute can result in forgetting important items, and adding to the overall stress of the move.

A good way to conquer this is by creating a checklist. This way, you’ll be able to plan ahead and finish those time-sensitive tasks without feeling overwhelmed or forgetting anything. By figuring out which tasks need to get done first, you won’t feel like you’re drowning in responsibilities. Plus, it’ll make your whole moving journey a whole lot smoother when you’re not rushing to get everything done.

2) Not getting rid of old things

It’s very likely that when you move, you don’t want to bring everything from your old place. Moving to a new house or apartment means starting fresh. So why would you want to bring all those old, broken down books or clothes that just don’t fit anymore? Packing up all your current things and taking them to a new home leads to clutter, and takes up space. Space that could be used for things you actually need.

Before packing all your things into boxes, it’s a good idea to go through all of the things you planned on taking and deciding what you’ll need and what can be donated. If you’re someone who finds it difficult to part from old items, remember that by donating, you’ll not only be creating new space but helping someone who actually needs it.

3) Not researching moving companies

Unless you have a good friend with a truck willing to spend the day helping out, you’ll probably have to use some sort of moving company. And while this is not uncommon, a mistake many make is going with the very first option they find on Google and calling it a day. Without the proper research, you could miss out on saving money and end up with a whole new headache. Without the proper research and comparison, you could risk going with a company that has bad service or reputation.

A good rule of thumb is to research at least three different moving companies. Compare rates, services, and reviews. This way you’ll have options to choose from and see what the best possible decision is.

4) Not labeling boxes

When you’re finally settled into your new place, the last thing you want to be worrying about is which box you left your favorite shippers or toothbrush in. When packing, it’s certainly easier to just toss everything in a box and go. However, in doing so, you end up adding to your stress later on.

A good way to keep order is to pack everything by category and label accordingly. It would also be helpful to label your boxes prior to packing anything in them. This way, you know where each item will go and make the process go a lot quicker.

BONUS: Packing a box of essential items for your first couple of nights can be a real lifesaver.

5) Not forward mail in time

Probably one of the more tedious acts that come with moving is the process of forwarding mail to your new address. It can be time-consuming and, let’s face it, a little bit boring. But, no matter how much we’d like to avoid this process, it’s something that must be done. Unfortunately, many wait too long to do so.

In order to avoid any inconvenience, it’s suggested to begin the process of forwarding your mail at least a couple of weeks prior to moving. Be sure to look over your change of address forms and consider how long it will take.

Moving can certainly be a fun process when you’ve planned accordingly and given yourself plenty of time. And while stress is not 100% avoidable, knowing what mistakes to avoid can help make moving into your new home a whole lot easier.