Moving to another state or thousands of miles away from your current home can be stressful, but with these moving tips, it doesn’t have to be. You may be wondering how you’re going to get all of your belongings from one place to another, but you shouldn’t be worried about that. You can always hire a moving company to help you if the stress becomes too much. Whether you’re moving to San Antonio or another part of the country, here’s our round-up of cross-country moving tips.

1. Get Rid of Stuff

One of the biggest hassles moving to another state or thousands of miles away is moving all of your belongings. You should get rid of belongings that you don’t need or plan to replace. Get rid of old clothes that you haven’t worn in a long time. Replace your belongings when you get to your new home. Your move will be easier if you get rid of the belongings that you don’t need or want by donating or selling them online.

2. Label Boxes

You should keep track of how many boxes you have and what’s in each box. If something is missing when you arrive at your destination, you should be able to find it quickly if you keep track of where everything is. It may seem like a lot of work, but it’ll save you a lot of stress.

3. Clean Your Belongings

When you’re packing your belongings, you’ll want to clean them so that you don’t have to do it once you get to your new home.

4. Use Durable Packing Materials

You’ll need to purchase and use durable packing materials for your belongings. On the way to your destination, the moving truck will hit many bumps in the road and they may take sharp turns, so you’ll need to take your time and pack your belongings with padding and durable boxes to prevent damages. You may want to consider using plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes. Plastic bins are durable and waterproof. To save on packing materials ask your movers to include these materials as part of your moving package. Often movers will throw in free boxes when you hire them for long-distance services. Alternatively, you can find free moving boxes on Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, or by asking friends and family.

5. Safely Pack Your Belongings

If you’re packing your belongings in cardboard boxes, you should always tape the bottom and sides of each cardboard box before placing your belongings in them. Before packing fragile belongings, you should always place bubble wrap or several pieces of paper at the bottom of the box. After you have finished packing your belongings in your cardboard boxes or plastic bins, be sure to fill any spaces in the box to prevent shifting during transport.

6. Change Your Address

Before the moving truck arrives, be sure to take care of changing your address with the postal service. The last thing you want is for the mail person to continue delivering mail to your old address after you move to a new state. You can go online to fill out the change of address form with the USPS here.

Moving to another state or thousands of miles away can be costly, but we do have some tips for you so that you can save money. You’ll likely be able to save money if you plan your move between October and April. If you’re moving because of a new job, you’ll want to ask your employer if they’ll help cover the costs. If the employer won’t help with moving costs, the costs may be tax-deductible. Lastly, you’ll want to pack your boxes tightly. We usually charge by the number of boxes you have instead of weight.