(A big “thank you” to our friends at Livable for sponsoring this post!)

Moving can be stressful, and if you’re not organized while trying to move, it can make it even worse. Thankfully, making a few smart moves can make your transition easier.

1. Purge Early

You don’t realize how much stuff you have until you need to pack it all up. One way to ensure you easily get through all your belongings is to purge early. As soon as you know you’ll be moving it’s a good idea to start going through closets, basements, attics, and other storage areas. Make three separate piles: keep, donate, and trash. Anything in the trash or donate piles should be taken out of your home immediately. By purging, you can rest assured you’re not wasting time and money packing up things you won’t need.

2. Hire a Full-Service Moving Company

While using a company may cost a little more than doing it yourself, it brings along a lot less stress. A full-service moving company will not only haul your moving boxes and furniture to your new place, but they’ll even pack it and store it for you if desired. According to Livable, a storage facility out of Boston, “Full-service moving companies allow you to handle your move on your schedule. From packing to shipping to storing to delivery, everything is done as easily as possible.” In my experience, our family’s international full-service moves were less stressful than our local DIY moves.

3. Use Lists

If you decide to pack yourself, you can stay organized by using lists. For instance, have a binder or notebook on hand when you start packing. Then, label every box with a number. In your notebook, write down the box number and then list the items inside that box. This way, if you get to your new place and are in desperate need of your pizza cutter, you know which box to look in instead of digging through random boxes until you find what you need.

4. Be Color-Coordinated

Along with the list, you should also consider color-coordinating your moving boxes. For instance, place a yellow sticker on all boxes for the kitchen, blue stickers on items for the living room, red for the bathroom, etc. By doing this, you’ll know which rooms to put certain boxes in as you move in. This way, you’re not shuffling through all your boxes in the garage. Instead, you can get a jump start on organizing your home.

5. Designate Tasks

If you have people helping you with the move, it becomes more efficient if you give everyone a specific task. For instance, delegate some people to pack while others bring the boxes into the truck. Or put someone in charge or labeling boxes and filling out your notebook. When everyone has a specific task in mind, it will create less chaos around the house and help you keep an organized and efficient process.

6. Plan Ahead for Pets and Kids

There will be a lot going on during your moving day, so it’s a good idea to make advanced plans for pets and/or kids. For instance, see if a neighbor, friend, or family member can keep an eye on your pets or kids while you’re moving items out of the old house. This will create less for you to look after, and you also don’t have to worry about closing doors behind you or someone getting lost in the shuffle. In addition, if you need to stay in a hotel for a few nights in between the move, it’s a good idea to either confirm it’s a pet-friendly hotel or find a local boarding facility that will keep your pets safe for you.

7. Confirm Dates and Times

Whether you’re moving your belongings on your own or relying on a third party, it’s critical to confirm dates and times with anyone involved in your move. For instance, be sure moving trucks will arrive at the right location and at the right time. Make sure any closing dates and times have been confirmed, and finalize any other important dates before you start to move. The last thing you want to do is be waiting on a truck to arrive—or have a crew waiting at the wrong address—because you didn’t take the few extra minutes to confirm the appointment.

Moving can be stressful, but if you do everything you can to stay organized during the process, the transition will be much easier.