Moving is something a lot of people do throughout their lives. In fact, in 2017, around 11% of the U.S. population moved. But fewer people move long distance, which is often more complex and nerve-racking. So if you have a long distance move planned, here are a few steps you should follow.

Make a schedule: Planning is important for all moves, but especially for long distance moves. As soon as you decide you’re moving and know you’re moving date, you need to make a schedule — and stick to it! From gathering packing supplies to setting up utilities at your new house to enrolling kids in school, there are a lot of tasks that need to be completed before you move. So to ensure you don’t forget anything, make a schedule and block out chunks of time to complete certain tasks so you can easily stay on track.

Get rid of belongings: Before you move, you should always go through your belongings. Chances are that you have quite a lot of stuff that you don’t need to take with you. And getting rid of things before you pack and move will save you both time and money. You’ll have to worry about less packing supplies and you’ll have fewer boxes to carry to the truck come moving day. So make sure to go through all of your belongings — especially off-season items that may already be packed away somewhere.

Hire reputable movers: When you’re moving long distance, it’s crucial to work with a reputable long distance moving company. You’re going to be shipping your belongings a long way, which means you need to have someone you can trust to take care of them. Whether you’re moving out of the country or a few states over, working with a reliable moving company will give you peace of mind. You’ll have enough to worry about when moving day comes so you don’t want to have to worry about getting your belongings to your new home in one piece.

Hopefully, these tips will help your move go smoothly. If you start planning well in advance and work with a reputable long distance moving company, you should have nothing to worry about.