It’s a new year! That means, it’s time for a fresh start. If, for you, a fresh start means moving to a new house, neighborhood, town, city, state or beyond, we have 8 tips you need to ensure your move is flawless.

1. Set a Budget

It’s no secret that relocating costs can get out of hand. When considering relocating, it’s important to set a budget. This will help you to prioritize what is necessary and what isn’t when relocating.

2. Create a Plan

Relocating can be overwhelming and chaotic. For these reasons, it’s important to create a plan in advance – when you plan to relocating, how you are having your furniture and boxes moved and any other tasks that you feel are important for a smooth transition.

3. Create a Moving Checklist

To stay organized, create a checklist of all of the tasks that need completed before, during and after you’ve moved. This list will help you to stay on task and prevent you from forgetting any small, but important detail.

4. Declutter

It can potentially be a costly decision to wait to declutter your home until after you move. When you declutter prior to moving, you can possibly sell and make money off of the unwanted or unused items in your home. Decluttering also means you’ll have less to move later!

5. Pack Early and Pack Efficiently

One question often asked is, how soon should you start packing before you move? The answer is always the same – as early as possible. The sooner you begin packing, the less stressful the process will be, especially if you’re moving a long distance. Start with rarely-used house items and work your way to your common, everyday materials to prevent cutting corners at the end. This will help to reduce the chances for broken goods or misplaced items.

6. Label Every Box with its Destination and Contents

As you pack and seal up each box, write a brief list of its contents and the room they are intended for. This way, when you’re moving in, you’ll be able to deposit your boxes in the right room and you’ll know exactly what is in each box.

7. Change Your Address & Transfer Utilities

Before you move, make sure to change your address and transfer all utilities at least two weeks prior to moving. This timeframe ensures your utilities will be transferred on time for your official move in date and allows for your address change to take effect, so you don’t miss any important bills, statements, packages and other mail.

8. Pack a Moving Day Essential Box

Don’t move to your new home without a moving day essential box or bag. This box should contain anything and everything you might need on moving day and the following few days. Essentials could include items like toothbrushes, medications, toiletries, trash bags, a tool kits or cleaning supplies.