In general, between 10% and 20% of the US population moves to a new home every year, and many of them do so for work-related reasons. While these long standing trends may be slowing a bit with Millennials, they aren’t going away either.

Moving long distance poses many potential risks, but the reward of starting of new career in a location you love far often outweighs those risks.

To ensure as smooth a transition as possible when relocating to a new state or a new country to start a new job, here are 4 key tips to keep in mind:

1. Research Moving Companies

Take some time to “do your homework” as to which removalists operating in the relevant areas are reputable. Find out how long they’ve been in business, what kind of reviews they get online, and how they score with the BBB or another business rating organization.

Also, look for a company that will perform in-home estimates so you can get an accurate quote. Be sure it’s a full service company, like Six Brother Removalists in Sydney, for example, which covers moving homes, business offices, and heavy duty furniture.

2. Take Care With Scheduling

Far better if you can move in the off season rather than in the busy summer months since it will usually save you money and make it easier to get the exact move date you want.

But you can’t always control that, so plan far in advance to ensure you can coordinate dates with your moving company, the required move-out date from your old home, the first available move-in date for your new home, and the day you will start your new job.

All of those dates will not perfectly coincide, but they have to be “compatible.” You need to give yourself some breathing room between move-in and first day at work so you have time to get organized and acclimated.

3. Pack Light but Smart

Weight equals higher moving costs, so it doesn’t make sense to bring anything that you don’t need or that you can buy cheaply in the place where you’re going.

Go over the belongings you initially plan to take several times, whittling it down more and more till you reach bare essentials. The excess can be sold in a garage sale, donated to charity for a tax write off, given away to family, friends, or neighbors, or if all else fails, thrown out.

Consider any climate changes you’ll experience in your new home. That may mean leaving the winter coats and snow blower behind. Don’t take any perishable food items or liquids like laundry soap with you that could spill and cause a mess.

4. Keep Track of Everything

By using a professional moving company, you save a lot of time. Use that time to take a thorough inventory of the contents of each box. Box things based on which room it will go in and based on how crucial it will be to unpack and use a box’s contents upon arrival. There are many good apps these days that can help you take inventory while moving, including photo files and estimated value.

Also remember to keep track of the value of all your possessions shipped since you’ll want to use moving insurance (20% of people who move end up filing a claim if they insured their property and are able to!)

Finally, keep track of all moving expenses because they are tax deductible when you are moving for a business-related reason.

If you want the best possible moving experience, you need to plan for it. That means finding the most reliable removalists, scheduling as far ahead as possible, packing smart, labeling all boxes with care, and keeping close tabs on the situation financially as well.