Dwell magazine tapped Cool Hand Movers for their piece, “Everything You Need to Know to Make Moving Less Miserable,” and we have some of the key moving advice below:

1. Give yourself time: Begin your search for the right mover as soon as you know you’ll need a team. Ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors, read reviews, and check forums like Reddit for advice.

2. Streamline your belongings: Don’t plan and pay to move items you won’t need. If you don’t use it, lose it—before the move—by selling, donating, or disposing of the extra items you have taking up space.

3. Beware of red flags: Ask your mover if their team is in-house or if they subcontract. Subcontracting can lead to much less consistency and accountability for client experience.