There are so many things that one needs to do to get a home ready to be sold. Whether it be painting, new carpet, new lighting or just a deep clean, the one thing that you simply cannot avoid is packing. You will eventually need to pack up your belongings and move them to your new space. But before you run out to get your supplies, here are 5 great tips for packing your home for a successful move.

1. Put together a plan - Whether you are moving across town or across the country, you need to have a plan. Decide if you will be hiring a moving company, or if your friends and family will be able to help. Beyond the first step, start to think about what you will be bringing with you and what you are going to be parting with. Start piles for pack, donate and trash. You definitely don’t want to move things that you don’t plan on using when you get to your new home. Even if you will have more room, really think about how you will be living in your new space.

2. Where will it go? - Once you have your piles determined, you need to figure out where each item will go. Do your packed items go straight into the moving truck or will you need to rent a storage facility for a while? If you have items to donate or sell, make arrangements for big items to be picked up and then drop off any other items at your local donation center.

3. Is this item used often? - Really give this question some thought. Just because you were given an item for your wedding 30 years ago doesn’t mean that it has to come with you, especially if you have only used it twice. The biggest takeaway is to think about the things that you will need in your new space. You will be amazed at how much stuff you have that you had forgotten about, or have never used.

4. Be mindful of your time - Don’t wait until you have sold your home, or your lease is finally up to start packing. Getting a head start makes the process a lot less stressful and it also gives you time to deal with making arrangements for donations and scheduling the actual move. This also eliminates frantic packing when you are up against the clock.

5. Be flexible - There are a lot of things to coordinate when it comes to moving, so having patience and flexibility will make things a lot more tolerable. Be prepared for schedules to change and bodies to tire, but remember that there is an end in sight and it will all be worth it.

Give yourself adequate time, ask for help and have a plan to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible.