Moving is stressful enough without making these 10 biggest moving mistakes.

Not leaving time to pack and sort house

If you don’t sell, donate to charity or give unused items away to neighbors, you’ll end up paying more to move stuff you don’t really need or want. You also don’t want to make the mistake of rushing through your packing. This can lead to broken items and damaged furniture.

Trying to be a DIY superhero

Professional movers know how best maximize space in a truck while reducing possible damage during transport. Even if you don’t opt for an all-inclusive move, you can still be smart about loading. Save your back by using dollies, hand trucks and carpet glides.

Forgetting to pare down pre-move

You should start emptying out your pantry a few months pre-move. This includes your liquor cabinet. Giving away to friends, or throwing a last shindig at your old house is a great way to prevent carrying opened, full bottles of alcohol in your car during your move.

Not getting an estimate

Many movers offer what they call a binding estimate, which basically locks in your move price. If you wait too close to your move or don’t get this binding estimate, you could end up paying much more for your move than bargained.

Not checking your insurance coverage

Professional movers legally provide basic insurance coverage that typically covers your belongings at 60 cents on the pound. If you opt for just this coverage and end up filing a claim, you may discover it doesn’t cover enough to replace heavy or valuable items, not to mention priceless family heirlooms.

Not adapting for pets…

Moving is difficult for pets, but pet parents can alleviate the stress on Mittens or Fido by sectioning off a room the day of your move as a safe space away from the commotion of movers. It’s also beneficial to prepare pets by driving them around in the car on short trips, allowing them to acclimate to life on the road.

… or plants

Even the hardiest of plants can wither or die because of a move. Consider giving them away or leaving room in the car for them instead of sticking them on the moving truck.

Not considering “rush hour”

You considered the traffic situation of your starting location, but what about when you reach your new home? Arriving at the height of traffic can make maneuvering a new city exponentially harder, not to mention the nightmare of trying to find street parking for an urban location at a prime hour.

Not giving a final look at the inventory list

Unless you’re watching every single box as it’s loaded onto the truck (highly unlikely), it’s a good idea to review the inventory list one last time before your belongings pull away. This is especially important if the truck holds more than one household. It’s not unheard of for a box or lamp to shift during transportation and end up in someone else’s load.

Not packing for Day One

After a day spent on the road, the last thing you want to do is rummage through boxes looking for sheets or toilet paper. Pack a box with these first-day essentials and keep it in the car with you or loaded last on the truck. You’ll be grateful you did.