Moving is a lot of work, especially if you’re Moving across the country. Be sure you understand your moving options — paying for professional movers, doing it yourself, using portable storage units, shipping your car. It’s also important to be mentally prepared for all the logistics involved and know what to do when issues arise.

Here are five things you should keep in mind as you plan your cross-country move:

• You have more things than you thought.
• It may not be worth it to move all your furniture.
• Your stuff might get lost.
• The climate will be different.
• You can ship your car.

You have more things than you thought.

We all accumulate stuff. When everything we have is stored, we don’t realize how much stuff we really have. Whether you’re a hoarder or not, moving is a great time to evaluate all of your things and downsize.

There are several approaches you can take when going through your stuff. You can use Marie Kondo’s approach to eliminate the things that do not bring you joy. You can also research other methods to find the approach that works best for you.

Whatever method you use, downsizing will mean fewer things to move. Having fewer things to move will also save you money on moving costs.

It may not be worth it to move all your furniture.

Furniture is bulky, which means that it takes up a lot of room in your moving truck. In some cases, it is just as expensive or cheaper to buy new Furniture once you’ve moved to your new location.

Research how much it would cost to move each piece of furniture and how much it would cost to replace it. You can sell or donate the furniture you don’t want to move. If you sell your furniture, you can use the money to help replace items.

Depending on where you’re moving, you may not need as much furniture as you have now. So, it makes sense to make those choices before you move instead of waiting to see what will fit in your new home.

Your stuff might get lost.

Whether you carefully pack and label the boxes yourself or have professional movers do it, you may not be able to find everything until all the boxes are unpacked.

Sometimes professional movers lose boxes, especially if you’re sharing a moving truck with someone else.

Before choosing a moving company, know what its policy is for lost and damaged items. Understanding these policies will help you know what steps to take if something gets lost or damaged as you move.

The climate will be different.

Wherever you move, be sure to understand the climate and how it will be different from where you currently live. If you’re moving in the summer, be prepared for heat and humidity. Have water on hand.

If you’re moving in the winter, be prepared for cold temperatures. In some areas, like Arizona, it’s nicer to move during the winter than during the summer.

The change in climate can affect your allergies, so keep that in mind too.

Differences in climate also affect how you’ll need to care for your home and car. In snowy climates, you’ll want to make sure your car is functioning well and prepared for winter driving. You may also have to shovel your driveway, get winter tires, and keep kitty litter (to help with traction) in your car.

You can ship your car.

Cross-country driving puts a lot of miles on your car quickly. Towing your car can also reduce the tread on your tires unless all four wheels are off the ground.

If you’re concerned about the extra miles, don’t want to deal with towing your car, or are driving the moving truck yourself, paying to have your car shipped is a great service. It will help keep your mileage low, which helps protect your car’s resale value.

Moving is exciting because it’s the start of a new adventure. It can also be stressful and expensive. Downsizing and getting rid of furniture can help you save on moving costs. Understanding how your moving service deals with lost and damaged items will help you choose a good moving company.

Preparing for a new climate will also ease the transition. Shipping your car will help keep its mileage low and ensure that your car arrives to your new location safely.

Author Bio: Alice Stevens enjoys traveling and learning languages. She manages content for bestcompany.com specializing in finance, insurance, and car warranty.