Whether you’re about to start your first or your tenth move, it’s always a daunting process with lots of issues and questions to work out with your local movers. Every move is unique, but there are some common questions that crop up time and time again about moving. With that in mind, the following is a moving FAQ: a list of the some of those common questions and their answers in order to help your next move (and all moves thereafter) go smoother.

Avoiding every single moving mistake is almost never possible, but it is likely you can avoid the biggest moving mistakes and, therefore, avoid the biggest consequences. If you know what substantial mistakes to watch for, you can likely save yourself in terms of financial fallout, time lost, stress, and hassle before, during, and after the move itself. With that in mind, here are five of the biggest moving mistakes you should keep in mind when it next comes time to relocate.

Choosing a Northern Virginia moving company can feel incredibly overwhelming because of the sheer number of choices available to you. For instance, there are easily over two hundred local movers in Fairfax, Virginia, alone. Choosing the right mover, though, can have real consequences for your local move—both in terms of finances and the stress associated with that move. That’s why it’s so important to choose wisely among that massive selection and find the company that will provide the best value, service, and professionalism. The following are a few moving tips to help you accomplish just that.

If you’re looking to relocate locally in the Fairfax region, you might be wondering what the more cost-effective solution is: going with a local Fairfax moving company or one of the national moving brands. While cost should not be the only deciding factor for what moving company you select, there is certainly a financial advantage to choosing local moving companies over the larger chains.

Moving scams can be one of the most nerve-racking parts of local moving because it’s often very difficult to differentiate between disreputable and reputable moving companies. That’s why it’s so important to familiarize yourself with potential scams in order to minimize the potential of falling victim to one. If you’re looking to relocate in the Fairfax, Virginia, region, make sure to keep your eyes open for the following scams or disreputable business practices that could end up costing you a lot of money come move day.

Choosing the right local moving company can be difficult. After all, even within a small area, there are inevitably many companies to choose from. So, how can you consistently differentiate quality companies from everyone else? How can you ensure you get the best value out of your movers? Often, a big part of that battle is thoroughly and diligently checking online reviews for the local moving companies you’re considering.

Moving company complaints and how to file them are not exactly something you want to think about. You want to assume that your move day will go absolutely to plan, and nothing unexpected (or unpleasant) will happen. Unfortunately, no company—not a single one—can promise this, so it’s really important to pick your moving company with this consideration in mind. What company is going to be most honest, upstanding, and forthright about claims issues? And how can you tell?

The time to move on any given job can vary wildly, but the following are some helpful moving tips that offer you two important pieces of information. One, they allow you to get a ballpark sense of what an average job will take in terms of time. Two, you can get a better sense of the factors that influence move time (either increasing or decreasing it).

When selecting local movers, many people go through a standard checklist. Mostly that means they check on pricing, and maybe they look online at reviews or get a few recommendations from friends. However, part of that selection process should be making sure the movers are respectful and careful when it comes to your old (and new) home. Any damage done during a move can be expensive to fix and can create a needless headache on an already stressful moving day.

It’s not always clear what to expect from your local movers, and one common question is whether those movers will provide all the professional moving equipment and accessories necessary to complete the relocation. In particular, should you expect those movers to bring wardrobe boxes to your next local move?