Much like going to work, paying taxes and doing yardwork, moving is an everyday part of life and Americans are always on the move. The Current Population Survey of Annual Social and Economic Development found that 11.2 percent of the U.S. population moved between 2015 and 2016.

The average American moves about 12 times in their life. What’s more, the average 30-year old has moved six times. Additionally, about 63 percent of people have moved to a new community at least once in their lives while 37 percent have never left their hometown.

Whatever the reason for your move, there’s a lot that goes into it and one of the most important elements is a reliable moving company. Finding a good moving company can help make sure your move is easy and is done the right way.

Here are five ways to find the right movers or moving company:

• Inventory: On average, households in the United States have 300,000 things in them. Any way you slice it, that’s a heck of a lot of stuff to move and a heck of a lot of stuff to keep track of. A reliable moving company will be able to keep track of all your belongings and be able to determine the bulk and weight of your stuff. The weight of your items make up a big part of a moving company’s estimate and the company will be able to tell you just how much you’ll expect to pay.
• Recommendations: As with a lot of things, it pays to hire a reputable mover or moving company. The Yellow Pages are likely filled with dozens of local movers in your area. Some companies avoid being reviewed by the Better Business Bureau by constantly changing names, so take care in choosing one. Ask friends who have moved and always keep an eye out for scams. Don’t be afraid to shop around. Ultimately it’s you and your belongings that are moving and you want to make sure it’s done by the right people.
• Packing and Extra Fees: Packing up your stuff yourself for a move can save money since a moving company doesn’t have to do it, but it can be a double-edged sword. Doing that means companies aren’t necessarily responsible for any damage to your items during the moving process, but having a mover do it means you might pay through the nose for their packing materials.
  Additionally, beware of any fees you might have to pay to accommodate the movers having to deal with elevators, stairs, narrow streets or other obstacles as they move your belongings from point A to point B.
• Do a Walk-through: The estimate you get from a moving company will give you a detailed look at how much you have and how much it will take to move all of it. But beyond that it’s important to go over it with the moving company and tell them exactly what you plan to take with you and what you plan to leave behind.
• Know What You’re Paying For: Moving can be exciting, moving can be stressful, moving can be fun, but one thing is certain: moving costs money, sometimes a lot of it. Moving companies can do a lot to help make it easy, but it’s important to know exactly what you’re paying for and how much you’re paying. Get exact estimates and sign contracts with moving companies that spell out exactly what’s being done and what the bill is.

Moving companies can make a stressful move seem easy as pie with their ability to keep track of all your things and their movers taking care of all the hard labor of actually moving it. When it comes to finding the right mover or company, take time to find a reputable one and know exactly what they’re doing and exactly how much you’ll be ponying up to have it done.

Are you in need of a mover or moving company? Angie’s List can provide a list of local companies in your area and also gives recommendations to help you avoid any scams. This list can also be helpful in choosing a reliable mover.