During the planning stage, it's a good idea to provide the moving service with a floor plan of your new home, if you can manage it. That way, the movers will know what to expect, and will be able to alert, in advance, you of any potential problems (such as furniture that won't fit).

Even if you're moving locally and plan to move most of your stuff yourself, it's a good idea to hire a moving service to help you with the big items. It's easier than stressing yourself out, and you'll only have to pay for a few hours worth of work.

Most moving services will ask you to pack your own items. Be sure to do so in reverse order of density, so that your heavier items are on the bottom of the box. Not only does this ensure less likelihood of damage, it makes the boxes themselves more stable.