Even when hiring professional movers, plenty can go wrong on moving day. As a real estate professional, you want this moment to go as smoothly as possible so that the new buyers can move in. Here are some tips to share with your sellers to make sure moving out doesn’t cause any delays or headaches:

Research the moving company carefully. “Our industry has a horrible reputation, and we’ve earned it,” says Aaron Steed, CEO of Southern California’s Meathead Movers. “There are good guys, and there are bad guys, and it’s really hard to tell at the time of estimate.” Price is only one piece of the puzzle, and home owners should make sure they find someone they’ll be comfortable working with. “Some moving companies are the real deal, and then there are a lot of others where you just have a guy running it out of his apartment,” Steed says.

Do some prep work. Before the movers show up, figure out the logistics. Where should the truck park? If the move is from a condo or apartment building, does the owner need to reserve the building’s elevator or are there designated moving hours? If there’s a particularly heavy item the movers will need to move (e.g. piano, washer/dryer), let them know in advance so they can add extra help if needed.

Tell the movers what’s valuable. If home owners have any particularly valuable items that require extra care, they need to let the movers know in advance. “The best way to deal with damage is to avoid it by communicating about things that are fragile and meaningful,” says Mike Dahlman, the general manager of You Move Me.

Label. Labeling boxes will make moving into the new home much easier. “It’s easier if the movers know where to put it as opposed to trying to delineate where it goes on move day, when we’re charging our hourly rate,” Steed says. Be sure to make the labels clear, too (“Humbert’s room” likely won’t mean much to them).

Move out of the way. Owners needn’t get on the truck to help sort or carry items. “We’re professionals and it’s a skill,” Dahlman says. “We have a plan on how things can be done best. Have respect for that.” Also, owners may end up slowing down the move and even posing an insurance liability. “It jeopardizes work safety and our insurance,” Steed says. “We can’t let customers on our truck or carry things with customers.”

Source: “Get Out of the Way (and 6 Other Things Your Movers Wish You Knew,” realtor.com® (Oct. 23, 2015)