The new job is halfway across the country.

You have a spouse, children, pets and a house overflowing with possessions. A move sounds overwhelming, a monumental effort.

Experts say doing your homework before making a move can save you money, time and heartache. Take the time to make a plan, they say.

Most corporations have a relocation package for new employees. The packages can differ, depending on whether you are a chief executive officer or someone a little lower on the ladder. In some cases, you may be on your own for expenses.

If your new company is paying for the move, it likely will want to use a moving company it is familiar with, said David Sparkman, vice president of communications for the American Moving and Storage Association, which is based in Alexandria, Va.

If you are selecting the mover, take the time to choose the right one, Sparkman said. Too often, the decision is made without thought.

"Very often, they're changing jobs, moving to a new city, finding a school to put the kids into and filling out change-of-address forms," he said, "and they tend not to realize that the selection of a moving company takes the same kind of care you would use in selecting a car dealer or someone selling your house. You don't just pick a name out of the Yellow Pages.

"One thing you can do is talk to friends and neighbors -- who's had a good experience with someone?"

The AMSA's Web site, www.moving.org, also has a listing of certified movers, Sparkman said. The local Better Business Bureau is another good place to check.

Visit the mover at the business, he said. If the shop is filthy, you don't want to do business with the company.

"When you've got it narrowed down to some qualified, reputable movers, don't just get an estimate over the phone," Sparkman said. "Get a written estimate, and don't just pick the cheapest mover."

Moving insurance is key, he said. And get the proper amount.

Sparkman said he has heard horror stories of people who purchase $5,000 worth of insurance, only to have $50,000 worth of belongings broken or disappear during the move.

People also should keep in mind that moving a household of furniture across the country is a risk, he said. Something is likely to break -- no matter how carefully you packed it or how professional the moving company is.

Potholes happen. Drivers can cut in front of the van, causing a sudden stop.

Be prepared to pay

The cost of the move will depend on the distance, amount of possessions and number of belongings requiring special care, such as a piano.

"People should not be surprised at seeing rather substantial fees in the range of thousands of dollars for moving cross-country -- Philadelphia to L.A.," Sparkman said.

Most movers will require a cash payment, either by certified check or money order. A few will accept credit cards, according to the AMSA. Most won't accept a personal check.

If that sounds harsh, Sparkman said, imagine the plight of the mover who hauls a family across several states only to have the check bounce.

Most people opt to do their own packing because it is expensive to have the moving company do it for them, Sparkman said. That can prove difficult for the movers.

"They're used to moving themselves," said Carla Bailey, president of Bailey Moving & Storage, 608 N.E. Quincy, "and they will say everything's packed. We get there, and they have open-top boxes.

"When you're moving with a professional mover, boxes have to be closed and packed really, really well. You can say, 'This is Aunt Tillie's china,' and set it just so when you move it yourself, but the movers don't know that box is that precious china."

Bailey added, "We used to say that you should pack it so it could withstand falling off the truck."

Before you pack, go through your belongings and decide whether you want to donate anything to charity, sell it or just throw it out.

Also make sure you are using the proper size of box, Bailey said. If you use a 6-cubic-foot box to pack your book collection instead of the more common 1.5-cubic-foot box, it is going to be too heavy for the movers.

"People don't seem to realize that there's a size carton that's preferable to pack books and records in so it doesn't get too heavy," she said. "Even movers have their limits to the amount of stuff they can lift."

It is also helpful if you don't disappear when the movers arrive, Bailey said.

"We feel better if the customer is there," she said, "so if there's a question, they can answer the question."

Don't have your phone disconnected until the day after you are out of the house, Bailey said. That enables the moving company to reach you in an emergency the day of a move. Also give the moving company a telephone number at the new destination, even if it is the number at a hotel or a relative.