What to Put in Your “Essentials” Box for Your Upcoming Move

Essentials Box by neromovers0 comments

Moving is never easy. One good way to cut down on the stress is to pack a box or two of essentials that can help you make the transition to your new home.

Why You Need an Essentials Box

When you’re exhausted and stressed out from moving, the last thing you want is to spend time going through boxes to find that one thing you need. Avoid that by packing “essentials boxes.” Pack these boxes a day or two before your move. Make sure those boxes travel with you on moving day.

How Many Boxes Do You Need?

If it’s just you or you don’t have that many essentials, one large box will probably do. Many people find it helpful to have several boxes. You could set aside one essentials box for each room in the house. Another idea is to have one essentials box for each person in the family. Don’t forget the pets!

Decide whether you want to keep important documents with you or in an essentials box.  According to this moving website, here are some of the things you should make sure to pack:

1. Food and Snacks

  • Coffeemaker, filters and ground coffee
  • Bread, rolls, and crackers
  • Materials for making sandwiches, including peanut butter and tuna
  • Foods that are quick and easy to make, like pasta and pasta sauce
  • Canned soups
  • Paper or plastic plates
  • Plastic cups and cutlery
  • A skillet and a small cook pot
  • A colander, can opener and bottle opener

foods

2. Toiletries

  • Soap, shampoo and shaving cream
  • Towels
  • Toilet paper
  • Razors and tweezers
  • A shower curtain
  • Toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • Bathroom appliances like curling irons, flat irons, and electric toothbrushes

3. Pet Supplies

  • Pet bowls and dishes
  • Cat litter, litter box, and scoop
  • Pet food
  • Rabies and other vaccination histories

4. Medications

  • Important medications should travel with you.

If you use insulin, it needs to be refrigerated during the move and upon arrival. Carry it in a small cooler packed with ice. Don’t forget the syringes.

5. Devices and Chargers

You know how much you depend on your phone and other devices. You’ll want to have easy access to them at your new place without climbing through a bunch of boxes to find them.

6. Household Supplies

  • Dishwashing liquid
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • Laundry detergent
  • Sponges and cleaning towels
  • A flashlight
  • Spare batteries of different sizes

7. Clothing

Each family member should pack:

  • Clothing for two to three days
  • One or two pairs of shoes.
  • Socks and underwear
  • A raincoat or rain jacket
  • Pajamas

clothes

8. Entertainment Options

In addition to relying on what’s available on your electronic devices, it’s a good idea to bring along some non-electronic forms of entertainment.

  • Puzzles and board games
  • Books and magazines
  • Deck of cards
  • Knitting, needlework and other craft projects
  • Children’s favorite stuffed toys

An Essentials Box is Essential

There’s no way to make moving painless. But there are ways to cut down on the stress and anxiety it causes. An essentials box will help you feel at home in your new place and help you get off to a fresh start.

Week-by-Week Moving Checklist to Keep Your Long Distance Move on Schedule

Moving Checklist by neromovers0 comments

Moving, especially to another state or country, takes work and planning. You will thus need a timeline to help you keep tabs on what you need to do and when you should do it.

Plan Early

When planning your timeline, you need to consider when you will move, where you will move, and how to get there. For example, most people move between the months of May and September. If you’re in that group, you need to book a moving company at least a month before the moving date. If you’re moving during the off-season, you can wait until about two weeks before the move to book movers.

If you’re moving to another country, you need to start planning things a year before the move, and you need to start with such items like the following:

  • Applying for a visa
  • Deciding what to do with your home
  • Researching international moving companies
  • Researching airlines
  • Deciding what to do with your car and/or pets

While moving to another state won’t require a year’s worth of planning, you will still need a timeline to stay on track. If you own a house, you need to consult a real estate agent as soon as you know that you’re moving. They can tell you what the market is like and if you need to make any repairs or upgrades to make the house more marketable. They can help you set up a timeline for anything related to your current house.

relocation

For an interstate move, your timeline should look like the one below.

Eight weeks before the move:

  • Set up a notebook or folder for all of the paperwork and notes related to the move.
  • Set up another file for all important documents like passports, medical records, birth certificates, etc.
  • Sort through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or sell.
  • If you have kids, start the process for enrolling them at a new school.

Six weeks before the move:

  • Contact your doctor to ask for your family’s medical records.
  • Notify your kids’ current school about the impending move and ask for their records.

Five weeks before the move:

  • Book a moving company, especially if you’re moving during the summer. Cheap movers Boston suggest you avoid booking a Friday or weekend, for those tend to be the busiest days.

Four weeks before the move:

  • Start packing up things you won’t need in the near future like off-season clothing. Remember to label the boxes.
  • If you live in a rental, tell your landlord about the move and ask when you can get your security deposit back.
  • Start setting up utilities at your new home and inform your current utilities of the move.

Three weeks before the move:

  • Get your car serviced, especially if you plan on driving to your new home.
  • Tell your home and auto insurance agents about your move and ask them if they can transfer your policies.
  • Fill out a change of address form on the USPS website.
  • Make arrangements to transport pets and/or indoor plants.

Two weeks before the move:

  • Start packing almost everything else. Keep valuables separate so you can carry them with you.
  • If necessary, hire cleaners to scrub your new home.

One week before the move:

  • Confirm the date and time with the moving company.
  • Start packing a suitcase with everything you will need immediately at your new home.
  • On the day before you leave, clean out your fridge, freezer, pantry, and cupboards.
  • Contact your new landlord or real estate agent to make sure somebody will be present to let you and the movers in.

Moving Day:

  • Work with the movers by pointing out large or fragile items. Do a final check of your old home to make sure nothing has been forgotten. Sign the bill of lading when you’re certain that you have accounted for everything.