Whether you’ve made use of your moving companies packing service or not, there are a few essential items you’ll want to keep handy on moving day. Make a list of all the items you will need to keep close at hand before you start packing the whole house and set these aside as you go along. Once all your packing is done, put these items into suitcases or boxes that travel with you in your car. If you don’t have space in the car for all of your essentials, then load these boxes onto the furniture removal truck and clearly label them “Unpack First”.
Tools and Handy Items
You will most probably have a few last-minute items that still need packing up on moving day. Make sure you have a few spare boxes and some tape ready to pop them in and don’t forget to label the box.
Once you arrive at your new home you will need a few basic tools to help with the unpacking process including:
- A pair of scissors
- Hammer
- Screw drivers
- A set of Allen keys
- Pliers
Other basic items you will need include:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Cleaning cloths
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Lightbulbs
- Dustpan and broom
- Chargers for all your essential electronics
- Torch and batteries
- Rubbish bags
- First aid kit including anti-inflammatories, allergy medicine and prescription medication
Kitchen Essentials
The last thing you’ll feel like doing on moving day is taking a trip to the supermarket and buying groceries, let alone cook a meal. Keep hungry tummies happy by packing plenty of snacks and bottled beverages. The dinner dilemma is easily solved with by ordering take-aways. Consider packing some paper plates and disposable utensils for this.
If you do plan to crack a bottle of wine as a little reward for all your hard work, don’t forget the corkscrew!
Pets
Moving day will be particularly unsettling for your pets. Make sure to have all their essential items at hand to help them settle in at their new home:
- Pet food
- Food bowls
- Beds/blankets
- Leashes
- Toys
- Prescription medication
- Vet records or certificates – these are especially important if you are moving to another province or country.
Personal Items
If you are moving long distance, then chances are your furniture removal truck will only arrive late in the day. Rather than working into the middle of the night to get to all the boxes, have a box of personal essentials that include the following:
- Bedding and pillows for everyone
- Pyjamas
- A change of clothing including underwear
- Toiletries
Children
The age of your children will determine what you’ll need to pack for them. If your children are older, make them feel more involved and in control of the situation by asking them to pick out some of their favourite items to put in a bag and keep close on moving day. Allowing your children to unpack their own toys in their room will keep them occupied and make them feel more at home.
You will also want to pack a bag of essentials your children may not need to have access to on the day of the move, such as:
- Nappies
- Bottles
- Baby food
- Changing pad
- Dummies
- Baby monitors
- Carriers, prams and chairs
In today’s age it’s easy to pop out to the shop to buy a forgotten item, but with a little planning and a lot of lists you can save yourself the unnecessary hassle on such a hectic day.