A happy woman surrounded by boxes after long-distance moving overlay

What Are the Moving Essentials You’ll Need to Pack For Your Move

Posted in Moving Essentials on August 3, 2020

When packing your entire household, especially if you’re doing it at the last minute, it’s easy enough to overlook some of the moving essentials that you just can’t do without in your new home. Forgetting to pack those items can complicate your life in this already stressful situation. Therefore, it is crucial to make a plan and organize the whole procedure in advance.

Here is a list that will help you not forget those tiny little details that are crucial for a healthy start in your new home.

A to-do list
Creating a list for your relocation is crucial.

How to Make a Moving Essentials Checklist?

What is important to note is that there’s no such thing as a universal household inventory list that is applicable to everyone. Therefore, you shouldn’t follow this one blindly. Still, there are a few things that are the same in every scenario.

Define What Your Essentials Are

When defining your checklist of essential items for relocation, you shouldn’t do it by heart. Take a few days and add what you may have forgotten initially. Items you shouldn’t overlook are:

  • medicines for you or members of your family
  • any special nutritional items
  • clothing for the first few days
  • personal hygiene items
  • necessities for your pets
  • a moving agenda that you should always have on hand
person writing a checklist
Compile a list of your own, you know best what your “daily necessities” are

What Essentials Do You Need for a New Apartment?

Besides furniture and standard appliances and electronics on your new apartment checklist, you shouldn’t omit the fact that you’ll have to set up and often rearrange your home a bit. For this, you should have a toolkit, even if you hire professionals to do some repairs around your apartment. You’ll still have to screw a few screws here and there, maybe change a light bulb, change the lock, etc. It is also not a bad idea to have a first-aid kit nearby in case anyone gets hurt.

Ready to move with us? Get a free quote

What to Pack Separately in Your Kitchen?

You’ll have to spare a lot of time to unpack the whole kitchen and set it up. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to have a box with basic kitchen necessities for the first few days. You’ll have to eat something as soon as you arrive, after all. Here is a general list of the things that will probably be necessary if you want to cook and eat a few simple meals:

  • A plate and cutlery for every family member
  • 3-4 glasses
  • A few coffee cups
  • One frying pan and one pot
  • A knife

Make sure to learn how to pack glasses to make sure you don’t end up with a boxful of shattered glass. Knowing how to pack pots and pans is just as important.

Sanitary and Cleaning Products You’ll Need

Even if your new home was cleaned before you had moved in, you absolutely should make at least a quick swipe of the whole area before you start unpacking. Not only is it hygienic, but it is also more convenient to clean the place while all your household belongings are still in boxes. Some basic cleaning and sanitary supplies you’ll require are:

  • Multi-purpose cleaning spray
  • Paper towels, sponges, and rags
  • Toilet and drain cleaner
  • Broom, dustpan, mop, and a bucket
  • Dishwash detergent and laundry detergent

You will also need these for the move out cleaning of the old place, especially if you want to get your security deposit back and boost your moving budget.

Don’t Forget Personal Hygiene and Toilet Supplies, Like Soap and Towels

Since you’ll have a lot to do, you’ll probably be eager to jump in the shower as soon as possible. Don’t forget your basic toiletries, or even better, take a small pouch and make a toilet essentials kit. It should contain:

  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Toothbrush and paste
  • Shower gel
  • Razor and shaving products
  • Towels
girl holding cleaning supplies
This is a perfect opportunity to clean your apartment thoroughly.

Moving Day – Essential Things to Pack in Your Overnight Bag

Your overnight bag has nothing to do with your new place. It will help you on the road as well as in the first few hours in your home when you really don’t have the time to search for this and that. Of course, if you are moving with pets or kids, this bag should include their basic necessities, too.

  • Snacks and drinks for the road, as well as some light, easy-to-carry meals if the trip will take more than a few hours
  • Basic medicines kit
  • Food for your pets
  • Pack clothes and extra shoes
  • Batteries and chargers for your electronic devices
  • Board games for longer trips
  • Your favorite music

What Supplies Do You Need for Moving and Packing?

Let’s start with the basics. To be able to pack your things, you are going to need certain packing supplies. If you want to do everything right and make sure that all your items receive maximum protection, you’ll have to obtain much more than boxes and tape. But if you decide to book packing services, you won’t have to worry about this, as your moving service providers will bring everything necessary.

There are options out there to get everything for little money, and even for free if your budget is tight. You don’t have to buy special foams, packing beans, and bubble wrap for everything; you can use some materials from your home. Blankets, clothing items, and pillows can come in handy if you want to save some money, and you can use newspapers instead of packing paper.

Packing Materials Checklist

Having a list is always useful, and this list of supplies and materials that you need to pack your belongings can serve as a guide, which you can adjust to your needs:

  • Boxes
  • Packaging tape
  • Packaging paper
  • Bubble wrap
  • Labels
  • Plastic bins
  • Custom crates
  • Scissors
  • X- acto knife
  • Markers

If you have already made an inventory list of your belongings, you’ll know approximately how much of each material you are going to require.

fine china in boxes
You could use second-hand boxes for the items that are not fragile or sensitive.

How to Pack for Easier Unpacking?

The easiest way to pack is in an order that is most convenient for you. You can do it room by room or according to groups (i.e. house electronics, home appliances, clothing, etc.) Keep in mind that if you do it room by room, you should pack fragile items separately and in protective packaging.

The next packing tip that will make things easier for you is to label the boxes and make an inventory list to know exactly what is packed where. A photo inventory is a step up and requires more time to create, but can be so useful when having to unpack and set up your electronics and appliances. Or assemble your furniture.

stack of labeled boxes
Label every box and make an inventory list to keep track of what is where.

Tips That’ll Make Your Life Easier When You Arrive at Your New Place

The first of the things to do after the move is to sit back and take the full scope of the task at hand. Now that you have moved all your belongings, you don’t want to start unpacking without a plan and sow chaos. Start with unpacking your furniture and setting it up at least approximately where you want it to be. Then unpack your necessities like bedsheets and pillows, food and water bowls for your pets, bathroom necessities, kitchen necessities, and appliances.

two people packing boxes for a long-distance moving trip
Unpack your bedroom, bathroom, and basic kitchen utilities first.

What Are the Moving Essentials You’ll Need From Day One in Your New Home?

What can’t you go without? You have to eat, take a shower, and sleep, right? So, if you had that in mind while you were packing, you shouldn’t have a problem finding those essential items that you packed in separate and properly labeled boxes. To sum everything up, your kitchen basics, some food, toiletries, and bedsheets should be on hand when you arrive.

Blake Shaw

Bostonian and residential moving and packing expert. Blake Shaw enjoys bar-hopping, music, and writing insightful content.

    Choose locations, date and size.
    Tell Us About Yourself

      Choose locations, date and size.
      Tell Us About Yourself
      Need to move your car/automobile?
      Get a Free Estimate 800-611-0502