New Home Essentials You’ll Need After Moving

Deciding what basics to buy before moving cross country can be challenging and chaotic, which is why having a list of essentials is a crucial part of the relocation plan. Check out our list and decide what home essentials you and your family need.

Let’s Start With a Short List of Basic Things You Need to Do Before Cross Country Moving

In order to have stress-free relocation you need to set in place a good plan no matter if you are relocating to an entirely different state, down the street, or to another city. Even if you hire professional cross-country movers, which will be of huge help, there will be things only you can do.

From finding a job, a school for kids, and a place to live to tidying up things at the old place like canceling utilities, changing insurance, or selling a house, there are a lot of things you can forget to do. So, to not make any mistakes, the best relocation hack you can implement is to follow our guide or checklist of things to do before moving to make sure nothing is overlooked.

Cancel Utilities and Connect New Ones

Assuming that you have already done house hunting and that you already have an idea of when the relocation out of state will take place, you can now arrange the cancellation of utilities. Call the utility companies and set the cancellation date for the day after the moving day.

This is just to make sure you have electricity and water in case any delays happen. And, to make sure you have running water once you are at the new property, make sure all utilities are connected a day or two before you arrive. This is especially important if you are relocating to a cold climate or the relocation happens during the winter time.

Aside from basic utilities like electricity, water, and gas, make sure you have an internet connection, especially if you are relocating with kids. You will need a way to entertain them while you do all the unpacking.

Find a Solution for Cars

If the same company handles the relocation and car shipping, you will have one less worry on your mind, namely, having to deal with the hassle of coordinating logistics with two different companies. And if you are shipping a Tesla across the country, or some oldtimer, make sure you find a company that has relocation insurance and experience in dealing with expensive vehicles.

Hire or Find Help

We all know the rule. A couple of beers and large pizzas and your buddies are set and ready to help you move. And this is probably the best and cheapest way to relocate if you are in your 20s. However, once you come to a certain age, moving large items can be quite challenging. The best-case scenario is to end up with a couple of strained muscles, and a stomachache from all the pizza and beer.

Jokes aside, the biggest issue with asking for help from friends is that you will really be tired and not be able to get the job done in one day. Relocating the entire household is not an easy job so think about hiring long-distance moving services, especially if you are relocating cross country. If the relocation budget allows you, hire professionals for packing services as well.

Get Rid of Old Things

One of the benefits of relocation is that you can get rid of old things you don’t want to look at anymore, from old sofas, chairs, and cabinets to pillows and curtains, and buy cutting-edge stuff you always dreamed of having. The sky is the limit.

Now is the time to improve the future home with modern furniture and appliances. Not only you will downsize for a move, but you will cut back some relocation costs as well.

And don’t stop at the furniture, but declutter also clothing, kitchen, and bathroom. The rule is to get rid of everything you haven’t used for more than two years. And if you have time you can organize a garage sale and earn some money along the way. Remember one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

What to Pack Before Relocation – The Survival Kit for the First Couple of Days

Even if you hire professional movers for packing services, some items are best to be packed by you. Important documents, valuable items, and essentials you should pack by yourself. So, when you start making an inventory list for long-distance movers, set them aside.

Dining Will Be Camping Style for the First Couple of Days

If you have ever been camping or, even better, glamping, then you know where to start. For the first couple of days, the place will be covered with boxes, and it will take time until you settle in. So make sure you have a kitchen essential box on hand so you can function normally. Here is what this box or boxes should look like:

• Plates (plastic or ceramic, whatever is easier for you)
• Cutlery,
• Knife,
• Crockpot or multicooker,
• Cups,
• Dishwasher soap,
• Coffee machine,
• Kitchen utensils,
• Oven mitts,
• Can and bottle opener.

Cleaning Products Are Must-Have Home Essentials

You will want to have everything you need to clean the house from top to bottom. So prepare a box of cleaning supplies to have on hand the first moment you step into a new home, as that is the best time to do a thorough cleaning before you place everything where it belongs. You will need:

• Mop and bucket,
• Sponges,
• All-purpose cleaner,
• Disinfectant,
• Paper towels or cleaning wipes,
• Broom and vacuum cleaner,
• Laundry detergent,
• Toilet brush,
• Rubber gloves,
• Cleaning cloths.

Hygiene Products to Have on Hand

Moving across the country is demanding and you will want to have a nice bath after the first day is over. So pack all the necessities you will need to make yourself feel like a human again. Aside from toilet paper, which is something everyone seems to forget to pack, these are the things you will need:

• Toilet paper (just so you don’t forget)
• Hand soap,
• Towels (big and small ones)
• Toothpaste and toothbrush,
• Shampoo and conditioner,
• Hairdryer,
• Razor and electric shaver,
• Lotion,
• Creams.

You Will Need a Place to Sleep and Relax

If the furniture is not set up yet, make sure you have a spare inflatable mattress to sleep on, along with a box of all the things you need to have a good night’s sleep. One of the benefits of hiring movers for packing services is that they will assemble all the furniture once it arrives. So take that into consideration when making budget and relocation arrangements. Here is what you will need in the first couple of days:

• Pillows and pillowcases,
• Bedding,
• Blankets,
• Pyjamas,
• Sheets,
• Chargers for phones, tablets, and other electric devices,
• Movie projector,
• Modem for internet,
• Speakers.

Make Sure You Have All the Necessities for Your Kids as Well

If you are relocating with kids or maybe babies, you will need to set up the kids’ room first. If you have a toddler, make sure you bring baby-proof supplies and other things to keep the room safe. Also, you will have to pack some food separately and bring it with you because one of the items movers will not move is food. Here is a list of things you will need for the baby:

• Portable bed and mattress,
• Blanket or sleeping bag,
• Baby playpen,
• White noise machine,
• Night light,
• Baby formula,
• Bottles,
• Pacifiers,
• Diapers,
• Changing mats,
• Food,
• Baby porridge cooker,
• Spoons and utensils.

For older kids, aside from bedding and food, you should also have:

• Favorite toys,
• Tablets,
• Snacks,
• Clothing for a couple of days.

Ensure Comfort for Your Furry Friends

For those moving with pets, there are a couple of tricks you can do to make this transition easier for them too. Whether you are relocating with a dog, cat, or a sparrow you would want to make this environment feel as safe and comfortable as possible. The moment you set foot at your new place show your dog or cat where the food and water are and set the place where their bed will be, so they know where they can relax safely. Also, make sure you bring their favorite toys among other things:

• Bed,
• Food and treats,
• Bowls for food and water,
• Cat litter and box.

Basic Tools to Have Once You Relocate

Relocation is not an easy task and you will have to do a lot of fixing, hanging, and assembling. To do that, you will have to have some tools on hand. Here is a list of tools to pack before you relocate:

• Screwdriver set,
• Hammer and nails,
• Flashlight,
• Lightbulbs,
• Duct tape,
• Scissors,
• Power drill.

New Home Essentials to Make a House Feel Like Home

The first day is over but as we mentioned earlier it will take some time to make this property feel like home again. And depression after relocation is a real thing so do whatever it takes to make this transition smooth whether you are relocating alone or with family. Small things like putting favorite pictures on the wall or lighting a couple of candles can make a huge difference.

Also, as we mentioned, now is the chance to make a modern version of your house. Maybe you can even set up everything to be smart or just decorate everything the way you always wanted.

Hire the Best Cross-Country Moving Services and Have Easy and Stressfree Relocation

As you can see there are a lot of things to do and think about when moving cross country. If you wish to make this journey easier by far, make sure to contact us and find out about all the benefits we offer for our clients. Aside from one-month free storage services, we offer professional packers who will make sure all the boxes are well organized, packed, and labeled so packing will be a dream come true.

We will also deal with all the furniture and large items as well. And yes, unpacking will be something you need to do alone with our help it will be much easier and faster. And even though moving into a new home can be an adventure, it won’t feel like camping for long with the help of Cross Country Movers.