If you’re moving homes for the first time, you’re probably looking for a packing guide to get you through the challenging task of not only packing up but also transporting your belongings to your new address. While you continue packing room by room for a move, it is also crucial to set aside a range of items that you will need on the day of the move and in the couple of days to follow as you gradually unpack the boxes. These items can all be packed into one box of essentials and should be carried to the new home in your car rather than in the moving van or truck.
Let’s elaborate more on how to pack an essentials box for the move.
Packing an Essentials Box for the Move
Not packing an essentials box is one of the most common mistakes people make while moving homes. Remember, this one box can make your experience of moving homes much smoother as it will contain all the must-have items for the move. The main reason why packing an essentials box is so important is that you might get started on moving day full of energy, but by the end of it, when all the boxes are in your new residence, and it’s time to organise your stuff, you’ll want nothing more than have a quick meal and head to bed, leaving the unpacking to the next day.
This is when you’ll regret not having labelled your boxes and, even more importantly, not keeping the essentials aside in a bag or box for immediate use. Just like you need to pack a baby bag full of essentials when you’re moving homes with a baby, you need to dedicate one box to immediate essentials, no matter how seasoned you’ve become with regards to relocating to a new residence.
Packing a box of essentials ensures that you don’t have to search through a mountain of boxes, looking for bed linens, toiletries, snacks, cleaning supplies, and a change of clothes. You can label this box as ‘Essentials’ or even ‘Moving Day’ for ease of remembrance, and it is the first box to open after moving.
Here is the list of moving essentials that you should keep in mind as you declutter and pack your home so that you can set the relevant items aside for when you pack a box of essentials:
- Toiletries
- Medicines
- Bed linens
- Chargers & devices
- Snacks
- Basic utensils
- Cleaning supplies
- Repair tools
- Change of clothes
- Children’s belongings
- Pet essentials
- Important documentation
Let’s discuss each of these categories in detail below so that you know what to pack in your essentials box based on your particular needs and circumstances. It is advised that you pack a box of essentials overall, but also consider smaller boxes or bags or essential items for each family member as needed.
Toiletries
Most bathrooms are fully fitted when you move in and require very little to become fully functional. But for your ease, we’d recommend adding the following items to your essentials box:
- Handwashing liquid or soap
- A hand towel
- A couple of rolls of toilet paper
- A facewash
- Toothpaste & toothbrushes
- Deodorant
- Contact lenses case & solution
- Hand sanitiser
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Body lotion
- Basic cosmetics
Medicines
Next up, don’t forget to carry some over-the-counter medicines and extra doses of all prescription medication for yourself and your kids. These can include:
- Painkillers
- Meds for digestive disorders
- Asthma pumps
- Week’s supply of prescription medication for any illness or condition
- A basic first aid kit with bandages, cotton, & disinfectants
Bed Linens
If you’re exhausted after the move, the thing you’ll want the most is a well-made bed for a good night’s rest. Trust us when we say that having to search through boxes after boxes for bedsheets and linens is not what you’ll want to do at a time like this, which is why you need to add them to your essentials box instead. You don’t need to include all the linens here. Just pack enough to make do for the first few nights in the new home. Here’s what to pack:
- Sleeping bags, if your bed frames aren’t in place yet
- Bedsheets
- Blankets or linens
- Pillows
- Pillow covers
Chargers & Devices
It’s a technological age, and we all know that misplacing chargers for devices of everyday use is a strong possibility during a move. You might leave it connected to a socket in the old home, it might slip out of your grip as you carry it in your hand, or you might simply forget to pack it up and leave it lying around in the old place.
There’s also the genuine possibility of not knowing which charger fits which device when you have a jumble of cords lying around after unpacking. This is why it is essential to pack the chargers as well as fragile handheld devices into your essentials box for the move and to label each charging cable using a piece of tape and a marker to know which cable fits where. You’ll also need batteries for devices and remote controls that do not have a power connection. Here are some items to pack in this category:
- Cell phones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Chargers for the above
- Hands-free device or headphones
- Alarm clock if you use one
- Power bank & batteries
Snacks
Moving homes is a tedious task, and it is bound to make you hungry. Packing some edibles and beverages is a good way to keep the energy levels high as you work. This category is especially important if you’re moving with your kids in tow, as you may be able to wait for your next meal or be too busy for it, but you’ll surely need to hand them some snacks to keep them from grumbling while you load and unload boxes on moving day.
Remember to pack edibles that are non-perishable and will also come in handy for breakfast the next morning. Here are some things you can pack for a quick bite:
- Chips
- Biscuits
- Cereal
- Nimco
- Dried fruit mix
- Water bottles
- Instant coffee sachets
- Teabags
- Tea whitener
- Homemade sandwiches
Basic Utensils
While it is recommended that you opt for dried food items and ready meals that require minimum preparation and utensils on the day of the move, you should pack some utensils in your essentials box, after planning for your dinner in advance, including:
- Disposable plates, glasses, and cutlery
- A few pots & pans
- Packs of ready meals or noodles
Cleaning Supplies
It is always advisable to clean your new home before moving your belongings into it, but for some, this may not be possible, especially if the homes are too far apart, or the possession is given right before moving day. Thus, you might end up cleaning as you go and clearing away each room before unpacking its respective boxes. For this, you might need the following supplies:
- Clean cloth rags
- A duster
- Wet wipes
- Paper towels
- A broom and dustpan or a vacuum
- A glass cleaner
- A bathroom cleaner
- A dishwashing soap
- Trash bags
Repair Tools
The essentials box for the move should also contain some basic tools for immediate and urgent repairs. These include:
- Flat-headed and Phillips screwdrivers
- Hammer
- A pair of scissors
- Wrench
- Measuring tape
- Candles & matches
- Flashlight
- Duct tape
- Pen & notepad
Change of Clothes
You should always wear comfortable clothes on moving day. Opt for clothes that do not restrict your movement and are not uncomfortably hot or itchy. If what you’re wearing is comfortable, you’ll easily be able to sleep in it, too. But accidents happen, and it is always best to pack a spare change of clothes for each member of the family. Pack more than one change of clothes for babies, as they’re quite likely to require a change more frequently than the rest of the family. Here’s what to pack:
- A set of pyjamas for the night
- A change of clothes for the next morning
- A set of undergarments
- Comfortable pair of slippers to wear around the house
- Extra pairs of socks if it’s cold
- Sweaters or jackets depending on the season
Children’s Belongings
Moving with kids means packing for their needs separately, as you don’t want to be rummaging through boxes for a child’s favourite blanket for them to sleep peacefully. Here’s what you’ll need in your essentials box for your kids:
- Clothes
- Snacks
- Favourite toys
- Some gadgets or games
- Colouring book and crayons
Pet Essentials
Your pets are your responsibility, just like your kids, and they will not be able to tell you what you need to pack for them. So, make some decisions and consider packing the following:
- Pet bed
- Crate or cage for transport
- Water and food bowls
- Leash or collars
- Favourite toys
- Treats
- Supply of pet food
- Any pet medications as needed
Important Documentation
We store a lot of paper-based documentation in our homes, and all these records need to be moved responsibly. Some of the important documents and items to pack into your purse or your essentials box for the move include:
- NICs
- Passports
- Birth certificates
- Educational records
- Medical history
- Your wallet
- Any cash you have at home
- Car keys and keys to the old and new homes
- Property documents
- Any contracts required for inspection on moving day
- Contact information for old neighbours, handymen, utility companies, and landlords
Now you know how to pack an essentials box for the move. Remember, this is also the last box to load into the moving truck and the first one to unpack after the move. Check out some handy tips for unpacking after a move to make the process easier, but don’t start opening boxes right away. The more smoothly you unpack, the less chaotic it’ll be, so follow the right unpacking order to remain organised and in better control of the mammoth task of setting up a new home.
Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for more moving tips, tricks, and advice. You can reach us via email at blog@zameen.com for any queries, comments, or suggestions.
