What do you need most on moving day? Great organizational skills? Flexibility? Presence of mind? Sense of humor? All these things are of paramount importance for the successful outcome of your moving adventure, but by themselves, they are not enough to ensure a safe and efficient relocation process. Along with the right attitude, you will also need a number of more tangible items to keep things in order on moving day. As simple a tool as a pocket knife can turn out to be a life-saver when the moving chaos in your home reaches its peak, so you ought to pay meticulous attention to the details when preparing for the big day. To make sure you won’t overlook something important or pack an essential item at the bottom of a safely sealed moving box, you need a comprehensive checklist of the moving day necessities that will help you deal with any changing circumstances or unanticipated events when moving out of your old home.
So, what to have on moving day?
Extra packing supplies
Last-minute packing scenarios are more common than you may think – you may come across some forgotten items when the movers are already taking your household goods to the moving truck; you may decide to take along some goods that were meant to be left behind; you may have to repack some of your belongings for extra safety, etc. Unless you have a couple of empty cardboard boxes, a roll of bubble wrap, and quality packing tape at hand though, packing items in the last minute will cost you a lot of time, money, and nerves.
So, to avoid rushing to the stores for extra packing materials or buying packing supplies from the movers, make sure you have some spare boxes, cushioning materials (packing paper, bubble wrap, peanuts), packing tape, stretch plastic wrap, and lots of bags. Whatever the particular circumstances in your case, any extra packing supplies you have are certain to come in handy – in one way or another – by the end of your relocation endeavor.
Documents
To prevent accidental damage, loss, or theft of important documents, you are strongly recommended to keep them with you on moving day. You will need:
your and your family members’ personal documents;
your moving inventory, the Bill of Lading and any other relocation-related paperwork;
your lease agreement (if you are moving out of a rented property);
the tickets for your trip (unless you are driving your own vehicle to your new home);
your moving house checklist (to keep track of things on moving day);
important phone numbers (medical facilities, auto services, your moving company, the hotel you intend to spend the night in, friends and relatives, etc.) written on paper, not just saved in your phone as it may run out of battery or get broken, etc.
Last but not least – be careful not to misplace your keys as searching for them in the moving chaos will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Essential electronics
You will just not survive moving day without reliable means of communication and access to the Internet – you will need to stay in touch with your movers, to research additional information, to find maps, etc., so make sure your phone and your laptop or tablet are properly charged and within your reach. It is also a good idea to keep their chargers, as well as some extra batteries and power strips at hand, just in case.
Don’t forget your camera either – not only to take some sentimental photos of your dear friends, your old house and your neighbors, but also to document the condition of your items before the move, to take a picture of the wiring so that you can easily reconnect electrical appliances and electronic devices in your new residence, and to capture the lovely places you pass by on your way home.
Food and drinks
Busy as you and your movers may be on moving day, you will certainly need to grab a bite to eat – keeping your energy levels up is key for maintaining a quick and efficient work pace. So, provide some sandwiches, energy bars, fruits, and other healthy snacks you can take on the go. Don’t forget about bottled water and coffee either, as you can’t do without them on moving day. Cold drinks or hot beverages (depending on the climatic conditions outside) will also be nice to have.
Remember that paper plates, disposable cups, and plastic utensils are your most practical choice when it comes to tableware on moving day.
Toiletries and medicines
You will need your personal care items on the big day, of course, so make sure you have easy access to your toothpaste and toothbrush, your deodorant and your skin lotion, or whatever toiletries you use on a daily basis. Also, provide enough toilet paper, paper towels, and liquid soap, not only for your family, but also for the movers who will be working in your home for hours on end.
Besides appropriate hygiene products, medicines are also on the list of must-have items for moving day. Don’t forget to take your prescription medicines at the usual time and keep personal health care products (such as contact lens solution, for example), as well as some allergy meds and painkillers, at hand. What’s more, have in mind that accidents can happen, regardless of the precautionary measures you have taken to prevent injuries and mishaps on moving day, so make sure your first-aid kit is within easy reach.
Basic tools
Different tools are among the things you will need the most on moving day – you may have to disassemble furniture pieces, measure the available space and the size of your large household items, remove doors from their hinges, repack some of your belongings, cut open some boxes or seal others, etc. So, get hold of a pair of good scissors, a box cutter, a Swiss army knife, a can opener and a bottle opener, a flashlight and some practical hand tools (a hammer, a measuring tape, a duct tape, pliers and screwdrivers, nails and screws, etc.). They will help make your moving day much easier.
Safety materials
You are advised to wear comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes with anti-slippery soles, and personal protection gear (work gloves, glasses and a hard hat) on moving day in order to reduce the risk of personal injuries during the hectic moving activities.
Have in mind that your property needs proper protection as well – plywood sheets, carpet film protectors, corner guards, moving blankets and foam paddings will help prevent damage and keep the floors and carpets, walls and corners, stairs and banisters, door frames and windows sills in your old home intact.
Cleaning supplies
Once all your household goods have been taken out of your property, you will most probably find the place to be quite a mess. To restore the excellent condition of your old home (so that it can sell well or you can get your security deposit back in case you are moving out of a rental), you will need some adequate cleaning products and equipment – a broom and a mop (as your vacuum cleaner will be already in the moving truck on its way to your new home), wet wipes and paper towels, an all-purpose cleaner and lots of trash bags, as well as anything else that will help you ensure the fresh look and feel of the surroundings.
Kids’ items and pets’ items
Needless to say, if you have children or pets, you will have to take care of their needs on moving day. To reduce the stress and ensure the comfort of your little angels, make sure they have some of their favorite toys and books with them, as well as a couple of board games, a change of clothes, and all the special items they need on a daily basis.
Have in mind that your animal friends will also need their toys and other comforting items, along with appropriate pet food and receptacles for food and water. You will have to provide an adequate pet carrier too, in order to safely relocate your furry, feathery or scaly companions to your new home.
Sure enough, you will need money on moving day as well – to tip your movers, pay parking fees and road tolls, buy something to eat on the way, etc. So, make sure you have some petty cash and keep your credit cards readily available for the moment when you’ll have to pay for the professional moving services you have used.