Moving isn’t easy, and planning a move comes with a frenzy of emotions—excitement, nervous, happy, sad, hopeful, scared, and anxious, to name a few. It’s easy to forget to pack things in a move. When your house is all packed up, ready for your fresh start with your belongings all safely away in a box sealed with tape, it’s still possible to forget something in a back room somewhere. When emotions run high, it’s very easy to leave items behind, or accidentally pack something that you’ll need in an hour. There are simply so many balls to juggle at once that it is easy to drop one. That’s why we’ve put together this list to help you stay organized and on task before handing the keys over. We hope it helps!
Most Common Items People Forget to Pack…or Pack Accidentally!
Prescriptions
Make a first aid kit and include prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine for your trip to your new location, or overnight stay. Also, arrange for those prescriptions to be transferred to a pharmacy at your new location.
Chargers
Check all the outlets in the house for any chargers left plugged in. You will need a full cell phone charge to communicate with movers during the move!
Household Tools
Place tools likes screwdrivers, hammers, etc. in a toolbox and keep it with you for your trip to your new home. You may need to reach for them first when you reach your new location.
Clothing & Toiletries
If you’ve packed a bag for your trip to the new location, don’t forget it at your house! Place in a visible spot to help you remember. And include things like hand soap and towels so you will have them at the end of the day in your new home in case you don’t get an opportunity to unpack.
Money
If you’ve left some money in unique hiding spots under floorboards, behind walls, etc.) don’t forget to retrieve it before you leave!
Keys
From the smallest of keys to an extra set of car keys, put them in a marked envelope, all in one place, so they are not accidentally packed away where it will be difficult to find them.
Plants
If you are one who remembers to water them every day, then you probably will not forget them! Movers cannot move live plants and animals so either plan to do it yourself or make other arrangements. This also goes for any plants in your outdoor landscaping you may want to bring to your new location.
Shower Curtain
Since you might want a shower after a long day of moving, a shower curtain will be an appreciated touch of home!
Plunger
Need we say why?
Food
If you are leaving your appliances for the new owners, don’t forget to empty your refrigerators/freezers of food. Perishable foods must be discarded unless you personally transport them in a cooler. In your pantry, gather snacks that you can take with you for the move. It may be a while before you are set up to cook a meal, and not having to visit the grocery store will save precious time. Don’t forget to pack all other canned goods and non-perishables in boxes to be moved, but for food you do not want at your new home, Century Moving works with a local nonprofit called Move for Hunger that distributes food to needy families.
Pet Supplies
We know you won’t forget your beloved pets, but don’t forget to pack everything you need for them during the move. Moving with pets requires planning.
A great tip to make sure you don’t forget anything (and movers don’t take things accidentally) is to collect everything you need to take in the car, especially essential items like purses, passports, etc. and small and easy to miss items, place them in the bathtub, and inform the movers to leave them there. Then when it’s time for you to leave you can just swoop in and pick up the load you will be taking in the car with you. Don’t forget those essentials most dear to your heart (your child’s blankie, your favorite coffee cup and all the photo albums).
Over our more than 45 years in business, we’ve seen that a checklist like this can help a move go as smoothly as possible. Whether your move is big or small, near or far, Century Moving is dedicated to helping you have an experience that is as stress-free as possible. Give us a call today at (630) 889-2700.
