New Home Essentials You Might Forget on Moving Day

Moving into a new home is often a stressful experience. You’ve got dozens of different things to keep track of, from the moving truck to the boxes, to forwarding addresses and packing all of your belongings. To make things a little easier here is a helpful checklist of new home essentials that you will probably forget come moving day to keep you from having to make a frantic trip to the store. 

1. Toilet Paper

When you’re packing your belongings for your next move, things like toilet paper are easy to overlook. You won’t think twice about it until you’re in the middle of trying to unload your moving truck so you can get it back before the deadline, and you end up stuck without any TP. 

We’ve all got toilet paper in our homes. Make sure you pack it somewhere that’s easily accessible so you’re not digging through boxes marked “bathroom” to try and find a stray roll. 

2. Device Chargers

Getting stuck with a dead cell phone is a stressful nightmare, especially if you rely on your GPs navigation to help you find your way to your new home. It’s tempting to throw your phone and device chargers in whatever box you use to pack up your desk or nightstand, but you’ll find yourself scrambling to try and find a charger when you’re running on 5% battery life. 

Stick your chargers — phones, laptop, tablet, etc — in your personal bag or the console of your car so you can find them easily. If your move includes a long-distance road trip, consider investing in a power inverter for your car so you can keep everything charged. 

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3. A Tool Kit

Even a brand new house might have a few nuts and bolts that need tightening, or a few nails that need driving so you can hang your family portraits. Don’t bury your tools at the bottom of some box. Keep a small tool kit in your car with the basics that you might need on moving day.

Include things like a couple of screwdrivers, a hammer, a set of sockets and a couple of adjustable wrenches. If you’ve got some pictures or trinkets that you just have to hang before you finish unloading the truck, throw a box of picture hangers in there as well 

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4. Your Toothbrush and Toiletries

Even if you’ve hired movers, you will still be hot, sweaty and exhausted by the time you’ve completed your move. The first thing you’ll want to do once you’ve kicked all non-family members out is taking a shower, brush your teeth, and collapse into bed. That’s hard to do if you left your toothbrush sitting on the counter of your old home. 

You don’t need to haul all of your full-sized toiletry bottles. Just pack a travel bag and throw it in your purse or car so you have everything you need to clean up after a long and likely stressful day of moving. 

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5. Cleaning Supplies

Even if you try your very best to keep movers and family members from tracking mud into your new home, you will end up with a mess to clean up as you’re unpacking. That might be a little challenging if you don’t have anything to clean up with. 

You don’t necessarily need to create a special spot for your cleaning supplies — you just have to remember to pack them! It’s easy to overlook things like bleach and Lysol under your kitchen sink. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Make sure you don’t forget the things that you’ll need to keep your new home clean. 

6. Food

Are you going to pack up everything in your fridge and haul it to your new home — and then cook a nutritious meal after a full day of moving? We didn’t think so. Food is something you’ll need to consider because you’ll need all the energy you can get. 

Stock up on take-out menus in your new area, or invest in some easy frozen or reheatable meals so you’ve got plenty of food to keep you moving without worrying about where your next meal is coming from. 

7. Dry Cleaning

The last thing you want to do is leave your favorite work clothes behind at your dry cleaner, halfway across the country. They might be courteous enough to ship your forgotten clothing to you, but if they’re not, you might have to replace all sorts of expensive clothing. 

Keep track of your dry cleaning receipts and make sure you do not forget anything before your next move. 

Don’t Let Moving Stress You Out.

Moving is stressful, especially if you’re leaving behind your familiar stomping grounds for something new. Don’t let it stress you out, and don’t forget these essentials when you’re planning your next move.