What to Pack in Your First Night Box
Getting your home moving-ready for Cincinnati moving companies
“Did I unload the dishwasher?”
Moving is so much more than putting items in boxes. Once you’re done scoping out Cincinnati moving companies, it’s important to check those easily forgotten chores off the to-do list.
Plan out how to best tackle tasks in advance, from outlining your new house arrangements to organizing your storage unit.
You don’t have a game plan
Moving an entire household is an enormous undertaking. What is the fastest way to take stress off of yourself and help your movers accomplish the job faster? Map it out. Not having a plan of attack before moving day not only adds anxiety, but also slows down the move immensely. (If you don’t know where the boxes go, how will your movers?)
To that end, plot out your new home and label boxes accordingly. For example, instead of “Zach’s Stuff” in Sharpie, printing a digital label called “Zach’s Stuff – Second Room on the Left” to adhere to every side of the box makes it legible from any angle. And always tape your boxes before your scheduled move. That one forgotten step can cost valuable time.
You didn’t account for liquids
Liquids are an accident waiting to happen inside of a moving truck. After all, no one wants bleach spilling onto their suede couch. For movers, there are certain items we prefer not to move (your Italian olive oil) and some we simply can’t (your Italian wine collection). Examples of liquids you should pour out or transport yourself include:
- Cleaning supplies
- Oils
- Detergents
- Gasoline
- Alcohol
With gasoline or kerosene tanks, like your outdoor grill uses, make sure you have a professional empty the tank.
If you do have liquids you’d like to take with you, our movers are more than happy to box those up and put them in your car for you—just label accordingly to avoid confusion.
You didn’t prep your appliances
Picture this: You decide to give the dishwasher one last run, and next thing you know you’re encasing Grandma’s China in bubble wrap. That’s why you should always double check that you:
- Unload the dishwasher
- Unload the washing machine and dryer
- Clean all food out of the refrigerator
- Unhook cable boxes, computers, televisions and other appliances
One appliance you should leave out? The coffee maker and a couple of mugs. There’s nothing worse than caffeine withdrawal on moving day.
You forgot about your pets
Between color coding boxes and emptying the refrigerator, don’t forget man’s best friend needs to move too. You’ll want to schedule an appointment with your vet before moving day to make sure your pet is up-to-date on shots, tags, certificates and proper identification. If your pet will be traveling a long distance, ask about traveling tips, portable kennels and motion sickness medication. And if you’re crossing state lines, keep your animal’s papers with you.
You didn’t organize your storage unit
Many people are optimistic about their move-in date, and don’t account for inevitable delays. Next thing you know it’s November and you’re stuck wearing shorts and tank tops because your sweaters are tucked safely in the back corner of your storage unit.
There are a couple steps you can take to avoid this needle-in-a-haystack situation. First, if there’s any chance you’ll need an item, make sure it’s packed last and therefore near the front of your unit. Also, label meticulously. Finally, if you think you’ll need it within the next six months consider whether it’s worth storing at all.
Even just packing to move from point A to point B can cause headaches. Keep crucial items like checkbooks and prescriptions handy—not buried—and pack a survival kit for the first day at your new home (think toothbrush, change of clothes, flashlight, scissors and screwdrivers).
Above all, choose a Cleveland moving company you trust.
At Leaders Moving & Storage, we build relationships with our customers so we can provide personalized and trustworthy service. We look forward to taking care of you every step of the way—call us toll free at (800) 481-6843 or get an online quote today.
About the author
LEADERS Moving & Storage was founded in 1994 in Ohio with a pickup truck and a handshake. Since then, we’ve become one of the largest moving companies in the Midwest and have set the standard for others to follow.
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