Packing Tips

Pack Special Open-First Boxes to Make Your Life Easier

A lot of people only concern themselves with moving out, but not so much with moving in.  They think once everything is on the truck, the job is done.  But you can save yourself a lot of stress if you plan ahead and think about what you will need when you arrive at your new home.  You can't unpack everything immediately.  What will you need first?

Imagine yourself in your new home for the first time.  Are you planning to arrive days before your movers do?  What will you need to be comfortable before they get there?  After they leave and you spend your first night in your home, what will you need?  Lamps so you can see?  Sheets for your bed?  Soap for your shower?  A telephone?

Make this list up ahead of time, and make sure you pack special "open-first" boxes to help you out on the other end.   

Personal Open-First Box

This box should contain all the important things you use on a daily basis and would feel lost without.  Probably this will be the very last box you pack (because you'll need everything in it up till the last minute) and the very first one you open in your new home.  You need to identify it very well - maybe by covering it with colored paper or something else to make it stand out from the crowd.  If you do not carry this box with you, then you must tell the movers about it and that it should be the first thing out of the truck when you arrive.

The contents will be customized for you, but here's an example of what you might include:

• Telephone
• Day planner (if you don’t carry it with you)
• Scissors
• Pencil and paper
• Band-aides
• Screwdriver
• Remote controls
• Phone Book for the new area or list of important numbers
• Extension cord(s)
  

Bedroom Open-First Box

There's nothing worse than getting to your new home late in the day, wanting to shower or sleep, yet not being able to find towels or sheets or even a lamp so you can light up the pitch-black room.  Eliminate this stress by packing an "open-first" box for each bedroom and/or person.  Each box should include:

• Sheets for the bed, pillow
• Lamp
• Set of clothes
• One set of towels
• Pajamas

Bathroom Open-First Box

You will also need one immediately functioning bathroom in the new place, so pack an "open-first" box for at least one bathroom that contains:

• Shower curtain
• Soap or shower gel
• Shampoo
• Toilet paper
• Kleenex

Kitchen Open-First Box

Think about your first week in your new place.  Will you eat every meal out?  What do you need in your kitchen at home?  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• One set of dishes, glasses & silverware or disposables for each person
• Paper towels
• Dish Soap
• Favorite fry pan and/or pot
• Wooden spoon or other utensil
• Snacks
• Can/bottle opener
• Zip-lock bags
• Hot-pad holder
  

Cleaning Supplies Open-First Box

The former occupants of your new home may not have had the time or the inclination to clean according to your standards.  You need to bring along your own box of supplies to ease first night worries.

• Paper towels
• Sponge
• All-purpose cleaner
• Disinfectant
• Scouring powder
• Small whisk broom and dustpan

You can find the rest of your supplies later, but this initial stash will help you get started making the place comfortably clean.

Tools Open-First Box

Depending on what level of service you agree to with your movers, you may have to put your beds or other key furniture together yourself.  You'll be really frustrated if you want to go to bed and can't find a screwdriver or have to hang your favorite mirror the very first day without a hammer.  Have these basic tools in a safe place so you can find them right away:

• Screwdrivers
• Hammer
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Nails, screws and picture hangers

It’s very important to identify the items for these special boxes ahead of time and either label them or put them in a special place so that they don’t end up getting thrown in with the regular moving boxes. 

You’ll be really glad you took the time to do this.