9 Easily Overlooked Essentials You’ll Need on Moving Day

Packing for a move? Don’t forget your first day necessities– a.k.a. the easily overlooked essentials you’re going to need on day one in your new home. With all of the planning, packing and general craziness that comes along with the whole relocation process, it can be easy to forget a few small things that happen to make a big difference on moving day (and immediate days after). After all, your phone charger and toothbrush are the last things you want to be frantically searching for after a stressful moving day. So, without further ado, here are 9 easily overlooked essentials that we highly recommend bringing with you or purchasing as soon as you arrive in your new digs. Good luck!

Basic cleaning supplies – You’ve dreamed of that first, glorious moment inside your new home. The closets are spick-and-span, the floors are gleaming and the toilets are clean. Except, they aren’t. Chances are good that the home you’re moving into won’t be in tip-top shape when you arrive. Even if the previous owners had the place cleaned before you moved in, the home is still going to have a few dust bunnies hiding in the corners – not to mention, the floors are sure to get somewhat dirty during the move. After several relocations myself, I’ve learned the hard way that you need to have cleaning supplies on-hand during the first day of a move. Some supplies to bring with you, include:

• Paper towels
• Multi-purpose cleaning spray and clorox wipes to sanitize surfaces and the inside of the fridge
• Small vacuum or handheld vacuum
• Rags and sponges for dishes
• Dishwasher detergent
• Laundry detergent
• Broom and dustpan
• Toilet bowl cleaner

Corkscrew – Planning to pop open some vino on the first night in your home? If you’re looking to celebrate with a glass of wine, you’ll want to make sure you know where the corkscrew is located in the midst of all your things. Instead of packing this up inside your sea of boxes, I suggest throwing it in your purse or personal suitcase on moving day.

SEE ALSO: How To Prepare for the First Night in Your New Home

Clothing hangers – When packing your things, I suggest loading up all of the clothing hangers in a clear, plastic bin, so that you know exactly where they are in your new home. Otherwise, you could find yourself tearing through every one of your boxes in search of something (anything!) to hang your clothes on. After unpacking your kitchen and making your beds, put all of the hangers in your various closets. This way, you can hang your clothes as you unpack your clothing boxes, and you won’t waste hours every day looking for your garments.

Batteries – One of the most commonly overlooked items also happens to be one of the most important items when it comes to packing for a move: batteries! Trust me, you’re going to need them during the first week. Whether it’s a TV control that won’t work or a smoke detector that won’t stop beeping, not having batteries on-hand will drive you crazy that first few days and nights. If you’re not sure whether your power will be on during the first day/night, you’ll also need flashlights – and of course, more batteries.

Toothbrush – Make sure you know where your toothbrush is located (and your toothpaste, while you’re at it). Don’t forget to toss this very necessary, yet often forgotten, item in your all-important toiletry bag.

SEE ALSO: How to Start Unpacking & Organizing Your Home After a Move

Toolkit – Whatever you do, don’t forget your toolkit! If you pack it with your belongings, make sure you’ve clearly labeled the box. The chances of you needing a toolkit during the first day and week of living in a new home are very high. While you may not be hanging pictures on the wall yet, you will probably need simple tools, like measuring tape and a utility knife, on day one in your new home. Check to make sure your toolkit includes the following items before moving:

• Hammer
• Multiple-sized screwdrivers
• Measuring tape
• Pliers
• Utility knife (for opening boxes)

Fire Extinguisher – Safety first! If you plan to test out your kitchen by cooking dinner during the the first week in your new house, you’re going to need a fire extinguisher on standby. Whether you moved the fire extinguisher yourself or purchased a new one, it’s important to have this little guy nearby just in case that oven doesn’t work quite like you thought it would. Keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen will help you control any accidental small fires that could pop up after the move.

SEE ALSO: Your Moving Checklist at the Last Minute

Toilet paper – This one may be pretty self-explanatory, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to pack a few rolls of teepee in their “first night” moving bag. Save yourself a trip to the convenience store on an already-hectic moving day, and pack enough toilet paper to get your family through the first few days in your new home. Everyone in the house – including your movers – will thank you later.

Chargers – Finally, don’t forget your electronic chargers! These could easily end up getting tossed in a random box or (god forbid) left behind at the former house. Make sure to pack everyone’s phone charger, computer charger and any other important charging devices into a separate bag or box. After all, no one wants to spend the first week in their new house with a dead phone.

SEE ALSO: The Moving Checklist: A Timeline for Your Upcoming Move

If you’re not planning to personally bring these items with you on moving day, make sure to carefully pack and label everything in an easy-to-find box. Otherwise, you may be out of luck. While preparing for your move, make sure to also check out Moving.com’s handy Moving Planner Checklist to ensure you have a successful moving day. The planner provides a customizable moving checklist, personal tasks list, email reminders, and coupons to help you stay organized while you move.

Points to Remember While Shifting to Gurgaon

Move to a new location with happy heart and energetic you!

Moving to a new location has mixed emotions and there are many feelings which are associated with the new place as well as the old place. In between all this, there is something inevitable which is packing all the stuff and moving to a new place. When you are moving, packing the stuff is one of the important steps, as in case there is a slightest mistake it can cost you financially and emotionally. To help you in shifting the best option to be considered is to hire one of the best movers and packers in Gurgaon or in any other city across India. There are many factors, which need to be considered, so that you have the best service provider. Apart from that, when you consider exploring about your new location, then also there are chances that the moving becomes fun and easy for you.

Gurgaon can be a dream destination for you, let us know it better!

The Millennium city of Gurgaon is a satellite city of Delhi NCR and it is known to attract people looking for lucrative jobs in some of the renowned companies from the world over. There are many opportunities for the people who are looking for a better job options here in Gurgaon.

Some might be in need of a better learning place for their children or there can be some personal reasons as well. Be it any reason, Gurgaon can be welcoming for you provided you move in a hassle free manner.

Know more about Gurgaon, and its climatic conditions before moving…

Gurgaon is located in the southernmost part of the state of Haryana, and its boundaries lie adjacent to the city of Delhi. The city has monsoon-influenced climate, hence when you are moving to the city, you can predict the weather or the climatic conditions in advance. This prediction based on the information online and the monsoon conditions might be helpful for you in preparing yourself better while you move to your new home in Gurgaon. With the help of this information, you can plan your move in the months, when the weather is not extreme, however at times, you have to move at the specific time. during the times when you have no choice, you can remain updated with the weather conditions and prepare yourself well in time.

Well, apart from the climate, there are certain other things, which need your consideration so that the relocation to this city can be amazing and effortless for you.

Know about bars and restaurants

In order to enjoy the city to the fullest, you need some perfect places to spend your weekends. And in Gurgaon, there can be no better option but the bars and the restaurants. You can prepare a list of these websites by checking out some of the famous food blogging platforms. Then you can be sure of finding the right options for enthralled weekends. Some of the famous areas where you can get some delicious food and enjoy the nightlife in Gurgaon are surely sector 29, DLF cyber city and restaurants at MG road. 

Know about the nearby places to visit

Apart from food and drinks, Gurgaon has some of the amazing places, which can be explored. To utilize your time better, you can list down all the places of interest and prepare your own itinerary for the day. 

Along with these, you can also prepare a list of the places nearby and plan road trips or small vacations to these places once you get settled to the new city. However, settling with all your stuff to the new place is a bit time consuming. Nonetheless, when you have professionals for your help, you would not even realize how effortlessly you will shift and get settled to the new place.

Some of the places to visit in or near Gurgaon, and Delhi NCR include, Kingdom of Dreams, Sultanpur bird Sanctuary, Fun n Food Village, Hauz Khas Village etc.

Make your moving smoother with professional help…

Hiring the movers and packers can be an added benefit for you when you are shifting. You can choose the best House shifting services in Gurgaon after doing some considerable amount of research. And one of the easiest options could be finding the solution through a platform like LogisticMart. Such a platform has only credible and verified service providers, and hence it is easy to find the desired services. Also, this saves your time, which is spent on finding the desired service provider in a new city. Along with that, you can get to know charges of movers and packers that will help you save your money and choose the most affordable one.   

A city which will welcome you with both its arms open!

Well, Gurgaon has people from all across the nation. Hence, it becomes easier for you to get acclimatized and comfortable at this place. Along with that, you get to interact with the people from different regions and hence language is no more a barrier for you in this city, unlike any other city. You can simply get to have a good friend circle and have a pleasant time/stay in this new city.

Benefits of plastic moving boxes

When moving house, everyone wishes for a safe, smooth, and easy relocation – and strives for this ultimate goal with all their heart and mind. Some rely on their own time management and organizational skills, others hire professional assistance, and still others reach out for help and advice from family and friends. And while using a full service moving company is definitely your best bet for a successful relocation (the experienced professionals will take care of your move from start to finish and will do the job in the safest and most efficient way possible), there are many small, yet highly effective ways to make your move easier and smoother. Like using the right techniques to perform a task or the right materials for a job.

When it comes to packing – one of the most crucial moving tasks – this means using safe and efficient packing methods and appropriate packing supplies. Since moving boxes play the most essential role in the packing process, you should consider them first.

Convenient and easily accessible, corrugated cardboard boxes have long been regarded as the best packing containers for moving. Yet, you may have an even better option – plastic moving bins.

The heavy duty, reusable plastic moving containers have many considerable advantages over the traditional cardboard moving boxes – they’re durable, eco-friendly, weather-resistant and easy to stack and carry. Read on to discover the greatest benefits of plastic moving boxes and find out if they’ll be right for you when packing for your next move.

Strong and durable
Plastic moving crates are very sturdy and highly durable – they can hold great weight without breaking and last much longer than traditional cardboard boxes. Made of high-density polyethylene, plastic bins are lightweight, yet super strong and extremely resilient – the perfect moving containers.

Plastic moving boxes are designed to protect the items inside of them – they do not rip, collapse, or crush; they do not fall apart when fully loaded; they do not break under their own weight. Their construction is far sturdier than that of cardboard boxes and the inherent characteristics of the material make them stronger and more impact-resistant. So, they offer a safer and more efficient packing solution than standard moving boxes.

When moving with plastic bins, the hard plastic will provide an extra layer of protection to your belongings and will ensure your peace of mind – you won’t need to worry about your items getting damaged if the box breaks open during the relocation process or crushes when stacked under other boxes.


Waterproof and weather-resistant
Plastic moving boxes are water-resistant – the hard material is impervious to moisture, resists mold, mildew, and rotting, and holds its shape in any weather conditions.

Due to the structural design of the lids, once the plastic moving containers are closed, they become virtually impenetrable to the elements – rain, snow, and dust cannot get inside and ruin your belongings.

So, if you choose plastic bins for your move, your items will stay dry and safe even in a torrential downpour or a snow storm – you won’t need to worry about moisture damaging the box or getting into it.

Cardboard boxes, on the other hand, will provide no protection against the elements and may even fall apart when they get wet, leaving your belongings vulnerable to damage.

Related: How to move in the rain; How to move in the winter

Easy to stack and carry
Plastic containers not only ensure the safety of your items during a move, but also make loading and unloading easier – they are stackable, easy to carry, and don’t slide around in moving trucks or on moving dollies. This allows you to arrange them in a neat and orderly way, maximize the space in the truck, and ensure that everything stays in place during transit.

Unlike cardboard boxes that don’t always fit well on top of one another and cannot be stacked very high (as the bottom boxes may not withstand the weight of the ones above), plastic moving boxes can be easily stacked on top of each other:

The design of the lid allows a box to fit snugly on top of another – each plastic crate nests in the one below, which allows for secure transportation over thresholds, up and down stairs, along ramps, and inside the moving truck. The sturdy nesting design eliminates the risk of a stack of plastic boxes tipping off the dolly or toppling over in the moving truck;
The sturdy plastic materials allows for heavy boxes to be stacked on top of each other without danger of crushing or caving-in.
See also: Russian doll packing

What’s more, plastic crates are very easy to lift and carry – they are designed with built-in handles on both sides which makes them much more convenient to pick up and carry around than cardboard boxes that have uncomfortable perforated handles or nothing to hold at all. The sturdy grip handles make plastic boxes much safer to carry as well – there is no risk of the handles tearing up or the container slipping from your hands.

Convenient and efficient
In addition to offering a safe and efficient packing solution, plastic moving totes can save you plenty of time and effort when preparing your items for shipment. They’re very convenient and easy to use, making the packing process faster and simpler.

When you rent plastic moving containers for your move, you don’t need to worry about finding appropriate packing boxes, transporting them to your home, and disposing of them after the move – the crates are delivered straight to your doorstep and picked up from your new location after you’ve finished unpacking. You won’t even need to clean them – the moving supplies company that offers the bins will take care of that when they’re back at the facility.

See also: How to get free moving boxes; How to recycle moving boxes

You can start packing as soon as the plastic moving boxes are delivered to your place – they arrive pre-assembled and ready to pack. You don’t have to put them together, fold them to fit, or tape them shut (they have securely locking lids). You don’t need tape or box cutters or any other auxiliary materials. This cuts back on your moving preparation time and saves you a lot of hassle.

What’s more, plastic moving containers can hold and keep safe all kinds of small and medium-sized household items – you don’t need to buy special file boxes to pack your files, book boxes to pack your books, or dish boxes to pack your dishes. All the things from a room that can be boxed up can go into the plastic bins, which allows for better organization and easier location of items.

Related: What specialty boxes do you need when packing for a move

Since plastic moving crates are also very easy to carry (as detailed above), they save time loading as well.

Sustainable and reusable
The inherent strength and durability of plastic moving containers result in great longevity – plastic boxes can be reused hundreds of times before being recycled (standard cardboard boxes, on the other hand, can only survive 2 or 3 moves before they start to fall apart).

The fact that moving bins can be used over and over again means that they have a very low impact on the environment and help save natural resources. In reality, plastic moving boxes are very eco-friendly – not only are they highly reusable, but they also:

generate zero waste during a house move – there is no tape to be removed for disposal and the bins themselves are not thrown out but picked up to be used in another move;
can be fully recycled when they reach the end of their lifespan – when they’re no longer usable, plastic boxes are melted down and used to create new green moving boxes;
are made from 100% recycled materials.
All things considered, when using plastic containers for moving, you keep the carbon footprint of your relocation as small as possible.

See also: Green moving tips for an eco-friendly relocation

Cost-effective
It was already mentioned that plastic bins save you time and hassle when moving. They can save you money too – and not only because time is money.

Moving crates are available to rent at affordable prices – you can rent a box for as low as $1.50 a week and, if you need the crates for a longer period, pay a discount rate for additional weeks. You’re only paying for as many boxes as you need and for as long as you need them (When buying cardboard boxes you may end up with more than you need – not only will you have wasted your money on unnecessary packing supplies, but you’ll also be wondering with to do with them. See also: How many boxes do you need for moving);
Plastic moving bins are stronger than cardboard boxes, so you can pack more items in a box, reducing the amount (and cost) of packing materials needed for your move;
Moving crates are durable and provide excellent protection to your belongings, so the risk of your items getting damaged in the moving process and costing you thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements is greatly reduced;
Plastic moving containers facilitate and speed up the packing and moving process, saving you money for packers and movers – when moving locally, you’ll be charged by the hour, so the faster the movers complete your relocation, the less you’re going to pay. Since plastic boxes are easier to pack (as they require no assembly, taping, etc.) and load (as they’re easy to carry and easy to stack) than cardboard boxes, your hired packers and movers will do the job much faster and more efficiently. Using plastic crates will reduce the time needed for packing and loading your items, resulting in lower moving costs;
Moving bins are picked up from your new location, so you don’t need to pay any disposal fees to have them removed from your new home after the move.
Due to their numerous benefits, plastic containers can make your move safer and easier – as well as greener and more affordable. Be sure to consider them for your next relocation – plastic moving boxes may be the right packing solution for you.

HOW YOU MOVE ME HELPED A RETAIL STORE WITH GLOBAL EXPANSION

When You Move Me Vancouver General Manager, Prabh Heer, landed a global retailer as a moving client, he expected to provide them with many exceptional moving experiences. What he didn’t expect was to be asked to help them with a national retail expansion. This is Prabh’s story.

O2E: Can you tell us about your role with You Move Me?

PH: I originally started in May of 2015 as a Business Development Salesperson, worked my way up to Sales Manager, and then was given the opportunity to run the business in December of 2017 as the General Manager.

When I was working in business development, I was primarily doing cold calling of businesses asking if they needed moving services, trying to acquire new accounts, and also doing a ton of networking to try and build the brand locally. In addition to this, I was doing on-site estimates.

When I became the Sales Manager I was running our Sales division by doing the bulk of the estimates and also having others support me when my schedule was full. I was also responsible for building our Sales & Marketing budgets and allocating funds to the appropriate verticals.

Now, as the General Manager I run the full scope of the business, both operations and sales. I have a team of 3 managers that work for me and another full-time office person. Most of my time is spent coaching my managers on how to become better leaders, but I also focus on building a great corporate culture by getting to know all of my staff and ensuring they feel like they are on a team.

O2E: What range of services do You Move Me provide?

PH: This is actually a great question because it seems like every time I meet someone and they ask me what services we provide, I say we’re capable of doing just about anything. We really focus on hiring team members that want to learn and expand their skill sets beyond just moving. With that said, we do residential moving, commercial office moving, packing services, furniture installations, and retail store set ups.

O2E: How is You Move Me different from other moving companies?

PH: I think anyone can move a piece of furniture or a box, but executing it well with a true sense of professionalism is what sets us apart. Our team at You Move Me is like a brotherhood of movers. We all respect each other so much and enjoy working alongside one another, it really shows in front of our clients. Our number one goal is to make sure customers’ furniture is delivered safely. Therefore, when we are executing the move, we really focus on delivering that great experience and having fun while doing it.

There is nothing more gratifying than handing our customers their housewarming gift we provide at the end of their move and hearing them say thank you. We make what is normally a stressful experience, fun. After all, we move you, not just your boxes.

O2E: Tell us how you helped a well-known retail store with global expansion.

PH: I was recently approached by a contact from a manufacturing company in Japan with global retail stores about my level of interest in building retail store displays. Originally, I thought the project was a bit more than what we could handle, but when I took a deeper look at my team I felt like we would be able to execute the project with perfection. A few months later, we were given one store as a trial and since the client was so happy, they gave us an additional two stores to build.

Once that two store extension was completed, they asked my team to fly across the country and help them build stores in Toronto, Ontario. It feels so surreal that we have evolved from a local moving company that originally specialized in condo moving to a moving company that helps build retail stores across Canada.

We went in with minimal instruction, learned, and developed new skills along the way. After we completed each store, we would have a post-store meeting and discuss how we could improve and streamline operations to be more efficient to make our clients even happier. I am happy to announce we still continue to do this after each store and we are constantly improving.

O2E: What was the size of the retail stores that your team worked on for this project?

PH: We completed three stores that were about 18,000 square feet with the largest one being close to 40,000 square feet.

O2E: How long did it take to complete this project?

PH: We were given two days to complete each store, regardless of the size. We knew a store this size would be a huge challenge and since our team was based in Vancouver, we teamed up with You Move Me Toronto.

WHY CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL MOVING COMPANY?

Moving has been identified as a major stress in life, but it doesn’t have to be. Anyone can throw things in boxes and put them in the back of a truck. But, do you really want to worry about your possessions getting lost, broken or even stolen? Here are a few reasons why you should choose a professional mover, rather than just anyone, to do the dirty work.

MOVING EXPERIENCE

When your move is in the hands of a professional moving company, you don’t have to worry about your heirloom rocking chair or your grandmother’s china. Professional moving teams are trained to handle these things to ensure the best outcome. They will even pack your belongings using packing techniques that have been proven to protect. Professionals understand that your move starts long before the trucks arrive. There is a lot of planning and work that has to be done ahead of time in order to ensure a successful and smooth move.

TIME MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING

Choosing a professional moving company will help get you to your new home faster. You probably have a busy schedule and it can be hard to find the time to schedule a move and work out the fine details. The professionals will provide a schedule for arrival and departure in addition to working out all the other details from start to finish. Ultimately, you are in control, if planning and scheduling is your thing, go for it! Most companies have options and you can choose to do as much or as little as you please!

SERVICE AND PROTECTION

Professional moving companies offer fair and honest pricing along with fast and friendly claims services ensuring that if an issue were to occur, it would be resolved swiftly and fairly. Professional moving companies are generally endorsed by industry affiliations, such as ProMover, which provides third-party verification that a mover meets specific standards for the conduct of business, providing customers with the best service possible. Professional moving companies will also provide several valuation options to make sure that your possessions are protected every step of the way.

Relocating doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Get peace of mind by hiring a professional moving company. You can relax knowing that your move is in good hands, no matter what you’re moving or where. Looking for a professional moving company in North Las Vegas?

HOW TO PACK FOR A MOVE

It doesn’t matter if you’re moving across the country or across the street — it takes a lot of time and energy to pack up. But moving to a new home doesn’t have to disrupt your life. If you follow a few simple steps, you can even make your move (almost) fun!

Here are seven ways to pack for a move so you can get back to living your awesome life.

LOOK FOR A REPUTABLE MOVING COMPANY

Before you can think about packing, you first need to decide how you’re going to move. Are you a DIY kind of person or would you rather hire a moving company? This will depend on a number of factors, like your budget, your timeline, and how far you’re moving.

If you decide to hire professionals, remember that not all moving companies are created equally. Give yourself enough time to find a reputable moving company so you can trust that your possessions are in good hands. Need some tips? Check out this post on how to pick a moving company.

SCHEDULE A MOVING DAY

Once you’ve decided on a moving company, it’s time to set a date for the big day. If possible, try to get access to your new place a few days before you have to be out of your old one. This will give you a buffer so you won’t be stressed if you can’t complete your move in one day. It will also help you avoid the need for a storage unit as you move between places. Schedule your move so you have time to clean up your old home and to pick up any last minute items that got left behind.

MAKE A PACKING LIST

Before you start packing, take inventory of all of your stuff. A packing list will help you stay organized and will ensure you don’t forget anything. It will also help you identify what has a place in your new home and what can be left behind.

Grab a pen and a notebook, and go through your home room by room. Make two lists: one for what you’re taking with you and another for what you’ll throw away. Categorize everything by room to simplify the packing process. Taking the time to plan before diving in will make unpacking in your new home a hundred times easier.

GET RID OF UNNECESSARY ITEMS

Moving to a new home is the start of the next chapter of your life. Take this opportunity to purge any old, unnecessary stuff. After you determine what you’re taking with you, get rid of everything else. You can have a garage sale, recycle, or donate your stuff to charity. If you need some help, give 1-800-GOT-JUNK? a call. They’ll happily dispose of your items responsibly and donate whenever possible.

PACK AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

If you’re going to do yourself one favor during your move, it’s this: give yourself plenty of time to pack. Moving is stressful enough — you don’t want to be scrambling last minute, throwing everything in boxes. Start early so you can take your time and pack your things properly.

It’s a fine balance, though. You don’t want to pack too soon and be stuck living out of boxes and suitcases for weeks. Aim to have everything packed up and ready to go a few days before the move, but keep a small suitcase with anything you’ll need until you get to your new home.

GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES AND GET PACKING!

You’re almost there! You’ve hired a great moving company, you’ve organized your stuff, and you’ve downsized to the essentials. Now it’s time to pack everything up and start your new adventure. To keep your things safe, use the right supplies. Here’s what you’ll need to pack for a move:

• Cardboard boxes or plastic bins
• Packing paper for wrapping fragile items
• Bubble wrap for added protection
• Packing tape
• Permanent marker for labeling bags and boxes

If you choose You Move Me as your moving company, we’ll provide boxes specifically designed for all your unique possessions. Find out more here. Don’t want to pack yourself? We also offer full-service moves where we pack everything for you — you won’t have to lift a finger!

CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS AND CANCEL SERVICES

As you approach your moving day, there’s one last bit of housekeeping to take care of: changing your address and canceling your services. For an address change, you’ll need to contact the appropriate authorities, such as the DMV, your bank, and your employer. You also need to call your cable, telephone, internet, gas and electricity providers to transfer services to your new address.

There’s no doubt about it: moving is hard work. But by planning ahead, getting organized, and keeping a positive attitude, you’ll be able to turn your new house into “home” in no time.

Ready to get moving? Click here to schedule a free estimate!

8 Helpful Tips for Moving Out for the First Time

Moving out for the first time can often be a truly daunting task for a number of valid reasons. Number one, you may feel scared of the upcoming relocation simply because you’ve never moved house before, and number two, moving out of your parent’s house for the first time will put a heavy financial toll on you – something which you may or may not be ready to face.

On top of that, moving away from home for the first time will often prove to be an emotional rollercoaster – on one hand you’ve got joy and excitement at the prospect of finally living on your own with no one around telling you what to do, and on the other hand, you’re deeply worried and even terrified at the thought that things may not work out as you hope.

Follow these 8 useful tips for moving out for the first time so that you can practically survive your very first house move. Armed with this guide for first-time movers, you’ll definitely be well prepared as to what to expect when moving out for the first time.

1. Create a to-do list

You’ll probably get plenty of advice on what to do when moving out for the first time, but the truth is that some of those tips will work great for you, and some just won’t. The problem with never having done something before is that you’re not entirely sure what to expect and what you think will happen and what will actually happen may be two rather distinctive things.

With no previous house moving experience, you’ll probably find it really difficult to figure out where to start. You know that you are supposed to start planning and preparing to move out, but you probably have no idea what things to do when moving out for the first time.

Don’t just stand there doing nothing – instead, create a checklist for moving out for the first time. It’s not complicated – you just need to write down all the things you have to do, and then start working on those tasks. It’s a merely a to-do list that will help you organize the time you have until Moving day.

Moving checklist: Free, printable, interactive

2. Set up a moving budget

How much money you have saved up and how you manage your finances will be essential for the success of the relocation project. Therefore, budgeting for moving out for the first time should be a top priority for you during your very first move.

What’s the cost of moving out for the first time? Factor in all

• 

  Proper budgeting is the key to a successful first-time move.
  moving expenses – hiring professional moving services, buying proper packing materials, purchasing moving insurance, etc.;
• housing expenses – paying your first month’s rent plus a security deposit, paying the utility bills, etc.;
• other expenses – all the things you’ll need for the new home.

Don’t forget to include any non-negotiable payments like groceries, car payments, or college loans.

If your moving budget gives you bad news, then don’t despair because moving out for the first time with no money – insufficient money, that is – is still possible. In addition to some good ways to save money when moving out for the first time (hiring cheap movers, taking only the things you really need, packing on your own), you can always consider 1) asking your parents for a first-time moving loan, or 2) postponing the move until you save up enough money to move out.

10 tips for moving on a low budget

3. Hire a good moving company

Moving out for the first time to a new state or to a new town or city within the same state is a big challenge for a first-time mover in terms of preparation and execution. Therefore, instead of attempting to organize a self-move against all odds, your safest bet is to rely on professionalism and experience so that you won’t have to deal with the stress that comes with moving house for the very first time.

Finding a good moving company that offers affordable relocation services is not overly complicated as long as you follow these 3 simple steps:

• Step 1. Get free moving estimates from pre-screened professional moving companies that are adequately insured and have been licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Step 2. Request in-home surveys by the moving company representatives that will result in you getting accurate moving cost estimates. Those in-house visits are the perfect opportunities for you to find the answers to important questions.
• Step 3. Compare the moving quotes provided by the professional movers and pick the offer you can afford in terms of cost and you like in terms of conditions.

How to find reliable movers

4. Find a steady job

Moving out of your parents’ home is a brave decision that should not be made hastily. Without a doubt, the most important question you should ask yourself before initiating the moving preparation is whether you are financially ready to move away from your folks.

It’s vital that you secure a job prior to the move simply because living off your savings until you find a job can be too risky. Still, the decision whether to find a steady job before or after the move will depend on a number of factors, including how sought after your qualifications, skills, and abilities are on the labor market.

The majority of young adults start their careers at entry-level positions until they find a way to climb the corporate ladder. Securing a steady income is essential, but your salary must cover the basic living expenses – otherwise, you may not be ready yet to start living on your own.

City to city moving checklist

5. Find a good and affordable place to live

Finding a suitable place to live after the move is one of the major steps to moving out for the first time. After all, you will need to have a place to move to, right? The important thing here is not to rush this step – you will have numerous options to choose from so you will need to find the place that best suits your budget and lifestyle.

Don’t rush the step of finding a suitable place to live.

There are many things to consider when deciding where you will live after moving out for the first time. Assuming that the town or city is already a confirmed choice, then you need to think about the LOCATION of your new home. Research various neighborhoods when it comes to safety, cost of living, accessibility, cleanness, green areas, and so on. How close or how far will your new place be from your workplace?

The AFFORDABILITY of your new home is another major factor to take into consideration when moving out for the first time with a limited budget. As a rule of thumb, your rent should not be more than 30% of your disposable income. So, teaming up with a roommate – ideally, a friend or a colleague – is the more frugal choice as the costs for the rent and utilities will be halved, but you won’t have the complete freedom you may have hoped to have. If you can manage the living expenses, then you should definitely choose to have the first place all to yourself.

10 things people forget to do when moving house

6. Know what to pack when moving out for the first time

Moving out of home for the first time can be a confusing period when it comes to deciding what things to take with you and what things to just leave behind. And since you haven’t moved house before, you may easily make one of the most common moving mistakes – to pack and move everything that you own without any careful sorting and meticulous selection.

One of the things to remember when moving out for the first time is that you’ll most likely be moving on a tight budget, which means that any avoidable expenses are not welcomed. Remember that the more items you move with you, the higher the transportation costs will be. Therefore, the cost-saving formula is simple: move only the most essential items.

Inventory your possessions and create a packing list for moving out for the first time. Be ruthless while figuring out whether to take an item or not – ask yourself if you really intend to use it in the foreseeable future. Be on the lookout for items that are too worn out to be used again, items that are out of fashion, broken things, unwanted items, duplicate items, or just possessions you know you will store infinitely in the new home without any good reason.

One good piece of advice is to accept whatever usable items your parents offer you. After all, every new beginning is tough so you should appreciative of all the help you can get.

Packing timeline for moving: Your packing checklist

7. Don’t be shy to ask for help

Is moving out for the first time hard? It sure is. As you can see, there are many things to keep in mind while preparing to move out from your parents’ house, and one of those things is that, as a first-time mover, you must ask your parents and your friends to help you out during that highly transitional period.

Ask friends to help you pack simply because, you know, you’ve never packed your things for a move before.

Find the courage to ask your friends to help you move. Being overconfident in your abilities to organize your first move entirely on your own, or being too shy to ask your pals to give you a hand, may ruin your chances for a smooth household move.

Unless you’re moving a very short distance and you are sure you can make it work without any professional assistance, then you’ll most likely be hiring professional moving services as described above. And if that is the case, then your parents, siblings or buddies can save you money by helping you pack up your things really fast.

Be considerate and inform your friends that you’re going to need their help as early in your moving preparations as possible. It would not be nice to ask them for aid at the last minute and expect them to change their plans all because of you. Naturally, you’d want to minimize the disruption of their daily schedule and plans.

Finally, don’t judge your pals too quickly or too harshly if they (kindly) say NO to your call for aid. Not everyone can spare the time, and some of your potential helpers may simply be not willing to help you out. Either way, you should grateful and make the most of relocation help you actually get.

Moving out of state checklist

8. Set up a schedule of chores

Follow the above tips for moving out of home for the first time and you should be able to bring that all-important first house move to a successful end. Having survived the feverish preparation and the stressful moving day, you will soon find yourself in the new place, away from your parents’ home where things were well-organized and everything made sense.

Now, it’s time to organize your time by setting up a schedule of chores – tasks that you must do on a regular basis to keep things running smoothly like they used to be prior to the move. You’re in charge now, so do your best to avoid any serious post-relocation mistakes.

• Set up a schedule of your daily and weekly household chores and stick to that agenda to make the most of your time. List all errands that require your attention – cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal planning, cooking, and so on.
• Switch into a super economical mode after the move until you figure out how to budget your money properly. Limit greatly the amount of money you spend on leisure activities – your financial priorities should be the rent, utilities, groceries, and other types of payments that you must pay every single month.
• Be a smart shopper, use the public transportation, and most importantly – resist the temptation to rush to the stores and purchase a bunch of items for the new home – things that you may not need at the moment and may never actually use.