The company will need to know how many vehicles you’re insuring so they can give you an accurate estimate. Also, insuring multiple vehicles can get you a discount on your respective rates. Note that there may be a maximum number of vehicles per policy. Before you head to the airport, you need to make sure your travel documents are in order. The last thing you want is to be held up at customs because something's missing or expired, and no one.
Whether you’re moving across the world or just across town, one of the best pieces of moving advice you’ll get is to pack a dedicated moving essentials bag with the items you can’t risk losing among the inevitable towers of boxes and supplies. Keeping all your most necessary items packed in one place is immensely helpful for staying organized, and can make all the difference when it comes to minimizing moving day stress.
The size bag you’ll need for your essentials depends on the extent of your move. If you’re just going a short distance, a gym bag will probably suffice. For longer moves, particularly those that require at least a day of traveling, you’ll likely need to use something larger since you’ll have less access to the rest of your belongings.
A moving essentials bag should contain the items you are most likely to need on the day of your move and the first couple of days in your new home. Unlike traditional moving wisdom, which dictates that you should edit down what you bring along, don’t fret too much about overpacking your essentials bag. As long as you’ve still got the right items in there, a few extraneous items won’t hurt. That’s because the goal of a moving essential bag is simple: make sure you have easy access to the most important things in your life so that if and when you need them, you know exactly where they are.
So what should you be including in your bag? Your specific items depend on your specific needs, but these basics should get you started.
Your wallet and keys
It’s easy enough to misplace your wallet and keys on a typical calm day, let alone in the hubbub of a move. If you typically use a purse to store these items that’s fine, though be sure to keep your purse with your essentials bag so everything is together.
Medications
Bring along any of the medications you regularly use, especially prescription medications that can’t be easily obtained if they get misplaced. If you don’t want to bring entire medication bottles and your move is short, pack a bill box with what you’ll need for the next week or so. If your move is longer, don’t chance it and just pack your full supply.
Important documents
Just as you take care to pack your important documents in a safe place inside your home, you need to do the same during your move. These include birth certificates, social security cards, titles, registrations, passports, and anything else that requires keeping careful track of. You can find a more complete list of your most important legal and financial documents through this checklist from HOPE Coalition America. Also be sure to pack any move-related documents, such as the contract with your moving company or your new lease.
Electronics
Your moving essentials bag should include any of the electronics you use on a regular basis. While you’re obviously not going to be able to get your TV in there, make sure you’re packing your laptop, your phone, and any other pieces of technology you want to be able to locate easily. Don’t forget to pack the chargers for these items, too.
Contact info
If you don’t already have this information saved in your phone, make sure to take along a piece of paper that includes contact details for people you may need to reach on moving days or the days immediately after, including your movers, your old and new landlord, and your old and new utility companies.
Pen and paper
It’s always the simplest of items that are the easiest to misplace. You never know when you might need to jot a few things down or sign something important, so always have a pen and a small notepad handy. You might not end up using them, but if you do need them you’ll be glad they’re there.
Basic toiletries
The last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to find your toothbrush when you’re ready to crash after a long day of moving. Make it easier on yourself by packing a toiletries bag with the items you know you’re likely to need right away: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, contacts and contact solution, soap or hand sanitizer, etc.
Roll of toilet paper
In the same vein as the items above, this is an essential that when you need it, you really need it. Instead of risking a tricky situation, pack a roll of toilet paper in your bag. For a more compact alternative, go with one of those travel packets of toilet paper people use for camping trips.
Small tool kit
Serious repairs won’t be first on the list of things you need to accomplish when you arrive at your new place (and if they are, you should probably get them done before moving in), but you may find a few small things that can be fixed right away or need to take measurements while getting your furniture set up. Bring along a small tool kit containing the bare necessities, like a screwdriver, wrench, and measuring tape.
Scissors or small gliding knife
There are few things worse than packing the item you need to open boxes in a box itself, so be sure to bring something sharp in your bag that you can use to cut through packing tape. While scissors are fine, you’re probably better off with a gliding knife that can be retracted into its casing so that you don’t have to worry about any of the other items in your essentials bag getting damaged during the move.
Change of clothes
Think of a move like a trip, since you won’t be able to easily access most of your day-to-day belongings right away, and pack the clothes you’ll need to get you through it. Worry less about having a lot of options and think more in terms of practicality. You’ll need a pair of pajamas, a change of pants and shirt, something warm just in case, and a few fresh pairs of socks and underwear.
Snacks and water
You’re more efficient when you’re not thinking about how hungry you are. While you can – and should – take a break from moving to sit down to a full meal, pack a few snacks in your bag for those times when you just need to bite to keep you going. Good options include protein bars and individually packaged snacks, and you’ll want a bottle or two of water in there too. Don’t pack food that needs to be refrigerated or that requires utensils to eat.
Pet items
If you live with pets, you need to be including items for their needs in your essentials bag as well. That includes enough food for meals over the next few days, travel bowls for food and water, treats, a favorite toy, and any medications they need to take.
Kids’ items
If you’re moving with children, you’ll want to pack each of them their own essentials bags. These should include a few changes of clothes, some of their favorite snacks and drinks, basic toiletries, and items to keep them happy and occupied, such as a few games, their iPad, a coloring book and crayons, etc. Also be sure to include any items you know they won’t be able to rest without, like special blankets or stuffed animals.
A moving essentials bag will help make the whole process of your move easier, and you’ll always be glad that you have it. Pack the bag as you’re packing up your boxes, sorting important items into it as you come across them in your home. When you’re done and finally ready to lock up for the last time at your old home, you’ll be all set.