Keep two things with you on moving day: a personal bag with what you need during the day — medication, phone and charger, keys, documents, snacks, a change of clothes — and a first-night box with what you need before anything is unpacked, such as bedding, toiletries, a kettle, a few dishes, toilet paper and basic tools. Both travel in your car, not the truck.
Our guide to what to move yourself covers the bigger question of valuables and items movers do not carry. This one is the practical packing list for the first 24 hours.
The Day Bag
This is the bag that never leaves your side. Pack it the night before and put it somewhere the crew will not mistake it for a moving box.
- Medication, including a few days’ supply in case unpacking is slow
- Phone, charger and a power bank
- Keys and fobs for both homes
- Wallet, identification, and the closing, lease or moving paperwork
- Water, snacks and something to eat at lunch
- A change of clothes and a jacket
- Glasses, contacts and anything you use daily
The First-Night Box
Most people are too tired to unpack properly on the first evening. The first-night box means you do not have to.
- Sheets, pillows and a blanket for each bed
- Towels, toilet paper, soap and toiletries
- Kettle, mugs, a few plates and cutlery
- Coffee, tea and breakfast for the morning
- Paper towels, garbage bags and dish soap
- Basic tools: screwdriver, Allen keys, box cutter, tape
- Light bulbs, a flashlight and a power bar
- Router and modem cables, if you are setting up the internet
For Children and Pets
A small separate bag for each child — favourite toy, pyjamas, a book, snacks — makes the first night much easier. For pets: food, bowls, leash, litter, bedding and any medication, plus their vet’s phone number.
Keep It Out of the Load
The most common problem with an essentials box is that it ends up on the truck. Use a distinctive bin or bag rather than a matching moving box, put it in your car first, and tell the crew lead where your "not moving" pile is.
If the first-night box is too big for the car, mark it clearly and ask the crew to load it last so it comes off first. Say so at the start of the day.
Unpack in the Right Order
On arrival, make the beds first. It is the single thing that makes a first night bearable. Then the bathroom, then the kettle. Everything else can wait for morning.
If Someone Else Is Moving
If you are coordinating a move for a parent or relative, pack their day bag together and check the medication and documents yourself. A familiar blanket, photos and reading glasses in the first-night box help a new room feel like theirs on the first evening.
Pack these two the night before and the rest of the day gets simpler. If you would like the rest packed for you, that is what our packing services are for.