Moving companies have the equipment and expertise necessary to move most household items, including the oddly shaped, overly heavy and otherwise hard-to-move things you own. There are some things you shouldn’t send with a moving company when you relocate, though. Here are some items you’ll want to move yourself even when you hire a moving company.
Essential Papers
General documents can be packed up in filing boxes and sent with your movers, but there are some essential papers that you should keep on hand throughout the move. These essential documents fall into three categories.
First, personally keep any family members’ official government papers secure yourself. These include photo IDs, such as driver’s licenses and passports, as well as social security cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and similar documents. You may need a photo ID during your move, and the other documents are some of the most important items you have.
Second, relevant medical, veterinary and financial documents should remain on hand at all times. Should a family member have a medical emergency, a pet need to go to the vet or your bank account be hacked while you’re moving, you need immediate access to these papers. You don’t want to wait for movers to dig through boxes when every minute counts.
Third, any papers that directly relate to your move should also be easily accessible. This might include a lease or mortgage, as well as utility information. Should there be an issue with your relocation, these documents might help resolve it.
When you pack these papers in a box, the box should be clearly labeled so that movers know not to put it in the truck. You don’t want to write what the box actually contains, though. If a thief breaks into your place or vehicle, a clear label would tell them exactly what box has your IDs and financial records. Instead, label the box something innocuous that you will recognize.
Overnight Bag
An overnight bag is always a good thing to pack when you’re going between places, for you never know when something might go awry. This is true both when you travel and when you move — even when you relocate locally. When you move, an overnight bag also makes last-minute packing and first-minute unpacking a lot easier.
While moves usually go smoothly, especially when you hire professional movers, there are issues that can cause hiccups in the process. For example, a blizzard could come in if you decide to move during winter. Alternatively, a friend could mislabel your toiletries box and make it difficult to find once you’re in your new place.
If you have an overnight bag that you personally pack and keep with you throughout the move, any stress that’s caused by an unanticipated hiccup will be minimized. No matter what happens, you can trust that you’ll have everything you need to sleep and a fresh change of clothes for the morning.
Additionally, you won’t have to dig through multiple boxes once you arrive at your new residence just to find what you need right away. Instead, you’ll have a bag that you can locate immediately, and the boxes can be unpacked as you get to them.
Some of the items you should place in this overnight bag include:
- Cell phone and charger
- Medications and vitamins
- Toiletries
- Clothes
You may also want to put some children’s toys in this bag if you have kids. Don’t forget pet food if you have a dog, cat or other pet.
If you need a company to help you with a local move, contact the professional movers at Bell Moving & Storage.
