Has the moving date finally arrived? Or has it already come and done, and has the dust settled? You have tackled the real estate world, found the right place, made your offer, crossed your fingers that your bid will be accepted, and now have the keys in your hand. What next? Unless you take most of the furniture and belongings from your previous home, you may be looking at an empty husk with loads of potential. However, what do you need for the first night?
You’re bound to overlook a few details when moving to a new home, given the laundry list of things to plan. Just don’t make packing the all-important “first night” bags one of them. You do not want to spend the very first 24 hours in your new home rummaging through all of your boxes in search of underwear, toothbrushes, and pajamas when you could be chilling. This is important to consider if you have kids or pets in the picture.
Searching for nappies, kibble, toys, and food when juggling the demands of a baby or pet will be hard enough as adding a packed-up house to the mix is sure to be a nightmare. So, make it easier to pack bags and boxes of essentials.
Pack a First Night Bag For Yourself
You should organize all of your first night essentials into one easily accessible place. Otherwise, you could end up sleeping in yesterday’s clothes. Packing your requirements in a first-night bag will not only give you peace of mind once the moves have left, but it will also make your entire experience less stressful.
Here are a few examples of items you need:
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Toiletries
- Medications
- Charges for electronics
- Pyjamas
- Extra underwear and clothing
- First aid kit
- Wallets and Cards
What about the kids and pets?
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Plenty of Clothing and Pyjamas
- Something to keep them contained if they are small, like a bouncer.
- Toys, books or an IPAD to keep them entertained
- Food and snacks, sippy cups
- Medications and pacifiers
- Poop or kitty litter box
- Leash
- Blankets
Home Essentials Box
As well as a first night bag, packing a separate suitcase or box with all of your home essentials for the first few days is a great idea, especially if moving in will take a while.
- Snacks, canned goods and sandwich basics
- Sheets and pillows for beds
- Trash bags
- Cleaning products
- Bath towels
- Extra batteries
- Toilet paper
- Laundry detergent
- Paper plates and cutlery
- Lightbulbs
- Can opener
In addition to preparing the first night essentials, it’s a good idea to plan out which items and rooms you plan to unpack that night. Don’t be overly ambitious – because moving is exhausting. If you are going to unpack anything, the bedroom is a good idea – especially if you have children. After putting the sheets on the bed, head to the kitchen and unpack the items you’ll need during the first week, such as forks, knives, plates, mugs, coffee machines, etc.
This may seem like a last-minute thought, but when you get there on the first night in your new house, you will be thankful for being prepared. Good luck!