Organization is key to planning and scheduling a move. If you’re using a moving checklist and have organized each room in your home, congratulations! You’re already ahead of the game. However, there are still some things people forget—and that just adds to move-day stress.
Fortunately, you can prevent that added stress as long as you keep track of the most commonly forgotten items when moving. Feel free to use this as a checklist of what not to forget as your move day nears!
1. Keys
This might sound silly, but there’s a good reason that keys are number one on this list. Keys are some of the most commonly forgotten items during a move. Maybe you thought you put them into your go-to jacket pocket or purse, but now they seem to be missing in action.
Keep track of your keys. And that goes for the keys to your new home as well as the place you’re moving out of. Remember that your move crew will be on the clock once they start the move, so if they have to stand around while you search for your keys, you’re wasting both time and money.
Plan ahead and have your keys at the ready before your move—even if that means meeting with your new landlord before your move day.
2. Items hidden away inside closets and drawers
People have all sorts of miscellaneous items stashed away in closets and drawers throughout their home. If you’re hiring a local mover, they’ll ask you to empty all drawers before they start loading your furniture onto their moving truck. And if you’re moving yourself, you’ll have to empty those nooks and crannies anyway!
Here are a few examples of items that you might have hidden inside closets and drawers:
- Clothing, shoes, and linens inside closets.
- Toiletries, medications, and cleaning supplies inside your bathroom vanity or medicine cabinet.
- Random items you’ve accumulated in your favorite junk drawer.
- Important documents or even some cash that you’ve hidden away.
Since some of these commonly forgotten items could be important or sentimental, make sure you give yourself some extra time to go through each piece. And if you’re ready to part with it, recycle, donate, or toss it!
3. Patio furniture and other outdoor items
Moving your home doesn’t just apply to the inside of your house. You have to pack and move all of your outdoor belongings, too! When you request your moving estimate, be sure to include all items in your front yard, backyard, and garage.
Although your movers will wrap and transport most patio furniture, they will not be able to take some grill components such as a propane tank with them. Also be sure to ask about any plants you might have. Some movers will transport them and some won’t, so call your moving company ahead of time to find out what they will and won’t transport for you.
4. Cables and remotes
It can be hard to keep track of cables and remotes even when you’re not moving. And when you’re packing up your home, chances are your phone charger and TV remote will be among the last things you toss in a box.
Here are a few tips for remembering those pesky cables and remotes:
- Stash an extra phone charger in the first box or suitcase you’ll unpack when you get to your new home.
- If you have the original box that your TV came in, put the remote and all connection cables in there. And if not, pack those items into a box clearly labeled “ELECTRONICS” or “TV REMOTE AND CABLES”.
- Pack your laptop with all of its cables, too. If you don’t have the original packaging or a laptop bag, stick the cables into that same “ELECTRONICS” box.
Pro tip: before you disassemble your TV, streaming devices, and game consoles, take pictures of what cables plug into which ports. It’ll make life easier when you get to your new place!
5. Cleaning supplies
Regardless of whether you’re moving out of an apartment, condo, or house, you might go back to your former dwelling one last time after your move to clean for the next resident. Since many people ask their move crew to leave the cleaning supplies behind, it’s common for them to be forgotten completely. So be sure to pack up any rags, bottles of cleaning supplies, and laundry detergent before you fully move into your new home.
Move-tastic! can pack your commonly forgotten items
Careful packing is the most important step in making your move day quick, safe, and cost-effective. So let the experts help! We’ll pack your entire home, including commonly forgotten items when packing or moving.
Check out our packing guide to get started, and contact us with any questions. We love to talk about packing and moving!