When you’re moving, life is stressful enough. Don’t add to the stress by having absolutely no idea where the essentials are when you move into your new home.  Pack an essentials box before you move.

What’s an Essentials Box?

An essentials box is exactly as its name implies: a box filled with the essential items you need in your new home. Generally speaking, these will also be items you were using on your last night in your old home. This box should be the last box packed and should be kept in an easy to reach location in the moving truck or your vehicle. Additionally, there should be a box with items for the whole family, as well as individual boxes for each member of the family.

It’s also important to realize that it’s unlikely that everything will fit into one box. You should be prepared to pack several “Essentials Boxes.”

The family box should include things such as:

• Toilet paper
• Paper towels, plates, cups, and plastic silverware
• Dish soap
• Dish towel and sponge
• Cleaning supplies
• Coffee maker, filters, and coffee
• Toaster or toaster oven
• Simple food items for a couple of meals
• Snacks and beverages
• Pet supplies such as food and water dishes, food, treats, litterboxes, toys, and beds, animal carrier
• Small first aid and emergency kit
• Shower curtain
• Flashlight or candles
• Garbage bags
• Important documents such as birth certificates, marriage license, etc.

Individual boxes should include things such as:

• A bath towel
• Change of clothes
• Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• Medications
• Books
• Electronic devices
• Cell phone and charger
• Bedding, sleeping bag, pillows
• Pajamas

How do you pack an Essentials Box?

First, you should make sure the box(es) are labeled. Call it Essentials Box, Open-First box, or First-Night box, but make sure you label it so that it doesn’t get packed away where you can’t get to it.

Next, make sure that anything liquid is sealed in a plastic bag before putting it in the box. There’s nothing worse than a soggy box filled with unusable items because something leaked.

Pack the box on moving day or the day before, but start considering what to pack in it long before that. Set those items aside, and create a list, so that you don’t pack them in other boxes without thinking.

Lastly, don’t seal the box before you leave the old home. You may need to add or remove something at any point, including small, last minute items that don’t necessarily belong in it but got left behind.

Moving into a new house or apartment can be one of the most exciting and liberating things to happen in your life. It is truly a milestone to be celebrated and enjoyed. It can also be a stressful and chaotic time, with appointments, phone calls, and endless forms to fill out and sign.

With everything else going on, it can be easy to overlook some of the essentials you’ll need once you have the keys to your new place and you’re finally on your own. Here are a few of the things you’ll need to consider for move-in day:

1. Be Sure to Change the Locks

If you’ve moved into an apartment or rental house, you will need to check with your leasing office before changing the locks to make sure you comply with any policies. However, no matter whether you’re buying or renting a house or apartment, one of the first things you’ll want to do is make sure the locks are changed and that you (and your landlord) have the only keys.

2. Check Pipes and Plumbing

While this should be done by your landlord or home inspector before you move in, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to checking for potential leaks. Since you’ll be responsible for anything that happens once you move in, a quick visual inspection of pipes and plumbing under sinks and behind toilets, as well as around the hot water heater, could save you a lot of frustration and money.

3. Do You Have Kitchen Utensils?

Something a lot of people take for granted when living with roommates or parents is that there is always a fork, spoon, or sharp knife when needed. And what about oven mitts? Or plastic wrap? You don’t want to be in the middle of making a celebratory cake before realizing you don’t own a measuring cup. Make a list of essential kitchen utensils and check it twice before you cook your first meal in your new place.

4. What About the Laundry?

Whether you have a washing machine and dryer in your new place, you’ll have to eventually do your laundry somewhere. That means you’ll need laundry detergent, fabric softener or dryer sheets, bleach, and at least one laundry basket or laundry bag to carry your clothes. Don’t forget about and iron and ironing board, unless you don’t mind the wrinkled look.

5. Get Organized

Was your closet a mess in your old place? How about the garage? The attic? If there was a part (or a whole room) of your old apartment or house that you dreaded packing because you weren’t sure what you might find, now is your chance to get organized. No matter what your preferred organizational method is, an empty house is a blank slate just waiting for you to make your mark. Take control of the clutter and start by implementing habits you can easily keep up with.