Packing Checklist for Your New Year’s Move

Happy new year from All My Sons Moving & Storage! Get started on your residential move for the new year with these special packing tips.

While you won’t face the overbooked movers and high rates of peak moving season and you’ve narrowly avoided a holiday move, making a long-distance or local move in January is still no small feat. You’ll be moving right as the calendar flips, which means you’ll be prepping a brand new home just in time for your new year’s resolutions. A new space might be just what you need to make this next year your best yet.

First, you have to make the move. Stomp that moving procrastination and get ready to face the blank planner for your move in January.

A well-organized move is an efficient move. Even if you’re being force to move at the last minute, there are still some essential items to put on your to-do list before you get started packing.

• Create a Moving Checklist: Jot down a list of important tasks to accomplish during the course of your move and a rough timeline for when you need to have each task completed.

• Craft Your Moving Budget: See how much you need to set aside for packing supplies, movers, equipment rentals, and storage space. Watch out for the hidden costs of moving like cleaning fees, changes in insurance premiums, and restocking the fridge.

• Plan Your Packing Schedule: If you are choosing professional packing services with full-service movers, then check your home inventory for items that movers refuse to pack or load like fine jewelry, ammunition, or explosives and make a contingency plan for these items. If you are packing yourself, go room by room and write out deadlines for when items need to be packed. 

• Declutter, Downsize, Donate, and Dispose: The fastest and easiest way to save time, money, and energy on your move is to purge your home inventory of items that are not going to serve you in the new year. Evaluate everything that you own and ask yourself to honestly answer how often you use items, whether or not items make you happy, or if keeping certain things is just weighing you down.

• Make a Moving Inventory: Instead of constantly hunting through a box maze at your next home, consider creating a moving inventory to keep track of your items. A home inventory can serve you long after your move in case a disaster has you making an insurance claim. If you do not have time or resources to create a full inventory, then always write out the contents of each box in as much detail as possible.

• Gather Your Packing Supplies: Grab some boxes, tape guns, bubble wrap, and packing paper. You can purchase packing supplies from most moving retailers, or you can check places in your local community for free boxes.

• Write Your New Year’s Goals: It’s January, the season for aspirations. Write out your goals for the new year once you’re settled into your new home and make those goals S.M.A.R.T. 

• Draft a Floorplan: Measure the floor space and doorways in your new home as well as any current furniture you’d like to move so you can create a mock-up of where everything will go. You can use graphing paper and a pencil to draw up a floor plan by hand or you can try a floorplan software like Sweet Home 3D, Planner 5d, HomeByMe, and Homestyler.

The first items to pack for your move in January will be the items you won’t miss if they go into boxes for a while. These are considered your non-essentials, and while they definitely make your home a brighter and more beautiful place, they don’t need to function on a daily basis.

• Summer Clothes: Flip flops, tank tops, and shorts can probably safely go into boxes for your January move. You can also pack formal clothing you don’t plan to wear immediately after you move in.

• Extra Blankets, Towels, and Sheets: Raid your linen closets and pack up the extras you keep on hand.

• Keepsake Boxes: The back closets are big contenders for the non-essentials. Anything you have on hand that you’re hanging onto for sentimental reasons like children’s memorabilia, a deceased loved one’s clothes, or items from special milestones in your life can safely go into moving boxes. 

• Holiday Decorations: Now that the holidays are over and you’re moving homes in January, you should probably pack the holiday decorations away with the non-essentials. 

• Books: Any books you’re not actively reading can come off your library shelves and be put into boxes for your move. Save one or two to read during the move.

• Photo Albums: Unless you’re actively admiring these on a daily basis, photo albums are also typically safe to pack. 

• Media Collections: Physical media collections like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays plus vinyl records are okay to pack first thing.

• Décor and Artwork: The next contenders for the non-essentials are your décor pieces. These are a vital part of making your home feel like its yours, but chances are you can still function with them in a box for the duration of your move. 

The LAST items you pack will be the items that need to come out of the truck first-thing when you reach your destination. These items make functional, daily living possible. You can separate essentials from the rest of your boxes by putting special colored tape on them. 

• Bed Sheets: Make the beds as soon as you’ve set them up and rest your weary head at the end of move-day cozy.

• Pillows: Grab a pillow for every member of your household. 

• Coffee Maker: Stock your kitchen with your daily caffeine-fix ASAP and pack this item with essentials. 

• Silverware: When the forks, spoons, kitchen knives, and any other kitchen utensils are packed and ready with the essentials then your kitchen can be back in business with home-cooked meals from your first night. 

• Dishes and Glassware: Special dining sets can go with the non-essentials, but a few of your daily plates and drink glasses should go on the truck last. 

• Napkins or Paper Towel: Clean up those post-move kitchen spills.

• Toilet Paper: Stock the bathroom immediately upon moving in.

• Soap: Wash hands with the sealed bars of soap in your essentials boxes.

• Towels: One set of bath towels and one set of hand towels to dry off post-move.

• Shower Curtain: These are typically not included with your new home, so bring one in case you need to wash off the moving grime.

The following items should be packed in a bag that you carry with you on your person during your move. These items should never be far from your person, especially during a move.

• Medications: Daily and emergency medications.

• Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, and some soap.

• Winter Clothing: Wear a breathable winter outfit for your January move and keep an extra set of clothes in your bag just in case.

• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes on your feet and maybe an extra pair in your bag.

• Wallet and Keys: Keep in your pocket or in your bag. You will be making a key exchange for your new home, so be sure to gather any extra keys you have lying around or with family and friends.

• Phone Charger: In case of limited access to power, also carry a charge bank.

• Book or Tablet: Some moves come with downtime. Keep prepared with entertainment.

• New Year’s Planner: Would be a shame to put that crisp blank planner in a box. Carry it with you on your person.

• First Aid Kit: For moving injuries.

• Water Bottles: Even though you’re moving in winter, you should stay hydrated.

• Snacks: For the moving munchies.

• Important Documents: Government IDs, rental contracts, and anything else you need to make your move.

• Boxcutter: Don’t get to your new space with nothing to open your legion of boxes. 

You’ve reached your destination, and now it’s time to get to the business of unpacking. Now is an opportune time to set up your new home in a way that supports your new year’s goals. 

• Organize as You Unpack: Assign a place for every item and use labels to designate where items should go. Set up a daily essentials station at the door as a landing space for jackets, purses, and backpacks.

• Decorate for Your Mental Health: Put up décor items that bring you joy, use cool, calming colors, let natural light in, and add some plants to your home collection to reap the mental rewards.

• Dedicate Space to Your Goals: Want to learn a new skill, exercise more, or simply have a good space to work or study? Make sure you find an area in your new home where you can practice what you’re itching to accomplish in the new year.

Now that your home is set up for the new year, you can go after your goals for this season of your life with renewed vigor.

Make your move with help from All My Sons Moving & Storage, the full-service moving professionals who have been helping companies and families make their big relocation for over 30 years. We offer plans tailor-made to meet your needs and adapt to your budget. Whether you’re moving apartments, houses, or your office, All My Sons can offer whatever level of support you need. Start the new year strong by booking your January move with All My Sons Moving & Storage.