It's safe to say that moving day is one of the most stressful days you will ever encounter. This is true for the majority of people, even those who meticulously planned and prepared for their move. You've likely planned for weeks or even months, so don't drop the ball at the last minute by forgetting essential moving day items.
Throughout the years I have noticed a moving day trend amongst do-it-yourself movers, something I aim to resolve with this moving guide. For reasons unknown, people often seem to misplace or forget some of the simplest, yet most important, items on moving day. Let's review what these items are so that your moving day goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Post-It Notes
Multi-colored post-it notes are as essential to moving day as beer is to a tailgate, without them all is lost. Why are they so important? For the same reason they are useful in any situation, they remind us. On moving day they may be used to declare that a specific box is not being moved, or needs to be loaded last. Or, when used in conjunction with other items on our list, may provide useful information, like which piece of furniture that lonely bag of screws belongs to.
2. Black Marker
A black marker has a wide variety of uses on moving day, its versatility making it a powerful tool on your big day. Write on moving boxes, plastic bags or those post-it notes we discussed previously. Have you ever tried to write on a moving box or plastic baggie with a pen? It's a terrible idea, so get yourself a marker instead.
3. Plastic Baggies
Plastic baggies are probably the most overlooked and forgotten item on this list. Such a simple and affordable item, yet absolutely vital to moving day. Plastic baggies are primarily used to keep pieces of hardware together after disassembling furniture. You'll likely be surprised by just how many screws, bolts, fasteners, etc you will come across while disassembling your furniture. A plastic baggie makes the perfect home for these pieces. Use the black marker to specify what the hardware belongs to and you're all set!
4. Trash Bags
Trash bags will greatly help with moving day, from creating a more efficient move to helping with the clean up afterward. I personally recommend having both regular trash bags as well as the black heavy-duty bags that can handle a lot more weight. Want an awesome moving tip? Use standard trash bags instead of expensive and bulky wardrobe boxes for your hanging clothes [Watch our video tip].
5. Tools
It is very likely that you will need tools at some point on your moving day, whether you think you will or not. Luckily, most furniture these days can be disassembled with a basic tool set, which has things like screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, and pliers. I highly recommend having an Allen wrench key available as well as both a Phillips and flat head screwdriver, it's likely you will need these items at some point. Remember to use plastic baggies to store hardware to allow for quick assembly later.