When you are moving to a new house, the hardest days are the last few days at the old place and the first few days at the new place. Most of your things are packed, but you still need to manage until you finish unpacking the necessities.

Pack a suitcase for a week

For the move, pack suitcases as if you were going for a one week holiday. I have found this tip to be very useful. The first week in a new house can be very challenging, because otherwise, you start opening boxes to find things and leave them half unpacked. The mess will drive you nuts.

If you treat the new house like a hotel room for a while, you won’t start panicking when you need something, because you’ve already put it aside. Like in any hotel room, the essentials will be there: the beds, the refrigerator, the tables, the chairs. All you need to do is pack the same things you would need if you went to a serviced apartment:

• Pillows, blankets and bed sheets
• Toiletries: soap, shampoo, shaving cream, cosmetics, toothbrushes, toothpaste, comb/hairbrush, etc
• Clothes for a week
• First aid kit
• The kids’ favorite toys

Depending on your circumstances, you might want to pack a few other essentials. For example:

• Basic cutlery, kettle and other cooking utensils, so you can manage with food for one week until you start unpacking your kitchen boxes
• Common kitchen supplies: tea, coffee, milk, snacks
• Baby needs: diapers/nappies, wipes, baby food, etc
• Medication: current prescriptions and common items, like paracetamol
• If you are moving during the school period, take books, notebooks, pencils, markers, etc
• Work clothes/uniform
• I you have a pet, bring some pet food, bowls and basic things for the first couple of days

Keep valuable in your suitcase, if it is travelling with you: jewelry, money, special collections, etc. If not, e.g if you are flying, it may be safer to split up your valuables and carry them with you in your hand luggage, but bring them yourself either way.

Last, but certainly not least, your mobile phone and charger!

Join me next week for some tips regarding how to deal with food while moving.

Happy moving,
Ronit