Moving is both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You will undoubtedly have a lot of boxes to unpack. After a long day of transferring items between houses, the last thing you’ll want to do is search for the necessities for your first night in your new place. Packing a “first-night” box with all the essentials needed for the first 24 hours in your new place will help relieve the unwanted stress of searching through boxes after a busy day.

A Clean Home is a Happy Home

You’ll want to give your new place a good scrub down before you settle in for the night. Pack a kit that includes gloves, bleach, dish soap, sponges, dust rags, furniture polish, and trash bags. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms, since they are often the most used areas. Don’t forget hand soap so you can wash up after you finish cleaning.

Fuel Your Body

Moving requires lifting lots of boxes and heavy furniture. While it’s easy to order a pizza in a pinch, packing a kit with non-perishable, healthy foods will keep your body going longer without making you feel sluggish like greasy foods do. Include granola bars, dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, and jerky. Also pack plenty of water to stay hydrated and instant coffee to keep you awake if you work late into the night.

Avoid doing dishes by packing plastic or paper plates, napkins, cups, and utensils. This will save time, especially if your new home doesn’t have a dishwasher. 

Toiletries and Clothes

After a day of moving, you will want to take a shower and change your clothes before going to bed. Include a kit with everything you need to complete your nightly routine. Items like shower gel, soap, shampoo, conditioner, washcloths, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and floss are necessities. If your shower doesn’t have doors, also pack a shower curtain.

You most likely won’t have time to unpack all your clothes, so set aside pajamas and an outfit for the next day for each family member.

A Good Night’s Sleep

Once you are finally in your pajamas for the night, all you will want to do is crawl into bed and fall fast asleep. That won’t be possible if the bed isn’t made yet. Pack sheets, pillowcases, and blankets for all the beds. If you haven’t set up the bedroom furniture yet, use an air mattress or create a makeshift bed out of the couch for the night.

You will be glad that you packed a box of essentials and won’t have to sift through boxes late at night. After a good night’s rest in your new home, you will be ready to tackle the next day that is sure to be filled with more unpacking, organizing, and decorating.

Whether you’re moving across town or clear across the country, you wouldn’t put your trust in just anybody handling your furniture and family treasures, would you? Of course not. That’s why a little research can go a long way to making sure your items are carefully and safely transferred from one place to another. 

Here a few good questions you can ask yourself to help you find a dependable and trustworthy moving company that will treat your possessions with the respect they deserve:

Are They Licensed and Insured?

A good moving company will be licensed and offer their customers insurance for their services. It’s a fact of life that accidents happen, and even though you might not be able to put a price on something that means more to you than money can buy, having some insurance can at least ease your feelings of loss, or hopefully repair any damage that might happen if something goes wrong. 

Are They Experienced and Have a Good Reputation?

Most professional movers have years of experience, which means they’ll likely have a good reputation. But just because they might be new in the business doesn’t mean they’re not good, although a good rule of thumb would be to check out how they rate with the Better Business Bureau if you have any questions. Another excellent source to check would be The American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA). AMSA is a non-profit association that deals with professional movers in the United States.

Are They Reliable and Transparent?

A quality moving company should have the right equipment and staff to relocate your items without any difficulty, and they should also be transparent about how they operate. Any good moving company will want to be known in the business, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions you might have. You don’t get want to get caught with any unexpected expenses after they arrive at your new home!

Do They Perform In-Home Estimates?

Some of the top moving companies will ask you questions and even do an in-home inspection to be sure doorways, stairways, and hallways are measured, as well as prepare you for any other little details that might arise before you sign on that dotted line.

Are They Reasonably Priced for the Services Provided?

Be sure to shop around when searching for a good moving company and compare prices. And don’t be afraid to negotiate with them. If a company claims its price is firm, tell them you like their services, but you have better offers from other companies. Likely, they’ll change their tune because they want your business.

But most importantly, be sure to ask questions and read any fine print on the contract. A lot of moving companies with reputable names are franchised, and even though they’re supposed to be operating by the company’s standards doesn’t necessarily mean they are.

When you move with Cheap Movers Atlanta, you can rest assured that we’ve already done the hard work of vetting movers for you. All our moving professionals are licensed, insured, and reputable. Call us now to request a free quote on your upcoming move!