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Working with a team of moving experts is an excellent way to enjoy an efficient and seamless move. While your movers will carefully transport your belongings, many customers will opt or need to bring certain items in their vehicle. Here, we’ll highlight the possessions you should consider taking in your own vehicle.
First Night Box
A first night box is a container, such as a suitcase, duffel bag, or carton, containing items everyone in your household will need for your move's first day or two. A first night box or an essentials box allows your necessary items to be accessible. Common items people pack include:
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Change of clothes
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Pajamas
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Toiletries
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Medications
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Baby needs
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Pet needs
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Cleaning supplies
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Soap
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Trash bags
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Paper towels
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Bedding for each family member
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Snacks
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First Aid kit
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Basic tools
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Towels
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Shower curtain and hooks
Prohibited Items
Moving companies are happy to accommodate where they can, but federal or state law prohibit them from transporting certain items, and movers cannot put them onto the truck.
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Flammables and explosives (including fireworks)
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Auto batteries
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Refrigerated or frozen food
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Household cleaning products
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Lawn and garden chemicals
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Corrosive chemicals
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Wax candles
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Aerosols
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Pesticides and poisons
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Paint cans
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Animals
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Plants
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Fertilizer
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Gas and oil products
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Compressed gas cylinders
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Illegal items/substances
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Ammunition, gunpowder, and more
Always check with your mover; most offer a comprehensive guide to what they cannot take.
Moving Binder With Important Documents
During your moving process, create a moving binder that includes essential documents for the move and beyond. Use a sturdy three-ring binder to help keep you organized, make the moving process easier, and give you peace of mind on relocation day. This binder will help keep all your essential documents and checklists in one place as you move. You should put this moving binder in your vehicle with you.
Here are some suggestions of what to put in your personalized moving binder
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Personal documents of family members like passports, social security cards, marriage certificates, birth certificates, health insurance information, wills, life insurance documents
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Pet documents, including health records from the previous veterinarian, information about the new vet, microchip documents, and any other documents you might have
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Old home — Any documents related to your old home like sales agreements, leases, insurance policies, utility shut-off information
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New Home — Documents like sales contracts, lease information, floor plans, utility turn-on information
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Renovation details like renovation plans for your new home, including painting, new furniture delivery
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Receipts from your move-related expenses to track your budget
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Important contacts list includes phone numbers and addresses you need during the relocation from relatives to friends to moving companies and utility companies.
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Schedules and checklists related to the move, like to-do lists, packing, and inventory lists
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New City details such as new school, shopping, clubs, and restaurant information
Certain Valuables
Other hard or impossible valuables to replace should also go into your car. Items in this category that people often transport themselves include
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Artwork
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Coin and stamp collections
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Jewelry
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Precious stones and metals
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Priceless collectibles
Movers might take these, but many people simply feel better by bringing them along themselves.
Sentimental Items and Precious Memories
It’s a good idea to plan to make room in your personal vehicle for sentimental items and ones that hold precious memories. This way, any irreplaceable items are always with you just to be on the safe side.
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Family heirlooms
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Special gifts
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Photographs, framed and unframed
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Photo albums
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Small antique items
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Sentimental letters
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Journals
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Anything else irreplaceable or difficult to replace
If you have more oversized items, an abundance of sentimental, expensive items (e.g., antique furniture), or otherwise irreplaceable, talk to your mover about any specialty services they offer.
Simplified Relocation!
Are you ready to begin planning your upcoming move? Our highly skilled movers can safely transport your belongings to your new home.
Contact us today for a free quote.