If you are having trouble keeping up with all the things you have to box up, making a packing list will ensure you don’t forget even a single item. While different people will undoubtedly have different priorities and preferences, this guide will go through the top five things every Sacramentan should have on their checklist.
An excellent guide to packing for a move should cover some of the most important and commonly forgotten items, and that’s precisely what we did with this checklist. However, be aware that many more things have to be done before you are ready to move to a different Sacramento neighborhood. Many of these tasks will require you to start preparing months in advance, so it might be helpful to book our Sacramento local movers to cover some of them for you.
Why Is Making a Packing List So Important?
With all the things you have to do before relocating, creating a good to-do list is the only way you can genuinely move efficiently. The excellent relocation hack enables anyone to easily keep track of all the day-to-day tasks, ensuring nothing gets accidentally left behind. Making a checklist is particularly important for those relocating in a hurry when even the most important things can easily be forgotten.
Declutter Before You Start Making a Packing Checklist
Preparing all the belongings you have at home could significantly extend the entire process. So before we go over all the key things that have to be on your checklist, let’s discuss how to deal with all the things you don’t need. If you had a few instances of impulsive shopping, there’s a good chance you have a bunch of stuff that could be sold online for a good chunk of its original value. Used things that are still in pretty good condition can also be sold through a yard sale pretty quickly. Which will eventually reduce your overall relocation expenses and bring you closer to hiring professional movers in Sacramento, CA.
You can also give away some of your stuff to friends and family or donate it to a charity. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, The Salvation Army, and WEAVE Inc. are only some of the local organizations that would be more than happy to accept your donations. Decluttering is also a perfect opportunity to get rid of some of the more dangerous items movers won’t move or anything else that’s unusable. If you can’t decide what to do with a particular item right away, place it in storage before the relocation and deal with it at a later date.
Get All the Necessary Supplies Right Away
Although you will almost certainly have to resupply at some point, it’s best to acquire the most commonly used materials early on. Packing dishes might be different from boxing up electronics, but they both require some very common supplies that you’ll use throughout the entire process. If you are not sure what to get, the following materials should be more than enough to get you started right away:
- Boxes,
- Paper,
- Bubble wrap,
- Moving blankets,
- Plastic covers,
- Markers and labels,
- Tape.
1. Pack a Separate Bag With Personal Essentials
Preparing personal essentials has to be the most common thing people forget to do before relocating within Sacramento. These include anything you regularly use, like your phone, laptop, chargers, personal medication, toiletries, credit cards, and even cash. Unless you are relocating right across the street, it’s also good to get some snacks and water for the trip. All of these items can easily fit in a separate bag or backpack, allowing you to grab them easily as soon as you move in.
Remember to Pack Appropriate Weather Gear
If you want to keep your relocation stress down to a minimum, it’s crucial to prepare appropriate weather gear for the trip. Sacramento can get pretty hot during the summer months, and since that’s the period most people prefer to move, you should have suncream, sunglasses, and a hat with you at all times. While the weather is generally sunny throughout the year, there are about 60 days with precipitation, most of which occur during winter. If you happen to move during that period, keep a small umbrella in your carryall bag just in case and bring a warmer piece of clothing.
2. Prepare All the Important Documents and Paperwork Before Relocating
Considering most people aren’t even aware of just how much paperwork they have lying around the house, it should undoubtedly be the next thing on your checklist. Additionally, many important documents hold sensitive information that is often difficult to obtain or even impossible to replace. To be entirely sure that everything is packed, make a checklist containing the following files and records:
- Legal documents – This category contains files that are crucial for proving your identity, such as your birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, or Social Security Number and Card. It also includes some other important paperwork you certainly don’t want to leave behind, like a marriage license, adoption papers, and immigration records.
- Financial records – Any documents related to money should also be kept separately. This category covers all sorts of paperwork, including loan statements, pay stubs, savings bonds, safety deposit boxes, retirement plan records, and investment statements.
- Tax documents – Try not to be one of those people who accidentally commit tax fraud just because they failed to keep all the necessary forms and receipts. Check the IRS website for more information about the paperwork you should bring with you, mainly the ones needed for the W-2s and 1099 forms.
- Property records – Deeds serve as proof of ownership for any real estate you might have, so you certainly wouldn’t want to forget them. It is also necessary to prepare vehicle titles and registration, mortgage statements, and all active home and car insurance policies.
- Medical files – Relocating Downtown from one of the Sacramento suburbs will likely require you to find a new medical professional, so it might be better to gather all the paperwork and health insurance policies before the move.
- Pet documents – If you are relocating with pets, prepare their adoption papers and certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI), or you won’t be able to tell which vaccination shots they still have to receive.
Organize All the Important Documents and Carry Them With You
If you’re having trouble keeping up with all the papers, learning how to organize important documents before the actual relocation keeps you from losing even a single file. The simplest way to do this is to place all the essential paperwork into a neat file folder that you’ll carry in a separate bag during the trip. This will allow you to quickly grab anything when the situation demands it, which is particularly neat when you need to change your address or deal with bureaucracy in general. If you are interested in seeing how this file folder could potentially look, check out the video below.
3. Box up Seasonal Clothes Earlier in the Relocation
While decluttering might leave you with significantly fewer clothes, there’s a good chance you will still have plenty of things left in the closet. Considering how long it takes to wash, dry, and fold some pieces, it might be good to start preparing your seasonal and rarely worn clothing right away. If you’re relocating in the summer, you certainly won’t need boots, jackets, or even sweaters, so you can safely box these up about a few months before moving out.
Remember to Box up Some Essential Clothes and Footwear Separately
Unless you plan to unpack as soon as you move in, it’s important to pack clothing and footwear you’re going to use the very next day separately. Think of it as if you were going on a small field trip. You want to have at least one change of clothes for your day-to-day activities and something for sleeping, so focus on preparing more comfortable pieces, like a pair of sweatpants and shorts, a basic t-shirt, and a hoodie. When it comes to footwear, remember to bring some indoor slippers and maybe an extra pair of sneakers or boots for outside, depending on the weather.
4. Don’t Forget to Bring All the Valuables With You
If you’re planning on getting some professional Sacramento moving services, remember to ask the mover about their list of non-allowables. Considering valuables can easily get lost or stolen, most Sacramento moving companies won’t agree to move them. Family heirlooms also hold incredible sentimental value, making them essentially irreplaceable, so you will have to find another way to keep an eye on them during the relocation. More often than not, it is best to secure them in a small box and carry them with you during the entire relocation.
5. Box up All Your Home Essentials Separately
Once you’re done with furniture and most of your other belongings, it’s time to box up all the essentials needed to set up your new home. Preparing these last makes perfect sense since you’ll be using them all until the very last day before moving out. If you don’t want to worry about unpacking right away, remember to pack plates, glasses, utensils, pots and pans, spices, or any other kitchen essentials you regularly use in separate boxes. You should also prepare some bathroom essentials, including towels, toilet paper, and hand soap. Lastly, every household member should have sheats, a pillow, and a blanket to set up their bed for the first few nights.
If You Have Trouble Keeping up With Everything, Hire One of the Best Moving Companies in Sacramento to Do the Work for You
Hopefully, this packing guide gave you a better idea of what to expect the next time you start preparing for relocation. However, these were only some of the most important and commonly forgotten tasks you will have to do before moving. You still have to pack furniture, learn how to secure fragile items, and move all the large objects, which will take a few months to complete. Considering you’ll also have a lot of things to do after relocating, it would be much easier to hire a professional moving company in Sacramento to help you.
Getting packing services from Professional Sacramento Movers will allow you to easily prepare all the belongings for the move, as you won’t even have to go out for supplies. Our company also offers residential relocations and even commercial moving services in Sacramento, both of which will get you a truck and an incredible team of highly skilled movers. These are only some of the services we provide, so if you are interested in learning more about everything we have to offer, don’t hesitate to contact us right away. Our representatives will give you an incredible free quote and answer any questions you might have about your move.