ESSENTIALS TO HAVE HANDY ON MOVING DAY

Your experience will be better with these items at the ready

Moving to a new home can be exciting but stressful, especially on moving day. To make it easier on yourself, pack a special bag with things you’ll need on that day and put it in your car rather than give it to the movers. Having these items on hand will save you the trouble of rifling through boxes for I-need-itright-now items like scissors and Windex. Here’s what to pack:

Keys to the new house

It seems so obvious but new homeowners with a lot on their minds may overlook this important item, which you will likely get from the seller’s agent at the closing.

Basic cleaning supplies

Before you start unpacking, said Tamar Asken, an agent with Avenue 8, a real-estate brokerage, “it’s useful to remove any old juju to get your place ready and make it your own. I recommend a good spray cleaner as well as something

more heavy duty to make sure you’re able to really get into some of the areas that may not be as tidy as you’d like.” You’ll also need paper towels, sponges, a broom and dust pan. A box of large trash bags will also come in handy.

Scissors and other basic tools

Scissors and a box cutter will be useful for opening boxes. Also, pack a hammer, screwdriver and pliers to reassemble any furniture you need right away, like a bed.

Toilet paper

“As an agent, I spend a lot of time in empty houses, and over the years I’ve started to keep an emergency supply of TP rolls in my car,” Asken said. “And you always end up needing it sooner than later.”

Water and snacks

Lifting and emptying boxes will take its toll on you and your crew. Have lots of water on hand and easy-to-eat snacks like bananas, apples, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to provide an energy boost.

Charger and portable speaker

If you’ll be using your phone to stream music all day through a speaker, pack your chargers so you’ll be ready when the batteries get low.

Shower curtain

Depending on the style of bathroom in your new home, a shower curtain or liner should be something you take with you. “It’s especially needed if your movers won’t be delivering your larger haul for a couple days,” Asken said.

Bed sheets, blanket, and pillow

You’ll probably spend many hours setting up your new home. All you’ll want at the end of that long day is sleep. Put the sheets on the bed earlier in the day when you still have energy.

An overnight bag

Pack pajamas, clean clothes for the next day, a towel and a toiletry bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and a hairbrush.

GETTY IMAGES On moving day, be sure to keep such essential items as tools, scissors and cleaning materials separate from all the boxes for easy access. And don’t forget to pack an overnight bag.

GETTY IMAGES Moving takes a lot of energy so it’s important that everyone involved has a handy meal and water for hydration. Fruit and sandwiches are a good choice.