You never know what you really have until you need to move. Then your complaints about everything you lack and perhaps can't afford will end, while the stress about how much there is to do will surface. The first question that will cross your mind before preparing a move is what to take first?
Peace of mind. With good organization, patience and help everything is possible. Soon you will be comfortably settled in your new home and the days of inconvenience will be behind you. It will be necessary that the experience is not traumatic so you can forget it, so we give you some useful advice.
How to move the first items in a move
If you don't know where to start a move, remember these tips:
1. Gather what you need to store and classify properly
The key to knowing how to prepare a move is in the packing. Have on hand garbage bags, cardboard boxes, newspaper, adhesive tape, scissors and thick markers.
Opt for clear and legible labeling, as you will appreciate it later. The best thing is to put on the box the name of the room where the items inside will go, but be specific. It is convenient that you briefly indicate what goes in each one and if it has regular use, because it will be the first to unpack.
2. Don't forget the everyday essentials
Have on hand and well located bed sheets for the whole family, towels, bathroom products (shampoo, gel, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrush), as well as a change of clothes for each person. If you have babies or small children, more than one.
It is the first thing you will need at the destination, and you won't be able to wait to pull everything out of boxes and bags to take a bath and rest. It is also convenient to take a bag with food that you can consume without having to cook, such as cold salads.
3. Beds first
It is one of the best moving tips we can give you. Between storing, moving and taking out things to make your new home a livable place, quite a bit of time can pass, and in between you will need to rest. Take the beds out first, set them up and avoid putting boxes and bags on them. After long working days, when the time comes you will want to rest.
The washing machine and dryer are appliances you will need in the short term, as well as the refrigerator. Also, as they are bulky they will be the first things you need to find a place for, so you don't have to keep moving them later.
4. Ask for help
I'm sure thinking about setting up beds and moving large appliances has already made you reluctant, and let's not even talk about sofas, armchairs and other large furniture. It is clear that you can't do it all by yourself.
Moving companies not only have vehicles with quite a bit of space, but also other useful tools like powered furniture movers. It's not the same to climb eight floors with a sofa as to have it delivered directly up there in an autonomous vehicle with up to 250 kg load capacity.
Remember that the most valuable thing you have is not the things you transport, but your time and your health. Don't give in to stress, overexertion and endless days by putting yourself in the hands of professionals like Horizont Atlantic. We don't just move your things, but we care for them as if they were ours and we know exactly what to carry first in a move and how to continue the process. We will advise you at every step.
Frequently asked questions about what to carry first in a move
What is the optimal loading order of the truck?
First to load (last to unload): large and heavy furniture (sofas, tables, disassembled wardrobes), appliances (empty and disconnected), bicycles, gardening items. Last to load (first to unload): boxes labeled "FIRST NIGHT", box with cleaning products to clean the house before starting, basic tools for urgent assembly.
What order to follow when unloading?
First the "FIRST NIGHT" box (in a visible place), then tools and cleaning products (to clean the house before installing). Then heavy furniture by rooms (sofa to the living room, bed to the bedroom, etc.). Finally, boxes labeled by destination room. This order makes it so that on the first day you can sleep, wash your hands and cook something without having to open 40 boxes.
What to put in the "first night box"?
Essential items: sheets + pillowcase + blanket, towels (1 per person), basic hygiene products (soap, toothpaste, toilet paper), mobile and laptop chargers, flashlight or candle + lighter, scissors and cutter (to open other boxes), non-perishable snacks and water, disposable cutlery, regular medication, change of clothes for 2 days. Label it with huge text: "OPEN FIRST".
And critical documentation?
NOT in the truck. Carry it yourself (in your car or luggage): ID, passport, family records, property deeds, important contracts (rental, mortgage, policies), medical documentation, cash, jewelry, computers with critical data not backed up. If the truck is lost (rare but it happens), your documentation and critical valuables are safe.
Is there any technique that saves time during unloading?
Yes: stick a sign of the corresponding color to each room on the door (kitchen=yellow, living room=blue, bedroom1=green, etc.). The boxes previously labeled with the same color during packing (professional system) automatically arrive at their room without having to ask. This technique alone saves 2-4 hours in unloading. More details: professional labeling system.
This order is exactly what we follow on loading day: in our moves in Tenerife we pack, number by room and load in the reverse sequence to unloading, with assembly at destination included. If you prefer not to organize it yourself, request a fixed-price quote.
