If You're Moving, Here is a Helpful Moving Checklist

Moving into your own place is a milestone. Use this complete moving checklist to ensure you have everything from tools to toiletries for your new apartment.

By Your Bro · Sat Aug 18 2018 · Self Improvement

The end of summer is an exciting season. High school graduates are packing up for college dorms, while college graduates are signing leases, loading moving trucks, and stepping into their very first apartments. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, you're beginning a chapter where you're responsible for everything that happens under your own roof.

For the first time, you don't have parents reminding you to clean your room, take out the garbage, or replace the toilet paper roll. There aren't many house rules anymore except the ones you decide to live by. That freedom is exciting, but it also comes with responsibility.

The first move is rarely perfect. Everyone forgets something.

Maybe it's the shower curtain that leaves your bathroom floor soaked after your first shower. Maybe it's realizing you own a television but nowhere to put it. Maybe it's discovering at 11:30 p.m. that you don't own a plunger after flushing the toilet. Ask anyone who's lived on their own long enough and they'll have stories like these.

Moving is stressful enough without making six extra trips to Walmart because you forgot the basics. A little preparation goes a long way, and having the essentials ready before moving day makes those first few nights far more comfortable.

The checklist

If you're moving into your first dorm, apartment, or house, here's a practical moving checklist to help make your new place feel like home from day one.

Bedroom Essentials

Your bed is where you'll spend roughly a third of your life, so don't neglect it.

• Bed frame

• Mattress

• Box spring (if needed)

• Pillows

• Pillowcases

• Comforter or duvet

• At least two sets of sheets (one on the bed, one in the wash)

• Mattress protector

• Nightstand

• Alarm clock (or phone charger beside the bed)

• Side lamp

Bathroom Essentials

This is where many first-time movers forget the little things.

• Toilet paper (consider subscribing through Amazon)

• Wet wipes

• Hand soap

• Body wash

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• Mouthwash

• Razor

• Shaving cream

• Towels

• Hand towels

• Washcloths

• Shower curtain

• Bath mat

• Plunger

• Toilet brush

• First aid kit

• Tissues

• Trash can

Kitchen Basics

You don't need a chef's kitchen on day one, but you should at least be able to cook a few meals without eating takeout every night.

• Plates

• Bowls

• Drinking glasses

• Coffee mugs

• Silverware

• Sharp kitchen knife

• Cutting board

• Pots

• Pans

• Baking sheet

• Oven mitts

• Can opener

• Measuring cups

• Measuring spoons

• Mixing bowls

• Spatula

• Wooden spoon

• Tongs

• Microwave or toaster oven

• Coffee maker, Keurig, or Nespresso

• Blender (especially if you're into protein shakes)

• Dish rack (if you don't have a dishwasher)

Cleaning Supplies

Nobody enjoys cleaning, but everybody enjoys living somewhere clean.

• Paper towels

• Sponges

• Dish soap

• Dishwasher detergent

• Garbage bags

• Garbage can

• Recycling bin

• Lysol wipes

• Lysol spray

• Windex

• Mop

• Bucket

• Vacuum

• Broom

• Dustpan

• Drain cleaner

• Laundry detergent

• Laundry basket or bag

• Fabric softener (optional)

Cleaning a little every week is far easier than spending an entire Saturday trying to rescue an apartment you've ignored for months.

Furniture

Your place doesn't have to look like something out of a magazine immediately.

Start with the essentials.

• Couch

• Coffee table

• Kitchen table

• Chairs

• TV stand

• Dresser

• Bookshelf (optional)

• Rug

• Blinds or curtains (unless you enjoy your neighbors seeing more than they should)

You can upgrade your furniture over time. Almost nobody fully furnishes their first apartment overnight.

Electronics & Utilities

These are the things you won't think about until you suddenly need them.

• Extension cords

• Surge protector

• Batteries

• Phone chargers

• Power strips

• Light bulbs

• Speakers or stereo

• Fan

• Wi-Fi router (if needed)

Tools You'll Eventually Need

Every apartment needs a small toolbox.

Don't wait until something breaks.

Include:

• Hammer

• Screwdrivers

• Tape measure

• Adjustable wrench

• Pliers

• Utility knife

• Nails

• Screws

• Flashlight

A simple toolkit will save you dozens of frustrating trips to the hardware store.

Pantry Staples

Before worrying about fancy recipes, stock the basics.

• Salt

• Pepper

• Cooking oil

• Butter

• Flour

• Sugar

• Pasta

• Rice

• Peanut butter

• Bread

• Coffee

• Tea

• Basic spices

• Condiments

• Bottled water or a Brita filter

Having a few meals available at home saves money and keeps you from relying on fast food whenever you're hungry.

Medicine Cabinet

You'll appreciate having these before you actually need them.

• Bandages

• Antibiotic ointment

• Advil or Tylenol

• Pepto-Bismol

• Allergy medication

• Thermometer

• Cold medicine

• Pedialyte (especially after a rough night)

Don't Forget the Little Things

These items don't seem important until you suddenly realize you don't own one.

• Hangers

• Iron

• Ironing board

• Step stool

• Storage bins

• Notebook

• Pens

• Scissors

• Tape

• Extra phone charger

• Zip-top bags

• Food storage containers

A Few Lessons Nobody Puts on a Checklist

Owning your own place isn't just about furniture.

Keep the sink empty.

Wash your sheets regularly.

Take the garbage out before it smells.

Vacuum once a week.

Replace burnt-out light bulbs instead of getting used to the darkness.

If friends come over, make your place somewhere you'd be proud to invite people into. You don't need expensive furniture or designer decorations. A clean apartment with a made bed and an organized kitchen says more about you than expensive gadgets ever will.

Living on your own is one of the first real tests of adulthood because nobody is coming to remind you to do the little things anymore. Those little things become habits, and those habits become your character.

This checklist should help you get started.

After that comes grocery shopping, finding a trustworthy mechanic, locating a good barber, learning where the best gym is, and building a life you're proud to come home to every night.

Welcome to adulthood, brother.

Good luck.

— Your Bro

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