Regardless of whether you are hiring out movers or doing the heavy lifting on your own, it’s an inevitable reality of moving that things can get misplaced, lost or damaged. Because of this, there are a few essential items that should always be personally transported from one home to the other instead of placed at risk in transit on a moving truck. What are some of these items? Read on to find out!
1. Important Personal Documents
Birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, tax documents, shot records and the like are essentials to keep close at hand during a move. Not only are many of these official documents often requested by lenders during the home-buying process, but items like birth certificates and shot records are often necessary for getting children registered for school in a new place. Don’t risk having to add a trip to a government office to replace these should they get misplaced.
2. Family Photographs and Other Mementos
During a family move from California to Tennessee when my mother-in-law was small, one box was last by the movers, and it was the box that contained her baby album and hundreds of precious photos and mementos. My mother-in-law says often how much she wishes they could turn back the clock and place that box in their car instead of on the moving van! Keeping precious items close-by will insure your memories from being lost forever.
3. Computers, Tablets and External Hard Drives
Related to numbers 1 and 2 above, an amazing amount of our lives, be it personal documents, photos, and other information, is stored on our computers and other devices. Protect that information by taking transporting those items yourself.
4. Valuable Artwork and Collectibles
Although many moving companies take care to insure items deemed to be of high value, consider moving valuable artwork, antiques and the like that would be impossible to replace should they be lost or damaged.
5. Prescription Medications
Even if your move is only taking you across town in the span of a day, don’t risk being without health essentials should something occur that delays your access to them. Plan to personally transport any prescription medications, boxes of contact lenses or other items that you absolutely can’t do without.
Moving can be a stressful event, but taking care to ensure irreplaceable items and those of great value are well taken care of will subtract from your worries instead of adding to them. Even in the midst of the moving hustle and bustle, the time required to take a few extra steps to ensure important items make it safely to your new home is time well spent!
Do you have any items to add to the do-not-pack list? Feel free to add to the conversation in the comments below.
