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What to Pack First and Last When Moving
By Pack & Load Content Team
01-12-2026
Stop the packing panic! Knowing what to box up first and what to keep out is the secret to a smooth move. Check out our guide to packing with total confidence and efficiency.
Unsure what to pack first or save for later? Streamlining your process is the best way to cut the stress. Learn how to pack with confidence and efficiency for a smoother moving day!
Step One: Create Your Master Inventory
Before you even reach for the tape, take an inventory of your belongings. Knowing exactly what you have allows you to categorize items so you aren't digging through boxes later. Divide your items into three clear groups:
- Daily Essentials: Things you cannot live without for 24 hours, like medications, phone chargers, toiletries, and a few changes of comfortable clothes.
- Important Documents: Keep your IDs, mortgage paperwork, birth certificates, and insurance policies in a dedicated, secure folder that stays with you.
- Donations: Identify what you no longer need. Moving is the perfect time to declutter—donating these items lightens your load and saves you money on moving costs.
What to Pack First: The Non-Essentials
The secret to a stress-free move is starting early with the items you won’t miss. Designate a staging area, like a guest room or garage, to stack these boxes as you go.
Low-Usage Items Books, artwork, DVDs, board games, and hobby materials should be the first to go into boxes. These are "nice-to-have" items that you can easily live without for a few weeks.
Seasonal Gear If it’s summer, pack the winter coats and holiday decorations. These items are perfect for early packing because they are bulky and can even double as extra padding for fragile belongings like vases or frames.
Specialty Kitchenware Pack away the china, the crystal, and those small appliances you only use once a month (like the air fryer or juicer). Just remember to label these boxes as "Fragile" very clearly!
What to Pack Last: The Moving Day Kit
Save the items you’ll need on your final night in the old house and your first morning in the new one for the very end.
Immediate Necessities Keep a small toolkit, a first aid kit, and basic cleaning supplies (like paper towels and disinfectant) accessible. You’ll likely need to do a quick wipe-down of your new space before you start unpacking.
Bed and Bath Supplies Wait until moving day to pack your current towels, bed sheets, and soap. There is nothing better than being able to take a shower and fall into a freshly made bed after a long day of moving.
Valuables and Electronics Items like jewelry, laptops, and tablets should be packed last. To prevent damage from heat or moisture, and to keep them secure, it’s often best to transport these high-value items in your personal vehicle rather than the moving truck.
Experience a Seamless Move with Go Move It
At Go Move It, Inc., we believe moving should be an exciting new chapter, not a headache. From professional packing services to expert loading, our team is here to handle the logistics so you don't have to.
✅ Expert Container Loading & Unloading – We securely pack your belongings for a damage-free move.
🚛 Call us today at 1-888-682-3210
With Go Move It, moving to is easy. Let us handle the heavy lifting so you can start enjoying your new home right away!
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