Moving can be chaotic, and it’s tempting to declutter a lot so you have fewer belongings. However, there are some items you should always take with you due to their irreplaceable value or usefulness. Here are 20 essential belongings you should keep when relocating.
Family Heirlooms
It goes without saying that you should keep your family heirlooms! These items hold incredible sentimental value and should go with you wherever you go for the rest of your life. Family heirlooms are priceless and irreplaceable, so make sure you package them safely and securely.
Important Documents
Important documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and passports should never be left behind or gotten rid of. The BBC advises to “pack important documents together […] and keep them in a safe place.” This way, you can avoid the panic when you can’t remember where you put them.
Personal Devices
It’s vital to keep your devices, like laptops and tablets, as these most likely contain sensitive personal data. It would also be a mistake to get rid of your electronics, as it’s much cheaper to move them than to buy new ones!
Photographs
While we may have our photographs digitally saved on our phones these days, old family photos and printed pictures are still sentimental and irreplaceable. Make sure you wrap these up in plenty of bubble wrap and handle them with care when moving.
Letters and Journals
Handwritten letters and journals capture a lot of history and emotion. Always take them with you when you move, and be sure to mark them as fragile. You could even display these items in frames when you get to your new home!
Art and Decor
When you move into your new place, rather than living in an empty shell of a home, take your art and decor with you. You can give your new home some character straight away. Just remember to insure all of your valuable pieces and transport them safely.
Professional Clothing
Don’t get rid of your professional clothing. When you move, you may need to be prepared for new job opportunities or events, and it can be expensive to replace formal clothing. The Spruce suggests using garment bags or wardrobe boxes for your formal items to protect them from creasing and damage.
Kitchenware
It can be expensive to replace all of your pots, pans, and utensils, especially if you have good-quality kitchenware. It’s also easier to cook with familiar kitchenware instead of having to get used to new tools, so just take your old faithfuls with you to your new house.
Gardening Tools
Gardening tools are often durable and made to last a long time, so there’s no point in needlessly buying new gardening equipment just because you’re moving. Why waste the money? Also, using tools you’re familiar with will help you look after your new garden much more effectively.
Seasonal Decorations
You don’t want to have a bare house when the holidays come around, and you most certainly don’t want to buy a whole new collection of seasonal decorations! So take your decorations with you, especially those handmade ones that your children made when they were young.
Sports Equipment
Whether you’ve got a whole home gym (jealous) or just a couple of pieces of sports equipment, it’s definitely worth them making the move with you. It would cost a lot to replace these items, and personal sports equipment is often tailored to your individual specifications.
Books
Your personal library of books can contain a lot of emotional and intellectual value, not to mention monetary value! According to Forbes, “the U.S. book publishing industry generated an estimated $25.71 billion in revenues in 2020.” Save money and time by taking your books with you when you move.
Tool Kits
If you don’t take your tool kit with you when you relocate, how are you going to get things done in your new home? A tool kit is an essential item to have when you move into a new space, as you will need it to construct furniture and hang art.
Items for Your Pet
It’s important to make your pet feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible when moving. Taking your pet’s items with you, such as their bed, food, and toys, will help ease their transition into the new space while they get used to their new home.
Children’s Belongings
Moving can also be difficult for children, so make sure you keep items your child is familiar with, like their favorite toy or blanket, to provide them comfort during the move. Also, make sure you save sentimental items or keepsakes for your child to appreciate when they’re older.
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments often carry both sentimental and high financial value! That’s two good reasons to not get rid of your musical instruments when moving. Also, these items can personalize your new home when you move in, giving it more character.
Luggage
Quality, durable luggage can be expensive, so don’t get rid of it when moving. Instead of transporting your luggage empty, pack your belongings in it to save space. The New York Times suggests “packing your personal items in a suitcase [to] help set them apart.”
Spare Parts and Hardware
While spare parts and hardware may seem useless at times, you never know when they might come in handy when moving. Keeping spare parts that came with furniture or other commonly used parts like screws or hooks is always a good idea in case you lose anything during the move.
Gifts
Sentimental items like gifts from loved ones are what make a house a home, so always take these with you when you move! The stories and memories associated with these items make them irreplaceable, so make sure you pack them carefully and securely.
Hobby Supplies
Maintaining your favorite hobbies can help you hold onto normality and familiarity when you move, so make sure you don’t get rid of your hobby supplies. For certain hobbies, it can also be pretty expensive to replace materials and tools, and we don’t want that!
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