Hey. So you’re moving for the first time. Congrats! And also… my condolences.
Let’s be real. Everyone makes the same dumb mistakes on their first move. I sure did. I spent my first night in my new apartment sleeping on the floor wrapped in a bathmat because I had packed my sheets in a box I labeled “Bedroom Crap” and had no idea which one it was.
I’m here to give you the real, no-BS advice your friends might not tell you.
Mistake #1: The “I’ll Just Throw It In a Box” Method
This was my specialty. I’d just open a box and start chucking things in. The result? A “Kitchen” box that contained a spatula, three DVDs, and a single sneaker. Unpacking was a nightmare that took weeks.
Do this instead: Pack by category, not by room. Have a “Cleaning Supplies” box. A “Bathroom Cabinet” box. A “Desk Drawer” box. And for the love of all that is holy, WRITE THE CONTENTS ON THE BOX. “Sarah’s Room – Winter Clothes and Books” is a million times better than “Sarah’s Stuff.”
Mistake #2: The Phantom “First Night” Box
People say “pack a first night box!” but they don’t tell you what that really means. It’s not just a toothbrush. It’s your survival kit for when you’re too tired to think.
Here’s what you actually need in it:
- Toilet paper. I’m not kidding. You will be so mad at yourself if you forget this.
- Your shower curtain and a towel. A hot shower after a long move is better than therapy.
- A power strip. New places never have enough outlets where you need them.
- Your phone charger.
- A change of clothes for the next day. Assume you will spill coffee on yourself.
- Basic tools: a screwdriver, a wrench, scissors.
- Your coffee maker and coffee. This is non-negotiable.
- Pet food and a bowl if you have an animal.
- Any medication you take.
- Pack this box LAST. Keep it with you in your car. Do not let it out of your sight.
Mistake #3: The Timeline Gap of Doom
Here’s a scenario that seems to only happen in nightmares, but happens to everyone: Your old lease ends on the 31st. Your new lease starts on the 2nd. You have two days where you and all your worldly possessions are homeless.
What do you do? You can’t just leave a rented truck on the street for two days. You can’t crash at your friend’s place with a 20-foot truck.
This is the moment you’ll be grateful for a storage unit. It’s not just for keeping your grandma’s china. It’s for this exact situation. You can move out on time, put your life into a clean, secure unit for a few days, and move in when you get the keys. No panic. No begging friends for garage space. We see people at our facility use our units for this exact reason all the time. It’s the secret to keeping your cool during a stressful time. You can get a unit for just a month. It’s worth it for the peace of mind alone.
Mistake #4: Not Measuring Your Big Stuff
I have a friend who had to leave his brand new, very expensive mattress on the curb because it wouldn’t fit up the stairwell of his new apartment. He slept on an air mattress for a week. Don’t be my friend.
Before you move, take a tape measure. Measure your couch, your bed frame, your dresser. Then, go to your new place and measure the doorways and hallways. It takes ten minutes and will save you from a massive headache.
The Bottom Line
You’re going to be tired. You’re going to be sore. You’re probably going to lose one important thing and find it six months later. But if you pack smart, have a real survival kit, and have a plan for the weird timing issues, you’ll be okay. It’s a rite of passage. Welcome to the club.
You can do this. And if you need a safe place to park your stuff while you figure it all out, you know where we are.
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