“What should I actually keep out of the moving truck?” is one of the most common questions we hear at Two Chicks Moving in the days leading up to a move. Everything looks the same once it’s taped shut, and if your toothbrush, phone charger, and pajamas end up buried somewhere inside a stack of forty identical boxes, your first night in a new Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, or Bonita Springs home gets a lot harder than it needs to be. Here’s what belongs in a proper moving day essentials box — the one box that never goes on the truck.
What Should Be in Your Moving Day Essentials Box?
A moving day essentials box — sometimes called a first-night box — holds everything you’ll want within arm’s reach the moment you walk into your new home, before a single other box gets unpacked. According to United Van Lines, this box should travel with you in your own vehicle rather than the moving truck, so it’s never at risk of getting buried, delayed, or loaded on last.
At minimum, plan to pack:
- Sleep essentials: sheets, pillows, and a blanket for each bed, or a sleeping bag if the beds won’t be set up right away.
- Toiletries and bathroom basics: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, a roll of toilet paper, and one towel per person.
- Chargers and cords: phone chargers, laptop chargers, and any cables you’d panic without on night one.
- A change of clothes and basic tools: one change of clothes per family member, plus a box cutter, a small screwdriver, and packing tape for anything that needs to be reassembled or reopened.
- Snacks, paper goods, and a coffee maker: enough food and drink to get everyone through the evening and next morning without a grocery run.
- Important documents and medications: your lease or closing paperwork, IDs, and a few days of any prescription medications, kept in one folder or bag you can find with your eyes closed.
Label this box clearly — many of our customers write “OPEN FIRST” in bright marker on all four sides — and keep it with you rather than handing it off to the crew. If you’re working with a professional local moving team, ask them to load everything else around it, or simply keep it in your own car for the drive over.
Our local moving services are built around exactly this kind of first-night planning, so nothing important gets lost in the shuffle between your old address and your new one.
Local Area Guide: Shangri-La Springs Celebrates 100 Years in Bonita Springs
If you’re settling into Bonita Springs this year, there’s a genuinely meaningful milestone worth knowing about: Shangri-La Springs, the historic property that gave the city its name, is turning 100. According to Florida Weekly, the City of Bonita Springs will present an official centennial proclamation on the grounds of Shangri-La Springs at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, followed by “A Little Summer Soul,” a free community celebration running 5 to 8 p.m. with live music, an artisan market of local makers, organic dining from the property’s Harvest & Wisdom restaurant, a cash bar, and complimentary valet parking.
The property’s story is the city’s story: developer Gilmer Heitman Sr. built the Bonita Hotel in 1926 to house prospective homebuyers while their houses were under construction, and the natural mineral springs on the grounds are where Bonita Springs got its name. In 1965, R.J. Cheatham purchased the property and reimagined it as the Shangri-La Health Resort, a wellness destination built around natural foods and holistic living that drew guests from across the country. Descendants of both the Heitman and Cheatham families are expected to attend the September celebration, representing two defining chapters of the property’s history.
It’s the kind of local history that makes a new address feel like home fast. If you’re relocating to the area, our Bonita Springs movers page has everything you need to know about how we handle local moves in and around the city.
Planning a Move in Southwest Florida?
Whether you’re headed into a Bonita Springs bungalow, a Fort Myers high-rise, or a home anywhere else in Southwest Florida, Two Chicks Moving can help you plan out what travels with you, what goes on the truck, and what belongs in your essentials box. Get in touch for a free quote and we’ll help you build a first-night plan that fits your move.
