First-aid kit with a medic-spray on top. Container of handwipes. Scissors. Insurance information. Your address book. Pen and paper notebook for notes [or for the kids to play with]. Books, magazines, and games for the kids. A roll of trash bags. A spray bottle of 50/50 alcohol/water for quick clean-ups. Terry hand towels, at least one for each sink.
Put a case of bottled water in the car. If you drink coffee, put the coffeemaker, filter, a couple pre-measured bags of ground coffee along with the mugs, spoons, sugar, etc in a box to be brought in the car. A box of breakfast fixin's along with bowls and plasticware. If you possibly can, the crockpot filled and ready to cook a one-dish meal, for the first real meal. You can prepare the crockpot in advance and freeze it. Carried in a cooler, it will very slowly defrost during the trip, and will be ready to plug in upon your arrival. A new broom and dustpan. The vacuum [if you don't have whole-house].
Remember that it is not a waste of time to label each box, in detail. Be sure the movers put the boxes each in the assigned room.
If it is at all possible, hire a babysitter to watch little kids while the actual moving is underway.
Everyone has their own method, but I found it easiest to unpack in this order (assuming rugs and carpets are placed): Refrigerated and frozen foods. Beds set up and linens put on the bed. Bath towels hung [everyone can unpack their own toiletries]. Kitchen utensils; pans, plates, silverware. Pantry supplies. Help kids hang/drawer clothing. Hang/drawer adult clothing. Put away the rest of the bathroom supplies and linens. Once the basic living needs are in place, THEN one can unpack and place furniture for everywhere else. Don't remove the furniture's bubblewrap/quilting until it is in the place you want it. Keep handy a misting-spray bottle of water to counteract static as you remove the plastic-wraps. Vacuum everything [yes floors and walls too] after the furniture is unwrapped. After the furniture is placed, the accessories and books can be done, but allow yourself to take time with them.
Let others help you. Young folks can stack the linens on the shelves and arrange the canned goods (you can always alphabetize later). Have a big folk do the unwrapping and final placement of furniture. Have another big folk wash windows and sweep the sidewalk and driveway. Have a sure-handed person unwrap delicate items. Have a strong person carry all the boxes of non-seasonal and holiday stuff to the attic [or where ever]. Put a kid in charge of wiping up fingerprints from the doors with the alcohol/water spray and a soft towel; same kid can wipe down the dressers, tables etc with a soft clean cloth. A kid can line the drawers and shelves. Put another kid in charge of [a copy of] the to-do list ~ pre-teens are great at this.
Enjoy your new house.
Q
moving advice
Q