Moving House with Kids – 10 Stress-Busting Tips
They say moving house is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do. Add young children into the mix and you’re dealing with a whole other level of chaos. However, with trusted and reliable movers by your side, the process can become remarkably smoother. To ease your burden even further, consider exploring truck rentals live oak for a more convenient way to transport your belongings. These rentals can save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on settling into your new home while ensuring everything arrives safely.
As the managing director Quick Move Now, Danny Luke regularly helps families take the stress out of moving. These are his top stress-busting tips for moving to a new family home.
1. Start early
Starting early makes a big difference. As soon as you begin thinking about putting your property on the market, create a tick-list of the rooms in your house and tackle them one at a time. Refresh any tired-looking décor and ensure each room is looking its best. Think about whether there are any items that you no longer need or that could go into storage to clear some space and help your property to sell. Looking at the space you have and how you use it will help you think about what you would like and need in your next property. You may also take this time to book professional movers ahead of your schedule.
2. Take the stress out of the sale
If the unpredictable nature of the property market brings you out in cold sweats, you can take the stress out of your move by selling your current house to a home buying company. A genuine cash buying company will be able to offer you a guaranteed sale and complete the purchase on a date of your choice. This removes many of the ‘unknown’ elements of moving house and they can be flexible to fit any changing timescales with your next home.
Once you have sold your home, you may still need help with the physical move. This is where professional movers found here come in, as they can take care of packing, loading, and unloading your belongings at your new home. With experienced movers, you can have peace of mind knowing that your items are in good hands and will arrive safely at your new property. Additionally, if you are downsizing or need temporary storage, many moving companies also offer storage solutions to fit your needs. By utilizing the services of both a home-buying company and local movers, you can make your move a smooth and stress-free experience. So make sure that you hire movers Hopkinton MA.
3. Declutter as you go
When it comes to packing, it’s a great idea to declutter as you go. Do you really want to pay to move items that you’re not sure you want to keep? If you’ve not used something for a while, or you’re not sure where in your new house it would go, think carefully before packing it.
4. Get the kids involved
Children often love getting involved in the packing process. One idea is to give them three boxes; one for things they want to keep, one for things to donate and one for things to recycle or bin. It’s a great way to get them engaged with the move and give them an opportunity to voice any fears or concerns they have about it.
5. Host a playdate
Once you’ve found a buyer, it can be a great time to host some playdates! I know the idea of hosting a playdate when you’re thinking about moving house might sound a bit crazy, but if you host playdates, you’re likely to get return invitations. Those return invitations can be cashed in as you get closer to moving day, giving you some much-needed, guilt-free, kid-free packing time!
6. Stick to a routine
It’s really easy for children, especially younger children, to get quite unsettled as you get closer to the house move. Even those who are too young to really understand what’s happening will pick on the atmosphere in the house and realise that things are ‘different’. For that reason, it’s a really good idea to stick to your usual routines as much as you can. This is another reason it’s a great idea to start early; being under less time pressure means you have more flexibility to work around the children and take a day or two off from the packing if it’s getting a bit much for them.
7. Labels, labels and more labels
We often start off with great intentions when it comes to labelling boxes, but usually end up with numerous boxes labelled ‘kitchen stuff’, ‘kids’ room stuff’ or towards the very end of packing even ‘random stuff’! The latter is definitely not going to help when you’re looking for a specific kitchen utensil or a particular type of toy. Thorough labelling will help hugely when you get to your new property. It will not only ensure that each box ends up in the right room in your new property but will help you to feel less overwhelmed, allowing you to unpack the most useful items first.
8. Overnight bags
The first night in your new home is always a tricky one to manage. Packing an overnight bag for each member of the family will take the pressure off those first 24 hours and stop you hunting through boxes for toothbrushes at 11 pm.
9. Pack a rucksack
Leaving your home and moving somewhere new can be a really daunting process for your children. Allowing each of them to pack a rucksack with a couple of their favourite toys will help them to feel some comfort and familiarity in the busyness of the move.
10. Have a sleepover
One of your biggest jobs for the first 24 hours after moving into your new property is to reassure your children and help them to feel comfortable in your new home. One great way to do this is to have a family sleepover on the first night. Get a takeaway, give them an opportunity to talk about their feelings and snuggle in with them to help them feel safe and secure in your new family home.