Moving house is stressful at the best of times, let alone if you’re trying to do it with children and pets in tow! But with a little bit of thought, you can make sure that your move is well planned and that everyone knows what’s happening.
Budgeting and planning
The most important thing you can do is plan your move out. It’s a good idea to make a list of everything that needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. This way you can be sure that you haven’t missed anything, and you know what you need to be doing and when rather than panicking and trying to do everything at once!
When you are creating your budget, get local moving quotes from a few movers so that you can be sure you are getting the best deal. You should also be sure to include things like legal costs, realtor fees, additional furniture and fixings for your new home (for example curtains often need to be replaced), and meals for moving day – you’ll probably end up eating out.
Packing
Packing up the house can be really unnerving for children. If you are moving with a child, be sure that you start as early as possible so that you aren’t rushing! There are a few methods you can utilize so as not to disturb your children too much:
- Let them help. For example, you can get them to help you pack up unbreakable items and to help with fun tasks like labelling boxes. This will let them feel as though they are part of the move.
- Set aside evenings to pack. The majority of packing is probably best done when children aren’t around, as they will slow the process somewhat! Set aside a few evenings to pack after they have gone to bed. You should also use this time to throw away any items they have outgrown.
- Be careful what you leave lying around. It’s easy to get distracted and leave box cutters or scissors lying around, be careful your kids don’t get hold of them.
- Pack up your kids’ room last. That way they won’t feel too unnerved in the days leading up to the move.
It’s also a good idea to pack overnight bags for each member of the family, with things to keep them happy on the first night in the new house.
Dealing with kids on moving day
Moving with kids is pretty tricky, so it’s worth planning a few activities to keep them busy. For example you could make sure they have a coloring book, download a movie for them to watch, or keep them occupied with books.
Dealing with pets
Pets get incredibly unnerved when you move house. While you are packing up the old house, be mindful of this. It’s a good idea to start packing early, and have boxes around for a while. This will help your pet to get used to them.
It’s also a good idea to try to acclimatize your pet to extended travel. Make a point of taking them out in the car periodically so that they aren’t completely terrified on moving day.
Finally, it may be tempting to let them loose to explore the entirety of your new home in one go. In fact, this is likely to be overwhelming. Try shutting them in one room, and then gradually allow them to acclimatize to the rest of the house.