How to manage moving day effectively when you have children.
Are you moving soon? Read this article before your moving day for tips and tricks on managing it all when you have young children.
Moving house is a tricky process, particularly if you're selling one property to buy another; you will have to move out of one property and into another within the same day. Packing, organising, and strategising the moving day needs to be handled with precision at almost the military level, especially if you have young children.
Unless your children are of an age that they can help with packing and carrying furniture, running around and needing you throughout the day will likely create an added complication. So, how can you best manage the moving days with children?
Be Prepared: As with many things, preparation will be the key. You will want to have as much of the packing done as possible before the big moving day. This means that anything that you do not use in your daily life should be boxed up and ready to go. Arrange for your removal company to come as early on moving day as you can and get all hands on deck, in the shape of your friends and family, to help.
Childcare: However you look at it, having your younger children around on moving day will be tricky. They need attention, entertainment and snacks. As the parent, it is fair to say that you'll be distracted, and you certainly wouldn't want your little ones to be trampled beneath the removal men's feet as they carry out your sofa. The most logical solution is to find childcare for the younger children for the day. Whether this is a day or weekend at Grannies, a babysitter, nursery, or after-school clubs, having the children cared for by someone else for this day will free your head-space to coordinate the move of your entire life from one place to another.
Pet-care: The same applies for your pets. The front door will likely be open all day as things are brought out and packed into a van. If you have an indoor cat or a dog that likes to take themselves for a walk, this will cause additional stress. Consider taking your pet to a friend's house for the day or put them into pet daycare to be safe while you move. The last thing that you want to happen is for your cat to get out as you leave the old house.
Pack an overnight bag: For the first few days, you will live out of boxes as you begin unpacking your life in your new home. Whilst you may have been super organised and labelled each box with the room it belongs in, there is no knowing which box your child's favourite toy is in. You will understand the level of drama that can ensue if the toy they sleep with is missing; they might never sleep again! So, it's best to pack an overnight bag, as if you were going for a stay in a hotel, and keep this with you rather than putting it into the removal van. This way, all essentials will be with you when you get to the new place, and you can settle the kids quickly.
Don't try to take on too much: The first few days will be busy as you clean, unpack, and settle in. Try not to take on too much as it will soon wear the shine off your lovely new home if stressed. This means accepting that your first meal in the new house will likely be a takeaway. You should only worry about hanging every picture or mirror once your boxes are unpacked and you know where everything will go. Take your time settling in and getting to know your new home before worrying too much about getting everything done.
Take a deep breath and try to enjoy your new home, which you have worked so hard to achieve. The property buying and selling process is long and sometimes tricky, but you've made it—you've got the home of your dreams. Take your foot off the gas and slow down as you make this new house your home.
If you are considering moving, don't let the arduous process of selling and buying a property put you off. Few things taste as sweet as sitting in your new home on moving day, and the fish and chips you eat straight from the paper might be the best you've ever tasted. Moving can be stressful, but it is worth it.
To find out how to put your moving plans into action, get in touch with our team of property experts, who are happy to help you on your way.