Packing and moving into a new home can seem like an unmanageable task when you first begin. The planning and organization that goes into the move seems to be endless and the stress that goes along with it can make you question your decision to move in the first place, and moving with a family in tow only adds to that stress. More people and more items to keep track of during the entire process can be daunting, but not to worry, below are some helpful moving tips to keep in mind during your moving process to help ease your worry.
Before you even begin to box up the contents of your home, take advantage of the perfect opportunity you have to empty out that hall closet or finally get rid of clothes that have been outgrown. Taking the time to go through your things and getting rid of what you don’t need will save you both time and energy when both packing up your old home and unpacking at your new home. If you’re downsizing, or moving to a home where you have less storage, consider organizing a garage sale to make a little extra money on items you no longer need.
Moving is a long process, and trying to find a way to entertain the kids while doing so will really only add stress to the overall process. So when you’re planning for the big day, ask yourself if hiring a babysitter would be the best decision for everyone involved. That way, you can focus on making sure everything gets to where it needs to be in your new place. Taking care of this early on in the process can ease your worry and help you concentrate on everything else you need to get done on moving day.
Keep track of important tasks by making a checklist that works for everyone involved in the move, from the family to the movers. Unfortunately the reality is that moving is a time-consuming process and trying to get it all done too fast can add stress where it isn’t needed, it’s important to plan out the move by making a schedule and trying to stick to it as much as possible. This goes for both before and during the move. Setting a timeline for when you will have certain rooms of the house packed up can keep you easily in check and help you avoid trying to pack everything in one day. You can even go so far as to have a timeline detailing when you plan to have everything unpacked in the new home so you don’t end up with boxes that go unopened for too long.
Any move with a family can quickly get confusing, and the last thing you want to realize is that the boxes you just carried upstairs to the bedroom actually belong downstairs in the kitchen. The easiest way to tackle this issue is to label by writing on the boxes or using color-coded tape to denote certain rooms. This makes it easy to identify what goes where and will help you to avoid breaking anything in an unlabeled box. Take the time to figure out exactly how many boxes and what packing supplies you’ll need so you’re not forced to stop the moving process to make trips to the store.
At the end of the day, moving into a new home is bound to be part of each and everyone’s lives. As long as you plan ahead and make the right choices for your move, both you and your family will stay calm and collected. If your family recently made a move, what were some things you wish you knew? Share in the comments below!