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14% of the US population moves every single year. 

Moving is quite a feat on its own. However, how many people do it with kids in tow too? It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the process of moving with kids can be more stressful than without.

In this article, we’ll look at ways in which you can cut down the stress and ensure moving is as enjoyable as possible for both you and your kids.

Let’s look at a few ideas:

1. Make a Detailed Plan

Developing a detailed plan is necessary to make sure you’re on schedule to relocate. With kids, you need to schedule more time to get everything ready!

Whether it’s pen stains on the wall or dirty footprints above a bunk bed, you’re bound to find inconvenient marks that your children have left on your home. 

Factor these into your moving process. Also, ask yourself questions such as:  

• How many months do I need to get everything done?
• How am I going to sell the items I don’t want?
• Who can help me with the move?

It’s never too early to start asking for help, buying boxes, and getting your kids used to the idea of moving.

Discuss the moving plan with your family.  An open discussion will help your kids adjust to the upcoming changes.

2. Involve the Kids with Packing

Allow your children to be part of the moving process so that they feel empowered. Helping with the packing process may help them come around to the idea of moving.

Give them specific tasks that you can help control. You might need to do some of the real packing when they aren’t around, however.

Consider leaving your kids rooms until the end of the process so that you can donate things they don’t use without them noticing or getting upset.

3. Ask for Help from Friends and Family

Everyone knows that moving is hard and requires time. So, ask your friends and family for help. 

While you’re packing and clearing out the house, have your kids go over to their friend’s houses or their grandparent’s. 

This way, they’re occupied, out of your hair, and you can focus on what needs to get done. 

You may also want to consider asking friends and family to help you pack. The moving date will creep up on you, have people ready to help towards this date!

4. Keep a Bag of Toys

To ensure your kids are happy and adjust well to the many changes around them, keep a bag of their favorite toys with them and available. 

They can help pack this bag up and put it in the car next to them. This way, they won’t be feeling lost and overwhelmed when they can’t sleep with Mr. Penguin.

Better yet, you won’t need to be stressing about where Mr. Penguin is when you arrive in your new house!

5. Say Goodbye to the House

Yes, tears will be shed, but saying goodbye to your home can help bring your entire family a sense of closure. You should also say goodbye to neighbors (and their pets!) to help your kids move on.

Go around each room and talk about the happy memories you had in that room. Show your children that moving is a big deal for you too, but it’s the right thing to do. 

Discuss why you are moving with them to help them to understand. 

Moving with Kids Requires Patience 

Moving with kids is not an easy task. But it’s necessary. If your children get upset during the process, the best thing you can do is be understanding. 

Factor in time so that if it all becomes too much for your kids, you can take a break from the packing and go out to do something “fun.” 

Alternatively, you could hire professionals who will move the process along much faster than you can yourself. Contact us today if you need help moving with kids.

Moving is no doubt one of the most stressful life events. 

It doesn’t have to be, however. If you plan accordingly and get things in order with plenty of time to spare, moving can be a relatively pain-free experience.

If you’re preparing to move, there are several steps you should take to make the process go as smoothly as possible. By following these steps, you’ll make the whole experience much smoother.

Here’s a quick look at how to get ready for your next big move.

Create a Moving Plan

The first thing you should do is get organized with a moving plan. 

Your plan should include a moving checklist complete with a timeline. Everyone’s timeline will be unique based on their move-in date. 

Stay organized with a designated moving binder in which you can keep your moving related paperwork, including contracts, receipts, notes, and to-do lists. By visually organizing your move, you will keep track of things as they happen. 

Decide the Logistics

It might be overwhelming to contemplate moving all of your belongings from one house to another, particularly if you are moving to another state.

You have a few options to manage a move, including moving things yourself with the help of family and friends, shipping your items, or hiring professional movers. Each of these alternatives falls at a different price point, so no matter your budget, there’s an ideal option for you. 

Start researching moving companies and request estimates. If you plan to move during the summer, contact companies at least three months before the move since summer tends to be the busiest time of the year for moving.

Set Up a Budget

Legal fees, real estate agent fees, mortgage fees; the list of things you’ll need to pay for during your move can seem endless.

Make sure your costs don’t spiral out of control by establishing a realistic moving budget at the outset. If you stick to your budget, then you won’t have the additional stress of suddenly having to find more money in the middle of your move.

Declutter

Before you begin packing, declutter. Don’t waste time and money moving things that you no longer need. Reduce your stress and lighten your workload.

Go through each room, closet, and storage space and determine if there are things you can eliminate. Sell or donate items you no longer need or are no longer useful to you.

Take measurements of your new house and phase out any furniture that won’t fit or you know you won’t use.

Preparing for a Lakeland or Tampa Area Move

If you’re in the process of preparing to move out, then we can help.

We have decades of experience in professional household moves. We’ll pair you with a residential relocation professional who will listen to your needs and offer a free written estimate. We’re ready to help you make your move.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

Congratulations on selling your home!

Soon, you’ll join the 40 million people each year who can proudly say they’ve moved and made a new start.

As exciting as the process is, moving can also be stressful, especially if you have little ones or pets.

Tack on the possibility of home repairs, repainting, and moving expenses and you’ve got a lot on your plate!

Not to worry, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Here are five tips for moving into a new house.

1. Moving and Packing

Packing is, by far, the most time-consuming process when it comes to moving.

It can take weeks to get your entire home packed if you’re juggling work and other responsibilities. Give yourself six weeks to pack up.

So before you move, make sure you’ve planned out your packing schedule — even if you’re hiring a company to help out.

Stay organized and come up with a checklist to help you keep track of what still needs packing.

It might be an extra step right now, but it’s part of the process that will help keep you on track.

2. Home Repairs and Upgrades

Finding a new home is exciting. Finding a new home that needs a healthy dose of repairs, on the other hand, is quite a bit more stressful.

As you budget for your move, don’t forget to account for any home repairs, cleaning, or upgrades you’re considering.

3. School Systems, Shopping, and Entertainment

It’s always a good idea to get to know the new area before making the move.

Scoping out fun things to do, or your kids’ new schools, can make the idea of moving to a whole new area a bit less daunting.

If you’re moving long distance and can’t make it out to the new neighborhood before the move –thanks to the Internet, you can still do some research.

Hop on Google Maps and take a virtual tour of your new neighborhood. It’s like you’re already there!

4. Emotional Adjustments

Even if you’re excited about your upcoming move, it’s normal to feel melancholy about leaving your old home. Just remember that those early memories aren’t going anywhere.

Moves can be especially tough on young children. Studies show that moving as a child can have an impact that lasts into adulthood.

Be extra patient with your children.

Distract them by making a game out of packing or talking about all of the fun and exciting things that await them at their new home.

Give them time to say goodbye, too. Plan a special day where they and their friends get to hang out one last time before the move.

5. Change of Address

Finally, spend a few minutes double-checking your change of address forms.

Forward your mail, update your insurance, and contact your bank to let them know about the move.

Practical Tips for Moving into a New House

There’s a lot to think about when moving into a new home. We hope these tips have helped make the process a little bit easier.

If you’re curious to learn more tips for moving into a new house or want some help planning an upcoming move, get in touch! We’d be happy to give you with a free estimate so you can avoid any surprises.

Moving is just a part of life for many of us. A whopping forty million Americans move every single year. 

Unearthing your entire life to move to a new home, a new state, or even a new country is extremely stressful. You may be wondering how to make moving easy or if that’s even possible. 

While it might not be possible to have an entirely stress-free move, our tips below can help.

How to Make Moving Easy

Though we can’t erase all the related stressors of moving, there are things to do when you move that can make the process easier on you. Below, we review preparations to take, as well as packing and unpacking tips to help simplify the process.  

Preparations

1. Create a Checklist

A moving checklist is your key to organizing during a stressful move. There are many online moving checklists that you can print, have handy, and check off as you complete your tasks. Set deadlines and work off of your checklists.

1. Give Yourself Time

Nothing feels worse than being pressed for time. Make sure you give yourself a realistic amount of time to complete the moving essentials including researching quality, dependable movers, and packing up your home, so you’re not rushing last minute. 

Packing Tips

1. Don’t Touch Your Drawers

Make moving easy by not emptying your dresser drawers. Not only will you save on boxes, but you’ll also save on time too. Leave everything in the drawers and secure them in place with plastic wrap. 

1. Put Your Towels to Use

Any of your soft linens – socks, hand towels, and dishcloths, for example, can be used to protect delicate items. Use your bath towels or kitchen linens to provide cushioning for some of your more fragile items like lamps or vases. 

1. Put Pots to Use, Too

Pots and pans often create some unused space when they’re packed away inboxes. Fill the pots with small, simple items like spices or other little kitchen gadgets. 

1. Color Code Boxes

Use colored duct tape on your boxes to indicate which boxes belong in which room of your new home. This will help you when it comes time to unload your items and unpack. Just make sure the people unloading your boxes know your color-coding system when setting down the boxes.

1. Use Your Luggage

Fill up your rolling luggage with some of your bulky, smaller items. Heavy books, for example, will be easy to move with the help of the wheels of your suitcase. 

Unpacking Tips

1. Start in the Kitchen

Empty your kitchen boxes first. This will allow you to prepare a snack or meal when the hunger – or hanger – hits. The kitchen is often the most time-consuming and stressful room to unbox, so getting it out of the way first will take a weight off your shoulders. 

1. Get Rid of Empty Boxes

As soon as you’ve emptied a box, break it down and set it aside for recycling. This will reduce clutter in your new space, and allow you to focus on the tasks at hand.

1. Set a Deadline

Plan a housewarming party for a few weeks after you’ve moved into your new home. A deadline for unpacking will keep you on task.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

Moving and packing don’t have to be a stressful event in your life. You might not be able to eliminate all stress, but with our packing tips and tricks, you can get off to the right start.

If you’re still not sure how to make moving an easy task, contact us at Browning Moving & Storage. We specialize in household, commercial, and international moving and would be more than happy to assist you.