Blog

We all know that our children are the most delicate and precious beings. For them, moving can be an exciting and scary experience. It is natural for them to feel they don’t have any control over the situation. To make it easier, here are some simple tips for a kid-friendly move.

Create Their Own Special Moving Box

Give your child a cardboard box and let them decorate it however they want. Use stickers, markers, and crayons to personalize it then have them place their important treasures inside. Include their favorite toys, stuffed animals, and treasured photos. They’ll feel comforted knowing exactly where ‘Mr. Teddy’ is. When you arrive at your new home, take time with your child to carefully unpack the special moving box together.

Make Time for Goodbyes

Even though you have a million things to do to get ready for a move, consider hosting a small “going away party” with their friends. A fun, upbeat celebration with friends and family will go a long way helping them with the moving transition. Make it a point to gather addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers of friends to stay in touch.

Get a Head Start With School

When possible, visit your child’s new school with them before the move. Remember your child may feel uncertain about being far away from their friends. Helping them create a new social circle will be significant. Children feel a strong sense of attachment to school and friendship groups so establishing this early connection is essential.

Find ‘Normal’ Again

Children thrive in safe and secure environments. Make sure that you take time to explain the move. Once you are in your new home, work quickly to establish schedules. Try to maintain usual bedtime routines and continue family traditions like Sunday morning waffles or popcorn and movie night. With a defined schedule and pattern, your child will find the move much less stressful.

Prepare their Bedroom

When you arrive at the new house, try to get your child’s room in order as quickly as possible. Make sure you have easy access to clean, familiar bedding especially for the first night in your new home. For a child, sleeping in an unknown place can be daunting. But if they have their own snuggly blanket and pillow from home, it will make them feel more relaxed than if they didn’t have those comfort items. Having their bedroom put together will also help them adapt to the new home and feel more secure.

First Night Fun

Make your first night in your new home a fun and memorable one. After a stressful day of moving, relax with some take-out food or delivery. Play a card game or watch a favorite movie. Don’t stress out about a home-cooked meal on the first night; you will have plenty of time for those once you have settled in a little bit. If your place is a complete mess, opt to go out to a fun family place for a bite to eat in your new hometown.

Get Social

Find clubs, activities, or sports teams for your child in your new community. This is a way for them to make friends with kids who have mutual interests. After school programs and park districts are good places to find these programs. Whether it is an art class or soccer team, these are excellent opportunities to meet other children their age.

Make Moving an Enjoyable Adventure

Moving is a trying and demanding time, and it is essential to limit the stress. The trick is to make it fun! Play favorite music while you pack, make a video of the move, color code the boxes, let them create their own special moving box.

When the move is complete save some boxes, so they can build a fort or use their imagination with the empty boxes. These activities will help keep them busy and distract them from the stresses of the move.

Let us help you move the family to your new home. Contact us for a quote.

Moving from any location can be a daunting prospect. Add in the fact that you could be miles, if not states away from your current social circle and the world suddenly seems intimidating. Don’t panic. Before you start retreating into an online-only world, try these seven reliable ways of building a social circle in your new location.

1. Research Before You Move

Before you even pack your bags, get online and explore your new town’s website or Chamber of Commerce website. Identify events, community festivals, local celebrations, farmers markets and local businesses that are of interest to you. Shortly after you move, make a conscious effort to meet new people by attending these upcoming events or visit the local shops that look intriguing.

2. Introduce Yourself to Your Neighbors

By neighbors, we don’t just mean the people that live right next door. Your new neighbors could be the owners of local shops, parents accompanying their children to the bus stop or people out walking their dogs. If you are uncertain of anything about your new area, asking a neighbor is a great way to make new friends and find out information. Ask about anything from “what is the best pizza delivery in town” to “where is the closest recycling center.”

3. Find Local Groups on Facebook

Have you ever sat in front of your Facebook page and searched for your city? Well, give it a go, and you’ll be surprised at how many local groups there are, from swap shops to mother and baby groups, with a dose of everything in between. Some of the groups might be private but don’t let that deter you. Request to join and post on the wall.

4. Get to Know Other Parents at School

If you have children, then one of the best ways to meet new people is at your child’s school or through school-sponsored programs. It can be a bit intimidating talking to a group of parents who seem to have already formed a group, but remember, not only could you form a similar social circle you could also find some play dates for your children. This, in turn, will make it simpler for them to fit-in too, it’s a win-win situation.

5. Sign up for a Class or Club

Park districts usually offer classes and clubs. This is a perfect way to meet others who share a similar interest, passion or hobby. You will also automatically see these people on a regular basis giving you a chance to get to know them.

Or search for a club or group that reflects your interests on MeetUp.com. This location-based website offers many social groups that meet locally. So, if you’re looking for a running buddy, there’s a MeetUp group for that. Interested in free meditation? Yep, there’s a MeetUp. Want to learn photography? You’ve got it. There’s a group for that too.

6. Volunteer

Volunteer for a cause or perhaps a charity that you are excited about. Not only help others by volunteering, but you might also meet other people with similar interests and values as you. Sometimes doing something good makes you feel more confident and more likely to to be sociable and make new friends.

7. Say Yes!

Above all else, the best way to make a new social circle is just to say “yes.” If you’re tired from your big move, then you might tend to turn down invitations and skip the social interaction. Push yourself to get out and interact with new people. Whether it’s going over to someone’s house for dinner, a coffee date, or even a book club, just say “yes” and see where it leads.

Relax and Smile

Remember that people will react to your intention, so smile, introduce yourself, and you’ll soon have a fantastic new social circle.  

It’s finally here, your big day! Follow these five simple tips, and by the end of the day, you’ll be set up in your new home without a single hair out of place. Relocating can be one of the most stressful times, but with a professional moving company and a good, solid plan it doesn’t need to be.

1. Prepare a Checklist Ahead of Time

When it comes to moving, organization and coordination are essential. Avoid unexpected fees and running around disorganized by creating a schedule that you can follow through moving day. Start planning your move 6-8 weeks in advance.

2. Pack a Survival Kit

You don’t want to be scrummaging around boxes looking for some of the essential items you will need on your first night in your new home. Pack a survival kit ahead of time so that your necessary items are close at hand. Be sure to include:

• toiletries and toilet paper
• medicines
• tea, coffee, and wine with glasses (you can celebrate with the wine later)
• phone chargers
• cleaning supplies
• bed linens
• toolkit
• paper plate, cups, utensils
• trash bags
• hand soap with paper towels

3. Learn Packing Hacks

Everything from travel hacks to shopping voucher hacks are all the craze, so it’s not surprising that there are even moving day hacks. Clever little ideas such as using toilet rolls to wrap your electrical cords around as well as rolling clothes to save space. Other ideas include taking photos of how your electronics are set up in your current home, so that configuration at the new home is a breeze, and use zip lock bags to hold crucial small hardware like screws and bolts.

There are many other packing hacks online, so get crafty with your packing.

4. Prepare Your New Home Ahead of Time

If possible, do a deep clean of your new home ahead of your move-in date, cleaning floors, windows, as well as the inside of cabinets and closets. It will make move-in and unpacking that much easier. Take care of any prep work for your new home before the boxes arrive as well. It’s easier to paint walls, resurface floors, and install new fixtures if you’re not in the middle of unpacking.

5. Take Care of Yourself

Your move should be the start of your new life, and we wouldn’t want you to start this exciting new chapter stressed to the max. So, be sure to stay positive and take care of yourself.

During the moving process make time for meditating or exercising. Consider unplugging for a little bit each day reading a book or magazine or taking a walk. For some people listening to music is a huge stress-buster, so play your favorite music to unwind or while packing.

Start your New Chapter Stress-Free

Naturally, the moving process is busy and eventful. There are many things to consider and many more situations that may arise, but remember, you can reach out for assistance to make your move smoother. Enlist family and friends or contact us for help with your move.

We’ve all relocated at some point; those long sleepless nights, the endless lists circling in your head, the ever-expanding budget and so on. So, let’s momentarily step-in as your virtual assistant and tell you exactly what needs to be included in your moving plan to ensure that you stay stress-free.

Make a Moving Binder

Start off right by getting and staying organized. Create a moving binder to keep all of your move-related documents. Here you can keep all of your checklists, proposals, contracts, measurements, receipts, and all items related to your move.

Divide the binder into useful sections to keep all your pertinent information at your fingertips. Perhaps one half of the binder is material related to your current home, and the other half is specific to your new home.

Craft a Master To-Do List

A successful move depends on excellent planning and timing. Create a master to-do list to help guide you through the entire moving process. Find one online or customize your own list to be your individualized resource during your relocation journey. Place your master list in your moving binder to keep everything in one central place.

Be Brave and Budget

Moving costs can easily multiply without you even realizing it. Many tend to underestimate how the cost of relocation can add to the stress of moving. It’s essential to dedicate a little time creating a personalized moving budget, so you know what to expect.

Consider every possible expense associated with your move when you develop your budget. That may include everything from: the packaging, storage space, and insurance, to take out meals, childcare, and pet sitters. There are hundreds of budget templates online so you can source one most suitable or create your own in excel.

Make a Floor Plan

Fun and practical at the same time, a floor plan of your new home will come in handy. Share this floorplan with your movers so they can see where items need to go. You can create a floor plan on paper, or you use an online website like Homestyler.

Plan a Purge

Now is the perfect time to purge your home of items you longer need. Delve into that cabinet that hasn’t been opened for years, donate unwanted clothes to charity, and think carefully before deciding if you really need your collection of old cell phones which have been collecting dust since 1999.

Also, consider that some items might be less expensive to replace once you arrive at your new home than they are to move.

Moving Day Schedule

As part of your moving binder, you might have a specific list for the actual moving day. Your schedule can be as detailed or loose as it suits you, but remember to be clear in your communication and expectation with your movers and helpers. Coordinate and confirm the times with everyone from your pet-sitter to the person at the new home waiting for the movers to arrive.

Ready for the Big Move

With these moving plans in place you will be prepared and in control on moving day, and you won’t feel quite so overwhelmed. If you need more help with your move contact us today!