Moving from one place to another is a big step with a lot of responsibilities and organizing. This becomes a real adventure if you’re doing it with your whole family. If you’ve ever moved alone, you know how much organizing there is. Now multiply that with the number of your family members. Make long-distance moving easier with our six steps.
Planning Is crucial for a stress-free move
The thing that makes all of this nerve-racking is that there are many events that have to be handled and coordinated. This can be done successfully if you plan it right – that is the key. Start early, and you’ll already feel much more comfortable with the number of things that have to be done. A tight timeline doesn’t allow for any procrastination or delay.
Not having enough money can cause a great deal of stress and even panic. The only way to avoid it is to make a thorough plan and see what you can or cannot afford. Consider all the costs there are and calculate how much you’ll have to spend. Budgeting should include relocation, hiring long distance movers, new items for your home, travel expenses, insurance, packing and storage, and all additional costs.
Declutter your home
When moving cross-country, you have to handle, pack, and protect all of the household items you’re planning to take with you to your new home. If there is less stuff, the move is less complicated. Include your children in this as well and go through your home to see what can be donated, sold, or thrown away. There are undoubtedly some toys, old clothes, or shoes that are good to go to someone else’s hands.
One of the biggest stressors when moving to another city is finding out at your new doorstep that your favorite sofa can’t fit through the door of the building. Before you decide what you’re taking with you, be completely sure that it can fit in your new apartment.
It’s never too early to start packing. Begin with items that you and your kids won’t use in the following period. Write down everything you pack and label each box so that you know what’s inside without opening it. Keeping track of what you’re moving will help you stop worrying that you forgot or lost something. Make sure you use high-quality packing materials and that you don’t overfill the boxes.
Consider getting professional help
Relocating to another state isn’t simple, especially if you’re taking care of all of the belongings of every family member. If you decide to move by yourself, you might end up overwhelmed by the number of things that need to be done. Instead, think about hiring professionals that will pack everything, handle the bigger items such as furniture and electronics, carry them to the truck, load and unload them. This is serious work, and you’ll surely need a hand with it.
Notify relevant institutions that you’re moving
Start with the post office. Let them know that you’re changing the address so that your mail doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Give an early notice at work, and tell your landlord. If your kids go to school, make sure you find a new one in the other state that’s equally good or better. This also applies to the kindergarten and family doctors, dentists, and pediatricians. Once you find new ones, notify the current school and doctors that you’re moving and transfer all of your records.
Leave a bag with essentials for each family member
When the moving day comes, you won’t have all of your items available, and small kids might not be happy about that. Designate a bag of essentials for each child and for your partner and yourself, and keep them with you all the time. The bags should contain:
- Important documents,
- Enough clothes for changing,
- Snacks and food,
- Hygienic products and toiletries,
- Disinfectant wipes,
- Phones and chargers,
- Medications and first aid kits,
- Toys your kids love.
Make moving fun
Everything is easier and faster if you’re having fun. Look at your relocation as an adventure, and don’t forget to give your kids some tasks, too. They will feel useful and enjoy helping you while you’re packing or planning stuff together.
