Moving to a new home? Moving is exciting—but it’s stressful, too. Add kids and pets to the mix, and the process can feel downright overwhelming. But there are plenty of tips and tricks you can implement to ensure a smooth, happy, stress-free move, even if you’re relocating with children and pets.
In this article, we’ll zero in on eight of our favorite moving tips for parents and animal owners.
- Plan way ahead
In a perfect world, families would have ample notice to prepare for a move. Whether you can plan your move a year ahead of time or only have a month of notice, the sooner you begin to coordinate your move, the better. Even if you haven’t picked out a new house yet, you can start cleaning out closets and donating items your family won’t be taking with you, wherever and whenever you close on a new home.
You’ll also want to make a packing and moving calendar, zero in on a move date, determine what items you’ll need to pack last and unpack first, and hire a moving company.
Related: Starter Home or Forever Home: Which is Right for You?
- Keep pets comfortable
Once the moving day is here, you’ll want to find a way to keep your pets safe and comfortable. If possible, leave them at a friend’s or family member’s home until the move is complete. If you don’t have that option, consider crating your pets or arranging for them to spend the day at a dog or cat daycare.
Of course, you know your pet best, so take some time to think about what’ll make the day as smooth as possible for them.
- Pack with kids and pets in mind
When you pack, consider your pets’ and kids’ favorite and most important things. You’ll want to pack those items last or even throw them in your car on the day of your move. That way, your children and furry friends can enjoy them for as long as possible.
- Work with a good moving company
This goes without saying, but don’t settle for the cheapest moving company around without doing your homework. Moving is stressful, but working with a company that knows what its doing can take a considerable burden off your shoulders. And when you’re less stressed, you’ll have more energy to focus on getting through moving day and making your children and pets comfortable in their new home.
- Move on a school day
This isn’t always possible, but if you can take a day off work and facilitate your move when your children are in school or summer camp, you can save yourself a fair amount of stress. If you move on a weekend and have friends or family in the neighborhood, now may be the time to ask for a favor.
The more you can focus on your move while it’s happening, the more prepared you’ll be to welcome your children home to their new space.
- Help your kids and pets adjust ahead of time
If possible, let your pets and children spend time in the new house and neighborhood before the big move. Show Fido his new dog park. Take kids to grab ice cream at the local parlor. The more you can do to reduce anxiety about the move and ensure a smoother transition for your loved ones, the better.
Related: Tips for Settling into Your New True Home
- Unpack kids and pets first
Remember those beloved items you packed for your kids and pets at the last minute? Well, you should unpack them first, too. When your kids and pets walk in the door, seeing their rooms, sleeping areas and beloved toys ready for them can make a house feel like home. Sure, you can’t get everything ready in one day, but a little bit of unpacking goes a long way.
- Take time to have some fun
Listen, we know as well as anyone that a residential move is a ton of work. But it’s also a really special, memorable day. Can you spare 30 minutes to order a pizza and eat on the living room floor with your kids? Take the dog into the backyard and play a round of fetch as the sun goes down?
These moments matter—and not just for your kids and pets, either. They matter for you. So start making memories as soon as you can.
Related: 30 Great Ideas for Family Fun
About True Homes
True Homes is an award-winning builder of new, semi-custom homes in North and South Carolina. To learn more about where we build, what we’re building, and how you can customize one of our many floorplans into the home of your dreams, reach out to us today.