Moving can be incredibly hectic, especially if you’re trying to move houses with kids in the mix. Keeping track of their things, making sure they still get to school and take care of their classes, and most importantly making sure they don’t interfere with the move itself can be a challenge. This is even more of a struggle if you’re planning on managing a bulk of the move yourself to try to save some money.
For a busy parent managing an even busier move, here are a few tips that might be helpful.
Plan For The Weather
When you’ve finally hit the day of the big move, the weather is most likely not going to be your friend. Rain can really hinder the progress and speed of a move, and even potentially damage some of your home items. It only takes 48 hours for mold to set in and the longer things remain wet the more likely they are to be destroyed or cause permanent damage.
When you’re packing for your move, combat this in advance by planning for potential weather conditions. Moving in the winter? Add extra insulation to any items that might get damaged by the cold. Worried about rain? Plastic wrap can keep items safe and dry.
More Than You Need
Worried about just how many supplies you’ll need to buy to pack your home goods safely? It’s best to err on the side of too much, rather than too little. As a rule of thumb, you should generally add an extra 25% more moving materials than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have too many boxes and have all your items packed safely than to have your kid’s favorite toy break because it got packed in too tightly.
If you’re concerned about cost, don’t worry, there are still ways to get all the supplies you’ll need for a speedy and affordable move. Not all of your materials have to be bought new for your move; save old boxes from packages you get in the mail or improvise with recycled newspapers or other materials to create padding for fragile objects.
Careful With The Kids
Depending on how old your kids are, they can be incredibly helpful during the move. This is especially true if you can turn packing and moving items into a game, like a scavenger hunt. You can also make a game of cleaning out old items that you won’t be taking with you when you move into your new home; turning moving into a fun activity is a great way to get the little ones involved.
That being said, be careful with the tasks you ask them to help you with. Avoid any tasks that involve heavy lifting or valuable objects; this includes both items that are being moved with you and items that are staying, or even parts of the home itself. You don’t want a kid accidentally breaking a window by trying to lift something they shouldn’t be right before you move out, especially when replacing a window costs between $300 and $700.
Did you know that 13% to 20% of people move each year? Moving can be stressful, but there are a few ways you can simplify the process for you and your family. How do you plan to make your move easier?
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