Getting Ready for Moving with Your Family: A Practical Guide

Moving to a new home is always quite an emotional and stressful affair. It doesn’t matter if you are moving to a new house, different city, or even a different state — the process is never easy and can be pretty exhausting for everyone involved. This goes double if you are moving with your family. You need to take into account the emotional toll the move will take on your kids. Of course, there is also the matter of packing all their stuff and moving it safely.

However, there are a few things you can do in order to make moving easier for everyone involved. Careful organization and planning are essential and so is openly communicating about the transition and its implications. When it comes to the move itself, it is important to find a good moving company that can quickly and safely transport your belongings to your new home.

In this article, we will give you a practical guide to getting ready for moving day as a family. We will provide you with the particular steps you need to take to ensure your move goes smoothly both for you and your loved ones.

How to Get Ready for Moving as a Family

With the right approach and organizational skills, you can make your move a lot less stressful for everyone involved. Below, you will see a helpful action plan that will guarantee your move goes as smoothly as possible.

1. Talk It Over

While it might seem hard, you need to discuss the move with your children as soon as possible. No matter their age, they will need time to properly process it. Your job is to make the transition as easy as possible. 

Show your kids some pictures of the new home and school, or even take them there for a tour. Make sure to highlight any benefits, such as fun things to do or local attractions. Do not be stingy with information and answer all their questions honestly. Keep in mind that negative reactions are quite common — after all, children love their routine and any disruption seems scary to them. 

2. Create a Checklist

A move is a complex endeavor, no matter the size of your household. To make sure you stay on top of everything, you need to prepare a checklist. As a matter of fact, we recommend preparing several checklists, covering all the different matters you need to take care of. For example, you need to have a checklist for services you need to cancel in the old home, another for moving-related tasks, and a third one for tasks related to the new home. 

If possible, put other family members in charge of some checklists. It will help them process the situation more easily since they will be in control of some of it.

3. Outline Your Inventory

A key step of any move is to create a detailed inventory of all the items you will be moving. Even a small household usually has a lot of stuff that needs to be accounted for. By outlining your inventory, it will be easier to spot items that can be sold or simply thrown away. Also, it will help you get an estimate of how much the move will actually cost you. 

The inventory list will also come in handy when the move is over and you have to check whether any items are missing. Involve your entire family in creating the list — it might actually be quite fun for the kids.

4. Make a Packing Plan

Packing is one of the most tedious and problematic aspects of every move. However, if you have checklists and an inventory list, the process will be way easier. 

It is important to separate all your belongings into smaller lots and pack them accordingly. A good way to approach the matter is to pack items based on the room they belong to. However, there is always the matter of having the right boxes — both in terms of type and quantity. The good news is that most reputable moving companies offer packing materials for customers. Depending on the company you have chosen, the movers might even pack the items for you on the spot.

5. Find a Good Moving Company

Finding the right moving company might not be as easy as it seems. There are a lot of moving businesses out there and picking the best option can be quite tough. The first step is to get references, if possible. If you know someone who recently had to move, ask them about which company they used and if they were happy with the results. If you can’t find any references, start your search online. However, keep in mind that online reviews might not be trustworthy.

When it comes to moving companies, you need to make sure you find one that is both licensed and insured. You can look up such information on the local level — for example, if you find a good NYC moving company, make sure you check if their license is valid with your local authorities. We recommend you choose a company that is accredited by the Better Business Bureau — or at least one that has a good rating there.

As a general rule of thumb, you should find at least three companies and get estimates from all. It is not just about comparing prices — moving estimates are usually done in person. That way, you can judge the team by yourself and see if they act with professionalism. Moving is an important event, so you should not make any compromises when it comes to the moving company you hire.