Moving is stressful at the best of times, and when you add kids into the process, it’s easy to start feeling overwhelmed.
Between packing, cleaning, and continuing to take care of your kids, you may start to wonder if there’s any way you can do everything you need to do.
But, with the right preparation, a solid plan, and a few clever hacks, you can make moving day far smoother and a lot more stress-free than it otherwise might be.
Whether you’re moving to a new house down the street or a completely different city, keep these tips in mind to help ensure a hassle-free moving day.
1. Plan Ahead
The most important way to ensure a hassle-free moving day requires preparing for it as early as possible.
Ideally, you should start the process as soon as arrangements for your new home have been finalized.
It is important to give yourself plenty of time to sort, pack, and clean, as this will ensure you’re not scrambling around the morning of moving day.
To help you prepare for what needs to be done and to ensure you stay on track, it is a good idea to create a checklist of things you need to do.
Once you’ve completed a task, cross it off the list and start on something new, so that your actual moving day will only have essential tasks left to complete.
2. Declutter Before Packing
In their rush to get the ball rolling, one of the biggest mistakes people make when moving is to pack all of their possessions – including the things they no longer need or use.
However, moving to a new home is a great opportunity to declutter.
It’s worth doing a strategic, room-by-room sweep to determine what you want to keep, donate to charity, sell, or discard.
If you realize that you have a plethora of items that can simply be disposed of, it may be worth getting in contact with 1300 Rubbish or another junk removal service to haul unneeded items away for you.
3. Pack Efficiently
The more efficiently you pack, the more time and frustration you’ll save yourself both during the moving process and when you arrive at your new home.
To reduce stress and ensure a hassle-free moving day, try to pack room-by-room. Clearly label the boxes with the room the items came from, and what they contain.
Try not to make your boxes too heavy, and protect your most fragile items with bubble wrap, space fillers, old clothes, or moving blankets.
You should also consider putting together a moving day essentials bag that includes a change of clothes, snacks, toiletries, phone chargers, and any other must-have items you will want immediately once you’re in your new home.
4. Consider a Moving Company
If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of packing and moving yourself, it may be worth hiring a moving company to help with the process.
In addition to actually transporting your items from one home to another, many moving companies also offer packing services, saving you time and ensuring your items are protected during your move.
For a busy parent, saving yourself from the time and stress of packing and moving your items yourself may be worth the extra cost.
5. Keep Kids Entertained
Moving day can be tough on little ones, so you’ll want to have a plan to keep them occupied when the time comes to leave your current home.
If possible, leaving your kids with a friend or relative during the moving process can be a great choice. It allows you to concentrate on the logistics of the move without having to worry about your children.
If you don’t have anyone who can look after your little ones, make sure they stay in one part of the house or outside in the yard when boxes and heavy furniture are being loaded.
Keep some of their favorite toys and games nearby to keep them entertained, and consider giving them small jobs to do, so that they feel involved in the process.
This is one occasion where letting your little ones use a device like a mobile phone or iPad can be a godsend!
5. Get Cleaning
Whether you’re moving out of a rented apartment or you’ve sold your house, you’ll likely be expected to do a thorough cleaning of your home before you leave.
Depending on the terms of your rental agreement or house sale, it may be a smart idea to hire a professional cleaner for a thorough move-out cleaning service.
If you’re going to clean your home yourself, make sure to add all these jobs to your cleaning list:
- Wipe down walls, doors, and baseboards
- Vacuum and steam-clean carpets, and mop hard floors
- Clean kitchen surfaces and appliances
- Scrub the bathroom and remove any mold or limescale
- Take out the garbage and recycling
- Mow the lawn
6. Make Unpacking Easier
Once you’ve arrived at your new home, your first step should be to unpack and set up your essential areas, like the kitchen and bedrooms.
As long as you have a place to cook and eat meals as a family, and a place to sleep, the rest of the unpacking process can happen in a more leisurely manner.
You should also make sure you have toiletries and towels ready for use, so that you can use the bathroom in comfort.
With essential areas ready to use, you can then start working through the unpacking process room-by-room, using the same method you used to pack initially.
While kids can certainly make moving day more complicated, proper preparation can go a long way in ensuring that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
Take your time to plan out the day and prepare as much as possible beforehand, and don’t hesitate to ask loved ones for help, if necessary.
Before you know it, you and your children will be on your way to enjoy new adventures in your new home together!
These tips are a lifesaver for busy parents planning a move! 🚚📦 I especially loved the idea of creating a moving-day survival kit with essentials—such a simple yet brilliant hack. One thing that worked well for us was labeling boxes by room and priority, which made unpacking so much easier. Thanks for sharing these practical and stress-free tips!