Most people do not get excited when they realize they have to relocate, especially when they have to relocate over a long distance with kids. Not only do you have to take on the distance, but you also have to keep the kids settled while you get there because you know how kids can be when they are confined to a specific area for too long.

In this article, we are going to discuss some tips for long distance relocation with kids. Because if you have to be honest with yourself, you are not looking forward to the experience. But that does not mean you cannot make it easier on yourself. Just open your mind to some new ideas and the following advice.

– Get Rid Of The Junk:

At face value, it might seem that you only have some moderate packing to do. But once you start packing, you realize how much stuff you have. Now comes the tough question – what you do you pack and what do you throw out? If you decide to pack everything you own at this moment, it can require unnecessary space. Do your best to get rid of all the junk you do not need.

– Give Yourself Enough Time:

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to wait until the last minute before you start packing. The truth is you should give yourself several weeks. Break it down room by room and avoid overwhelming yourself the night before the big move.

– Stay Organized With A Checklist:

By making a checklist when moving with kids, it is much easier to monitor everything. It is one thing to throw out stuff you do not use anymore intentionally. It is something completely different to leave a valuable item behind, only to realize it once you are at your new home.

– Find Some Packing Hacks:

You are bound to find several packing hacks online. These can show you easy and effective ways to pack using the minimum number of boxes. In other words, you get more space out of the truck you rent for the move. Also, these tips should help you when you relocate with kids.

– Bring Enough Entertainment:

Always make sure there is something to keep the kids entertained during the journey. However, these should not be activities that distract you while you drive. Instead, focus on mental activities that help them to forget about the stationary position they have to sit in.

– Make Regular Stops:

Everyone in the car needs to stretch their legs now and then. Even though it will take longer to reach your destination, regular stops help to keep everyone in a refreshed mood. Or do you want everyone to be cranky and stiff when they arrive at their new home?

– Ensure There Is Enough Space In The Car

Do your best to pack as much on the truck as possible. More specifically, if you do not need to take anything in the car with you, then do it. This does not mean the kids should use the space to create chaos. But nobody wants to be cramped in between a bunch of boxes when there is a view to enjoy.

– Some Gadgets To Take The Edge Off

If your kids like movies and games, why not use gadgets like portable DVD players? These items are especially useful when the trip is considerably long. And you can trust you will not be hearing too many complaints.

-Use A Professional Moving Company

As a final tip and piece of advice when moving with kids, consider using a professional long distance moving company. Because when you work with the right company, you are going to find they offer an extensive range of services. They can provide packing and cleaning services. And experts can even help with assembling furniture pieces at your new home.

Are you worried about the cost? Well, professional moving services are not as expensive as you think. Plus, these are the type of companies that make life easy for those relocating over a long distance with kids. Then you can be sure you have all the space in the world to keep the kids entertained.

When you move, whether you and your friends are the movers or you hire Artisan Movers, there are still items that are at a higher risk of being damaged or broken during a move. It is such a nuisance to arrive at your new home and discover that items have been broken or damaged. Some things can be replaced, but no one wants to replace a perfectly good table, chair or mirror. And what about those items that can’t be replaced? There has to be something you can do to safeguard your possessions. 

Good thing you’re here because once you know which items require special attention, you can take the necessary action to make sure that you won’t be mourning the loss of any of your belongings. Here is a list of 10 items that are most likely to get damaged or broken.

1. You

You are subject to loads of stress and muscle strain when packing and moving. To avoid muscle strains, it helps to have the proper equipment. Things like moving straps, a heavy-duty dolly and hand truck, work gloves and more can reduce the amount of work you have to put in to move your things. Remember to lift with your knees and not your back, bend your knees while keeping your back straight to allow your legs to support more of the weight than your back. You can also reduce your stress by planning ahead and doing things little by little. Take time to relax and stay hydrated.

2. Artwork

Placing your artwork in a picture box with adequate padding will increase the likelihood that it will once again be displayed in your home. Canvas needs special care when it is moved and is not something that can be remedied easily. Broken frames are just as big of a nuisance and can often be very costly to repair, particularly ones that require a custom framing job. 

3. Plants

Your little green babies. You water them, wipe away the dust, give them plant food… you want them to enjoy your new home too. Plants do wonders for the air in your home as well as for your decor, so you want to take special care when it comes to moving your plants. If you box them, poke a few holes for ventilation and breathing. You can also stop watering them a few days before moving to make them a little lighter. Using plant tape to secure loose branches or stems or bagging them in a secure plastic bag is also a good idea to help keep them safe.

4. Glassware

Glass or ceramic plates and knicknacks are highly susceptible to damage and beaks during a move. It’s best to individually wrap them in packing paper or newspaper. And don’t stack them any old way. Vertically place them layered between packing paper in a “dishpack” box or a heavy duty box that has double thick walls. Any remaining space should be filled with crumpled paper, bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Although there is no need to layer plates with packing paper, you should still wrap them in paper and fill in any remaining space. If you hear your glassware rattling around in the box, you’ve done it wrong, and you should strongly consider reinforcing your packing method.

5. Mirrors

Even if you aren’t superstitious, you still don’t want to have a broken mirror on your hands. Afterall, your mirror makes sure that you go out into the world confident that you don’t have something hanging from your nose. To avoid having to clean up broken mirror shards, pack mirrors individually in picture boxes with plenty of packing around it. If a mirror has no padding between it and the box wall, you are most likely going to be unboxing a broken mirror.

6. Electronics

Electronics are damaged in a move due to poor packing, moisture and static. If you have original boxes for your electronics, pack them in that packaging. If you don’t have the original packing you should take care to use padding such as eco-bubble, packing peanuts, etc. and heavy-duty boxing. Heavy duty boxes stand up to moisture better because they are double corrugated. Be sure to double tape the box on both ends and label it accordingly (FRAGILE, THIS END UP, etc.).

7. Cleaning Supplies

Liquid cleaning supplies are more likely to make a mess, but so can powdered supplies. When packing your cleaning supplies it is a good idea to make sure that spray pumps and hand pumps are locked and screwed on vice grip tight. You should also take care to put them in plastic bags just to be safe. These methods can also be applied to many of your toiletries as well.

8. Lamp Shades

Lamp shades can easily become misshapen or broken during a move. They are an awkward shape, and the larger the shade, the more vulnerable it is. It’s best to wrap it in bubble wrap and to fill the cavity with the packing material of your choice. Be careful with newspaper, as the ink may stain your lamp shade. Never pack anything on top of your lamp shades, not even towels or other soft linens. It helps to label the box “FRAGILE” so that it doesn’t end up at the bottom of a stack of boxes.

9. Large Furniture

Large furniture tends to get scratched and dented because of its size. Maneuvering around corners, down flights of stairs, stacking boxes on top and other instances can leave your large furniture vulnerable to the moving process. You can protect large items by covering them with plastic and padding. There are also special moving supplies like corner bumpers and stair padding that can help reduce the risk of damages.

10. Sporting Equipment

Because they usually take a beating when we use them, we often overlook their fragility in a moving situation. Sport equipment is usually broken because it is often left unprotected or poorly packed. Packing them in their original packaging or doing a little research on the best way to pack and transport these items is a good idea.

Take the proper precautions when you move. Remember, you can always pack or transport certain items yourself, if it puts your mind at ease. And when you choose a moving company, be sure to do the proper research and sign a proper contract that insures the arrival and cost of your move. Moving.com suggests that you invest in the right boxes, box things up correctly and get insurance. Being prepared can take the stress out of moving.

Image Source: Pixabay

Moving to a new house is a challenging experience and it might surprise you to learn that the season at the time plays an important role. Moving in the winter is a very different proposition to one in the summer, and with that in mind, let’s take a look at when is the best time to relocate.

The Summer Holidays

If you are lucky enough to be able to choose when you move, the summer has to be the top of the list. Schools are out for a couple of months, which means the kids can help with the moving, and with pretty much guaranteed good weather, a summer move is always preferred. Getting settled into your new home a month before Christmas is an ideal time to relocate, which gives you the chance to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the new residence. In the event you are moving to Queensland, contact Vic Palmer Removals for removals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as they are very experienced and are affordable too.

Avoid Major Festivals or Religious Holidays

Image Source: Pexels

Regardless of the distance involved, avoid setting the move dates during Christmas or any of the other holidays, such as Easter and Australia Day, as the traffic will not be favourable. Weekends are preferable to some as they don’t have to take time off work, while moving on a weekday might see a little more traffic, it will likely be a little cheaper than a weekend. If the relocation is inter-state, it is important that the removal contractor has the necessary resources, which should include container packing.

Children’s Education

Image Source: Pixabay

If you have kids then the move should be set for a time when they are on holiday, which will allow them to help and they won’t have the pressure of homework to worry about.  The two-month summer vacation provides the perfect window to move house, and with the children allocated tasks, the move will be a trouble-free operation. By tying the move in with the school holidays, your children’s education will not suffer, and besides, they will enjoy the experience and get some first-hand experience in organising a project.

Sourcing the Right Removalist

Like any industry, removalists have their busy and quiet periods, and their rates might differ, offering a discount if you book during their quiet period. It pays to compare a few companies before making a final decision, unless you have been given a great recommendation. The removal contractor would typically offer a range of packages – with the option to have them do the packing – and there is something to suit every lifestyle. Choosing a well-established company ensures they have the necessary resources to handle the project, and if you have any questions, there should be all the information you need on their website.

Most people are not in a position to choose when they move, so it is often pot luck, yet for those who are in no hurry, planning a summer move is by far the best time.

The process of moving to your new house can be extremely stressful. Maybe your lifestyle has changed. Or you’ve been transferred to a new place to work. Whatever the reason, you’re moving to a new place. Think about the process of packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking. These processes will probably make you curse the day. But with the right tips, the process will be a lot less arduous. Here are 12 tips that will get you moving to your new home in no time. Please read on.

 

1. Start Early

Many people tend to pack and sort their things during the last minute. And this is where every stress of moving starts. When you realize that you have a lot of things than you thought. That you don’t have enough boxes to put your things. And the money you set aside for the process is not enough. Then you start panicking. Yet you could avoid all this by planning everything much earlier. So, avoid all these surprises and start planning and packing earlier.

 

2. Budget

Do you have enough money to cover all the important costs? Perhaps knowing how much it will cost you to move out will help you budget for it. You may use a moving cost calculator prior to moving to find an estimated cost for your moving. This will save you all the financial hassles you’d more likely encounter during the big day.

3. Clean Your New Home Prior to Moving

You wouldn’t want to be busy wiping off the stains and dust in your new home during the big day and at the same time guiding the movers on where to put your things. And, perhaps, you’ll be tired after moving. So, for less stress and ease of moving, clean your new home and some of your things prior to your moving.

4. Have Enough Moving Boxes

You’re going to need a lot of moving boxes to put your things. And it’s not a must that you buy them. You can reuse some of the packing boxes. Ask friends and relatives who recently moved if they can give you some boxes to use. You’ll also find useful boxes in your workplace and at the nearest electrical stores. Get the boxes and start packing as soon as possible.  

 

5. Sort Your Things by Category

You need to sort your things by type like the mom’s clothes, kids’ clothes or dad’s clothes. You may think of sorting things according to respective rooms but this can cause some inconvenience. Put common things together in one place to reduce the number of boxes and, perhaps, save you time and money.
 

6. Label The Boxes Clearly

Proper labeling of the boxes is very important. This will make your moving and unpacking easier. And by labeling of the boxes, how well should you ensure you labeled properly? Well, ensure you label the top, bottom, and sides so that you can easily identify the box you’re looking for especially if they’re irregularly stacked.

7. Hire A Professional Moving Company

Professional movers will save you both time and energy. The moving companies provide storage and packing services and normally have pre-move visits to plan on the necessities during the big day. Remember, you will be placing all of your property in the hands of the movers and you wouldn’t want to risk having the unskilled and inexperienced staff to handle your things. There’re several moving companies available such as the Piano Movers that you can hire for professional moving services. You can visit www.pianomoversoftexas.com for more information.

8. Move On the Right Day

Moving can take 5 hours or 20 hours depending on several factors such as the distance to your new home, amount of things to move, and the size of the transporting truck. You need to look for a day that you’ll be free. The moving company shouldn’t be booked on this day also. You may opt to move on a weekday as most movers are busy during the weekends.

9. Consider Giving to Charity

When you start packing your things ready to move out, there’s a high probability that you’ll have some items that you’ll not be needing anymore – but still in good condition, of course. You may consider dropping these items to the nearest charity shop around you. And you’ll have saved on space and time of moving and unpacking.

• Find Out the Easiest Route to Your New Home

Regardless of the distance to your new home, you wouldn’t want to waste time getting stuck in traffic. There’s a possibility that you may also get lost if you haven’t mastered the road well. “But I trust my google map.” Well, yes it helps, a lot. But it’s not a guarantee that you’ll never get lost if you use it. Figure out which route will get you to your destination as fast as possible and with less traffic and unnecessary stops.

• Use The Right Tape

You won’t want to be packing and repacking your things in the moving boxes just because the tape you used couldn’t sustain the weight. But if you use the heavy duty packing tape when packing, you won’t have to worry about the safety of your things and the need to repack in case the box suddenly opens.

• Load Boxes by Category

This will make the process of unpacking very easy. Having the kitchen stuff together and bedroom stuff in another place will let you unload them at the same time to the respective rooms. And you’ll be done within the shortest time possible. This is what you’d want, right? And, perhaps, this is what you’re going to do when you’ll be moving.

Conclusion

You need to have “fun” moving to your new place. This means not encountering the common stress involved during the process. These tips will help make your moving easier and faster. Perhaps hiring a professional moving company will save you a lot of problems but you also need to play a part in the process. Look out for relevant themed blogs for more valuable information about your moving. Good luck!