How to Move with Your Family

Of all the exciting things that come with moving to a new home, leaving the old one ranks at the bottom. This is a time of intense activity and inconvenience, starting weeks in advance and culminating on one crazy day. It is not for the faint of heart, but the whole family must handle it, so you must endure it.

What if there were tips and tricks to make it easier? That would be a pleasure, for sure. This is how you move with your family to manage this relocation.

Packing Items

Packing is always a chore, but some hacks can make it easier. Clothing can be put into suitcases for easy transition. This should be for all your clothing in your closet.

For stuff in drawers, leave them filled, but pull the whole drawer out and load it up that way. You can secure them with plastic wrap so nothing falls out. Once you get to your new place, you can slide them back into the dresser.

Pack seasonal items and other items you don’t need immediately. Each box should be clearly labelled according to the person and room.

Nesting

Nesting is another hack that works well. Like Russian dolls that fit inside each other, you can place small items in a small box and then pack those boxes into a larger one. Instead of buying bubble wrap or packing chips, use towels and sheets rolled up as a buffer for fragile items.

This will empty the spaces in the filled and secure boxes. Tape your boxes tightly and label every side of the box so it can be identified, even when packed in a truck or container.

Portable Storage Containers

The worst part about moving is finding people to help out and vehicles to transport your stuff to the new home. You may need to hire a moving van or trucking company if it is a long-distance move. A much better and less stressful way to do it is using portable storage containers.

These big containers get dropped off at your home so you can load them up. This doesn’t have to be last minute either because you decide when to have the container delivered so you can leisurely load all your furniture and personal items ahead of time. When it is time to leave, please arrange for a pickup, and the company will come and get it.

They load it onto a specialized truck, deliver it to your next place, or store it in their secure facility until you are ready. Conversely, you can slowly unload according to your schedule and pick up the empty container. This is a real game changer for moving and will serve your family well.

Assess Your Stuff

Humans are natural pack rats, and as we fill a family home with things, it is hard to let go of them. Moving is the perfect time to take stock of what you have and decide whether it serves you.

Have some large boxes in the living room that everyone can add to and label them Sell, Donate, and Throw Away. You will have to help the kids out a bit to make sure they are making sound choices. However, it is a way of curating your stuff better and making moving day a bit lighter.

Include Everyone in the Process

All family members are affected by a move, so they need to pitch in for the group’s benefit. Your kids may need to learn what to do, so it is up to the parents to assign roles and duties to each family member.

An easy way to delegate responsibilities is to have everyone take care of their room and personal items. Make sure to have suitcases and boxes ready for loading. Instruct everyone to pack everything except what they need for the last week or so. These last-minute items will be packed in go-bags for everyone and carried out on the last day.

Feed Your Family

On the big day, it is hectic with lots of moving parts, and you won’t have time to cook for the family. Fortunately, you can prepare for this by making food or lining up takeout items, snacks, and drinks. This will keep everyone happy and energized for the battle of the boxes.

This is how to move with your family. It may not be the smoothest process, but by using these ideas, tips, and hacks, you will make your family’s transition easier and have enough energy to unpack on the other end. Good luck!