Moving house is already difficult as it is. Can you imagine just how difficult it will be if you have kids? It can be done, but it will take creativity and meticulous planning. To help you make the transition as smooth as possible, we have put together this guide on how to make moving with kids easy.

7 Tips For Moving With Children In Tow

Below, you will find seven tips that will make your move a whole lot easier on you and your kids:

Talk to your children about the move well in advance

First and foremost, it is important that you start preparing your children for the move early on. Explain why you are moving and what they can expect in their new home. It is also a good idea to take them to see the new house and introduce them to the neighbourhood before moving day. This will help ease any anxiety they may have about the move. If they have any questions about your move, be sure to answer them honestly. The more informed they are, the easier the transition will be. Moreover, reassurance is key when dealing with kids and moving house.

Make sure they have a say in the process

As much as possible, try to involve your children in the moving process as much as possible. This will help them feel like they are a part of the decision and will make the experience more bearable for them. For instance, you can ask them to help you pack their belongings or even help you choose the layout of their new bedroom. You can also allow them to pick out a few new pieces of furniture for their room to make it feel more like home. If they are a little older, consider having them do a few tasks on moving day, such as handing out water to the movers, directing the movers where they need to go, keeping an eye on the family pet, or even just having them pack up their own room. local_movers

Plan your upcoming move in detail

As with anything in life, planning is key when moving house with kids. You will need to consider a number of factors, such as your budget, the size of your new home, and the needs of your children. To make things go as smoothly as possible, we recommend creating a Moving House checklist. This will help you keep track of everything you need to do and will make sure that you don't forget anything important.

Hire professional movers to help you out

Trying to move house on your own is difficult enough. When you add children into the mix, it can be downright impossible. Fortunately, professional moving companies can help take some of the stress off your shoulders. There are many reasons you should consider hiring professional movers, but the biggest one is that they can help ensure that your belongings are moved safely and securely. They can also help with the packing and unpacking process, which will save you a lot of time, money, and energy. Moreover,hiring professional movers means you can focus on taking care of your children during the move, which is crucial. After all, they are the ones who need you the most during this time. If you are planning on hiring a removal company for your upcoming relocation, make sure to compare multiple companies. Meanwhile, if you are looking for smaller-scale moving services, a man and van could do just the trick. Man and van companies can provide you with the same services as a removals company would, but on a smaller scale. This is ideal if you are only moving a few items or if you have a limited budget.

Find ways to make the moving process fun for your kids

Moving house doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. There are a few ways you can make the experience fun for your children. For instance, you can turn packing into a game or have a race to see who can pack their belongings the quickest. You can also use the move as an opportunity to teach your children about different cultures and countries. If you are moving from a different city, research the area in advance and find out interesting facts about it. This will help your children feel more connected to their new home. Moreover, don't forget to celebrate once you've finally moved into your new house. This will help your children feel optimistic about the experience and will give them something to look forward to.

Make sure they say their goodbyes

Although you may be eager to get the moving process over and done with, you must give your children the time they need to say goodbye to their old home. This is especially important if your children have spent a significant amount of time in your current house or if they have strong attachments to certain items. Allow them to spend some time in their old room and to say goodbye to their friends. You can also take a few pictures of them in front of their favourite places in the house so that they can remember the happy times they had there. Encouraging them to say goodbye to friends and family members is also important. If you have the time, you can organise a farewell party or picnic in the park. This will give your child a chance to say goodbye to everyone in a fun and positive way. Do remember, though, that while it is important for them to say goodbye, they should know that these farewells are not temporary. Instead, assure them that they will still be able to see their friends and family members, even though they may not live in the same neighbourhood or city anymore.

Be patient with your children throughout the process

No matter how much you try to prepare them for your upcoming move, there's a good chance that your children will still find the whole experience to be overwhelming. It's important to be patient with them and to understand that they are going through a lot of changes. Try to spend as much time with them as possible and answer any questions they may have. Moreover, don't forget to give them plenty of hugs and reassurance. This will help them feel loved and supported during this time. See our recent previous posts here: If you are preparing to move house soon, knowing how much removals companies cost in the UK can give you a good idea of what you can expect once the time comes that you need to pay for the service. But, unless a reliable international removal company provides a written estimate of the costs of removal, it would be impossible for you to know the exact amount you will be paying in the end. Be aware man and van services are much cheaper than removal companies. Until you compared several moving quotes, it can be a big help to be aware of how much it will cost you to move house in UK. Average Cost of Moving Companies On average, moving within the UK will cost you £1,181. It is the typical price you will pay for moving all the contents of a 3-bedroom home to a new house located 50 miles away. Calculating Moving Costs There are two important factors considered when calculating the amount you will pay for moving your belongings. The first one is the distance that the moving company will travel and the second one is the size of the items that will be moved. Below are the costs that depend on these variables, and the indicated prices are according to a three-bedroom house: You also need to pay for the specific distance between your new home and your current one and the typical rate for every mile is £1. The initial 50 miles are already part of the other costs. For example, if your new house is located 120 miles away, this means that you will be paying £70 aside from the other costs. You will then pay a total of £1,251. If you want a more precise calculation of how much it will cost you to move your belongings, moving companies typically charge £1 for every cubic foot. Most people might have a hard time to work it out but it is not impossible at all. Potential Additional Costs If ever you have more stuff than an average home, there might be a need for you to pay more for the time that the moving company’s workers will spend on loading your possessions. Also, if you got some especially heavy, cumbersome, or intricate items that only experts can remove such as a heavy bath, a large sofa, or a grand piano, expect that it will typically cost you about £125 for every item. You might also need additional packing materials or storage space that will typically cost you £30 for every week. If it happens that it is especially tricky to get in or out of your home, moving companies may also ask you to pay an additional charge. It can be because it is hard for them to get in front of your property, for example, if there is a narrow road outside or if there are lots of obstacles. This is also the case if it would be hard for the moving company to get your belongings out.Most of you will surely agree how nerve-racking it is to move house. But, is this really true for everyone? If yes, how stressful can it be in the first place? One survey of 2,000 homeowners in the UK found out that moving house tops the list of stresses in life.  Around 40% of homeowners rank moving flat or house to be the most stressful event they had to go through, much more than getting divorced at only 34%. It has also been revealed that moving house is more stressful than the following: Approximately 60% of the survey participants stated that they were put off by moving house since they didn’t like the changes involved.

Is It Really as Stressful to Move House As Most People Think?

About two-thirds of the respondents claimed that they were deprived of sleep because of moving house and around 34% even stated that they suffered from anxiety or other physical or mental illness as a result. When people were asked to break down the exact things that stressed them out about moving house, only a few of them mentioned the moving process itself. The truth is that 46% said that their foremost worry was having new noisy neighbours while 41% stated that the thorny issue for them was traffic. How about the rising removals cost? It is not really a surprise that more than half of the survey respondents said that the worst part were the costs involved with the process of moving house. Research revealed that the total average price of selling and buying a house is currently over £12,000. However, the moving house process itself that is part of the price tag is considerably lower. This will also depend a lot on several different factors that include the following: The general rule here is that you can expect to pay around £400 if you have a single bedroom flat up to more than £1,200 for moving a detached property with three bedrooms.

Common Reasons Why Moving House is So Stressful

In the event that you already got a preconceived idea from those negative articles about how stressful it is to move house, then, it surely will. It is inevitable for moving house to have a psychological effect since you will uproot your life, leave behind some important relationships, and go through a physically demanding process. But, if you are worried, you first need to identify the specific aspects of the process that can potentially bring on anxious feelings. Some of the common reasons why moving house can be so stressful include: Research has earlier revealed that it affects not just adults but children as well. Indeed, moving house has a significant impact on people’s mental health and on families, which only proves that going through this event is definitely stressful.When you are finally ready to move house, it is only normal that you want and expect this important day to be smooth and convenient as much as possible. One critical factor to ensure a seamless move is none other than your chosen removals company. It is important to hire the best company out there to be sure that your belongings will arrive safely and right on time. The first step in choosing a removals company is to get several quotes to help you create a shortlist. It is recommended to inform each potential company of your specific requirements, particularly if you have antiques, a grand piano or other items that need special handling, or if some of your furniture must be dismantled first. Letting the company know about these will help you get the most accurate quotes possible from the very beginning.

Request an In-House Assessment

You might want to get some of the companies to take a look around your property. Aside from your possessions, they also need to check where it will be safe for them to park their vans, the entrances and exits, and the stairs in your home. Make sure you choose a company with enough insurance for covering every possession you have from end to end. There might be a need for you to take out extra cover yourself for other items and the removals company will inform you of this. The advised minimum level is £50,000.

Inquire about Policies about Delays

There are companies that charge for delays by the hour and others’ overall fee might already include reasonable delays. Of course, you might not be at fault for some delays so don’t forget to look into the specific types of billable delays.

Say No to Cash Payments

Reliable removals companies should prefer getting paid through bank transfer or by card. While you can always offer to pay for everything in cash, a company that only accepts cash is a red flag.

Look for Professional and Helpful Team Members

Even if it is only a simple branded sweatshirt or T-shirt, a uniform is an indication of a company’s professionalism and that they want the public to see them. All members of the team you deal with must be able, approachable, and friendly over the phone, in writing, and more importantly, in person.

Check the Reviews

These can include online feedback although you can also talk to previous clients, especially if you got some specialist requirements.

Procedure for Complaints

There will always be something that will go wrong during the move so it is best to know the trade or professional bodies that the company is a part of and what protocols they have for raising complaints. Hire only those removal companies that are members of the British Association of Removers because this body can help you with possible problems or grievances.

Furniture Disassembly

Disconnecting your household appliances or dismantling furniture might require an extra fee or be included in the package already. Be sure to ask about it beforehand.