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Make ‘moving day’ less stressful

If you have just finalised the purchase of your new home, moving day is just around the corner! You are probably thinking about the time it will take to pack up your belongings in your current home and move them to your new one.

Make ‘moving day’ less stressful

If you have just finalised the purchase of your new home, moving day is just around the corner! You are probably thinking about the time it will take to pack up your belongings in your current home and move them to your new one. Moving is probably one of the most stressful times, especially if you have young children and pets.

What are the things that make moving so stressful?

Finances

Moving can be costly. There are expenses associated with the physical moving of your possessions. This includes hiring a truck, hiring professional removalists, fuel, and packing materials. There are still costs involved if you decide to do it alone. Along with these moving costs, there are other indirect fees. If you’re moving to a new rental, you may have to pay a bond as well as the first month rent up front. Alternatively, if you’ve just bought your own property, you will need to factor in settlement fees and property taxes.

Emotional Strain

Change can often be stressful. Even if you are moving locally, you need to adjust to your new home, surroundings, and neighbours. Longer distance relocations add an even greater challenge.You are leaving behind memories, experiences and friends associated with your current home. It is hard to let go of this familiarity and leap into the unknown. If your move is based on a job change or relationship, there are those emotions to deal with on top of the stress of the move. Being prepared well in advance will reduce some of this strain.

Issues arising

There is likely to be a few minor hiccups on ‘moving day’. There are many moving parts involved in a move which makes it almost impossible for everything to run smoothly. The removalists may break something, they might get lost, you might lose a box, or you might not have packed everything in time. None of these are a complete disaster, but they will likely cause you some stress on the day.

Time

Moving requires time and planning. Even if you are only moving from a one room apartment, there are still many details to sort out. You have to find a moving company or arrange a truck to use, buy moving materials, pack, clean, and make the move itself. Even worse is finding that you have not budgeted enough time and have to stay up through the night on the last few days before the move.

What can you do to minimise stress during your move?

Despite the big move being so stressful, there are some things you can do to minimise the stress:

  • Start packing well in advance
  • Take enough time off of work
  • Make sure you throw things away as you pack
  • Make sure you have plenty of snacks and water
  • Be completely ready for when the removalists arrive
  • Have plenty of packing supplies available
  • Pack an overnight bag with essentials
  • Deal with problems as soon as they arise
  • Be flexible
  • Make it fun (play music, have friends over)
  • Schedule a cleaner beforehand
  • Keep cash available for unforeseen costs

Top tips for reducing stress on the children and pets

Moving with young children and pets is stressful as they are usually out of routine and likely unsure of what is happening. If you are moving with a cat, they can experience high anxiety during a move.

Moving with children:

  • Discuss in advance why you are moving
  • Talk through your child’s fears and anxieties
  • Involve your child in the packing process and make it fun
  • Create a routine for your child to follow
  • Enlist the help of your friends and family to babysit if you can on move day
  • Get back to your old routine as soon as possible

Moving with pets:

  • Keep your pet in one room on move day
  • Introduce their new home slowly
  • Let pets explore their new surroundings before forcing them into an area

Moving doesn’t have to be a difficult process. By preparing properly and giving yourself adequate time, you may be able to make your move a pleasant experience rather than a stressful one!