Moving with A Family? Here Are Some Things to Keep in Mind

Contributed post.

Moving with an entire family can be a major challenge. Whether you are moving to Canada or even just across town, there are a lot of things that you need to remember to make sure everything gets moved smoothly.

Statistics show that the average American family tends to downsize by 20-25% when moving. This is a fair percentage. Considering this, you should be prepared to follow certain tips to make sure you don't get overloaded. And when it comes time for the big move, you should call Elatemoving.com to get the job done for you.

​Downsizing: What does it really mean?

If you are moving to a smaller place, you might have to make some painful decisions about what goes with you and what doesn't. This can be tough for kids, especially, as they tend to get super attached to their stuff.

Consider the following questions:

• How much more will we use some of our age-based items?
• Do we have things that a needy family might benefit from?
• How much more room will we need in the new place?

Remember, organizations like the Salvation Army and Goodwill go through billions of pounds of donated goods every year. You could be part of this effort and make a major difference in the lives of a worthy family.

Be systematic about your move

Again, it is easy to get overwhelmed when facing a family move. You can reduce the stress involved by going about the process systematically:

1. Declutter. Getting rid of unnecessary stuff is essential. And this can both take the form of donating to more needy people, and also simply tossing things that you don't need anymore. Start by doing a proper inventory of your belongings and making a family decision about what stays and what doesn't. If you’ll be getting a fluffy sectional couch for your new home, for example, there’ll be no reason to bring your old one with you, so it’s probably worth getting rid of.
2. Find the right receptacles. Americans are getting better at recycling. Much better. Statistics show that we are recycling an average of 35% more things than we did ten years ago. Upcycling and new eco products are a big part of this.
3. Get the right supplies and pack systematically. You want to be sure to start prepared. If you are midway through completing a very delicately-packed box and suddenly find that you don't have the right kind of packing tape, your frustration may well snowball and cause you further problems. After you conduct your inventory, make a list of all the packing materials you will need and get them first.
4. Go room by room. An entire house is a lot to think of. Tackling the moving process room by room will help you stay focused and not get overwhelmed. Perhaps you should start with the kids’ rooms so as to make sure all the toys they do decide to keep get boxed up first!
5. Be sure to pack boxes fully. Pro packers all know that you shouldn't leave any gaps when you pack. This sometimes means getting creative: wrapping delicate items in sweaters, filling in spaces with pairs of socks…it might sound odd, but eliminating gaps is a great way to ensure that your precious belongings don't get knocked around during the course of a move.
6. Label everything! One of the most frustrating aspects of moving can be trying to figure out what went inside which box, box within a box, etc. You can easily eliminate this frustration by making a point of labeling everything as soon as you package it.
7. Start early. Finally, you should be sure to leave yourself sufficient time. Because moving houses is a major process, you might want to start thinking about it months in advance. You might change your mind about a favorite object or need time to repair something that has broken down. Do yourself a favor and start as early as possible.

Imagine your new home

You will take much more pleasure in the moving process if you can clearly envision your new home and how your family will thrive in it. Moving is about much more than simply getting through a difficult process; it is advancing onto a new and exciting stage in life. Think about how you'll decorate that new kids’ room once you arrive!