Getting your family moved across state lines will take a great deal of planning so make sure you learn these 6 Tricks to Try When Moving Your Family Across State Lines.
If your timeline is short, it’s critical that you rely on the help of family and friends to find the right new home in the right space.
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Know Your Destination
If you’re planning a move to a bigger home, create a map of the new space before you start decluttering, donating and packing.
For example, if you have children sharing bedrooms and are moving to a space where your older children will have their own space, your older children may be excited enough to help with the packing.
Try to spend time at the end of the day helping your children visualize living in their new space and their new community.
Starting at a new school can be scary, but knowing about local parks, theme parks and other fun areas can lessen this pain and lower the stress.
Map Your Move into the New Space
Number boxes and bins for best results and easiest unloading.
It can be tempting to get in a rush and just start loading everything into boxes, but poor labeling will make your unpacking a nightmare.
Older children can help with this by using colored sticky dots to label different boxes to go into the new space.
By using this method, you’ll experience an easier transition into your new space by easily identifying essential items for unpacking first, such as bedding, towels, and clothing.
Only Move What You Love
Decluttering is more than a trend. Decluttering before you move is critical to moving efficiently.
Early in the packing day, enter each room with:
- black bags for trash
- white bags for donation or moving sale
- boxes for what you want to take
If you’re moving into a smaller house, you can make your unpacking much simpler if you limit the number of available boxes.
This is particularly important if the home you’re moving into has limited closet space.
For those who plan to have a moving sale, consider partnering with a friend to have a joint yard/moving sale.
Not only will this draw in more business, because you will have more to offer, but it can make it easier for thrift store employees to come pick up unsold items from two households in one trip.
Finally, if your friend has offered to help with your move, managing the sale while you continue to pack can be a great gift of time.
Hire the Right Professionals
Get professionals to move your heaviest items into the truck.
Use car and motorcycle shipping professionals to get your classic car or your beloved bike across state lines.
Don’t ask friends to lift more than they can carry, or put your largest possessions at risk of damage, get professional help for moving across states.
If you’re moving large pieces of art or glass pieces, consider also hiring a specialty packaging company to protect these items.
Options for Moving Your People
If your children are very small, it may be best to fly your clan to your new home.
However, if you can make the drive in a single overnight trip and you have a reliable vehicle or two, driving may be best.
Should you choose to drive, consider putting one child in charge of all the charging cords.
Making sure that everyone has their personal electronic devices all charged up can make for a more peaceful trip.
Giving older children a sense of control can also lessen the stress of moving.
Use Luggage
Pack your largest suitcase or two with:
- sheets for each bed
- two towels per person
- everyone’s pillow
- pajamas and toiletries
- a comfortable change of clothes for everyone
Put this luggage at the back of the moving truck and make it the first thing you unload; stash it in the master bedroom closet until the beds are set up.
Once the beds are up, you can unpack and arrange your new space in confidence, knowing that at the end of the day, you can bathe, get into your pajamas, and sleep in a freshly made bed.
If possible, work with your realtor to get a quality cleaning team to scrub out your new home.
Knowing that your possessions are going into a freshly cleaned space will make your unpacking much simpler and more enjoyable is just one of the 6 Tricks to Try When Moving Your Family Across State Lines.
