You’ve found the perfect home for your growing family, close to your school of choice, and within striking distance of all the family-friendly amenities you are looking for. Now the time has come to pack up and leave your old place behind. We know what it means to move – and, importantly, what it means to move with children in tow. Here are our tips to help things run smoothly on the big day…

Timing your move

In my experience, if you have school-age children then the school holidays are the best time to make your move – especially if you’re moving to an entirely new area. It allows a good chunk of time for you and your children to really settle into your new home before being thrown back into the school routine. 

Of course, this may not be the case for all families – you might feel that the distraction and routine of school will help your children cope better with the change. It’s a personal choice but something to think about early on. 

Take a phased approach

Resist the temptation to take the children to see their new home before exchanging contracts. With so many moving parts in the process, there’s always the chance of disappointment, which is best avoided by your children. 

Most buyers I look after choose the school before the house, therefore it makes sense to start by introducing children to their new school first. Once you’ve exchanged contracts, and if time allows, it is a good idea to organise a special trip for the children to see the house. 

Allow them time to explore it in their own way – you’ll be amazed by what they discover for themselves – and if possible, give them the opportunity to choose their bedroom, or perhaps a spot in the garden for a treehouse or den. 

Utilities 

Don’t leave utilities to the last minute. It might seem like a really small and simple thing, but lack of internet connection could send the family over the edge on moving day! Talk to your service providers to ensure you are set up on the day – or even beforehand, if possible.  

Saying goodbye

Don’t underestimate how hard children may find leaving their old home. The main thing is to acknowledge and talk to them about their feelings. If a child is finding it particularly hard to get their head around the move, why not ask them to help you prepare any information or instructions to the new owners. Better yet, if the new owners have children, then perhaps your child could write them a letter.  

Moving day

Despite everyone’s best intensions, the chances of being able to find everything you need within the first 24 hours are practically zero. I suggest packing an overnight bag for each of your children, similar to that which you would pack for an airplane, including games to keep them occupied and their special teddy. 

Ideally, organise for younger children to stay with close family or friends on day one – it will give you the time and space to get their bedrooms ready for their first night. Creating a welcoming semblance of their old bedroom is probably the best way to start off – the rest can come later once they are settled. 

We all know that moving day can be stressful. But taking the time to plan ahead and keeping the children involved every step of the way can make a huge difference to every member of the family, ensuring the smoothest possible move into your new home.

Further information

Contact Chris Clifford