Moving
house with kids in tow can make it an even pricier and stressful venture. Not
only do you have to find the time in between and after work to go to house
viewings, but you also have to undergo the process of tidying up your old house
and re-doing your new property. The kids might even find this to be a tough
process, and you’ll need to find ways of making your new property exciting and
just as welcoming as your previous home. However, there a few ways to make your
new place fit your style and truly feel like a home and not a house.
Set a budget first
When
you have kids in tow, it’s inevitable that sometimes organization will have to
fall to the sidelines while you prioritize other more important tasks such as
getting dinner ready, taking kids to afterschool hobbies and doing general
household tasks. However, the one thing that you should not allow to escape
your attention is setting a budget for your move. This will allow you to save
money by giving yourself financial borders to work in. It’s recommended that as
well as setting a budget, you pick out color themes
for your new house in advance – as this saves you picking out multiple expensive
tins of paint. Work out how much paint you will need and buy it in bulk – just
one way to save money.
Get the family involved with
re-decorating and tidying
Here’s
the first tricky part: tidying. It can be tempting to worry about how good of a
job your kids will do of tidying their room but encouraging them to do this
will help to normalize the process. Providing them with boxes and trunks to
fill with books and toys and showing them what to pack first and why will mean
that you won’t have to go back in an hour later and re-do half of the packing.
Show them how to stack books neatly and organize awkward items. It’s advisable,
too, to let them keep a few items in their room which can be packed on the day
of the final move. Sleeping in an empty room is never fun, no matter what your
age and a few comforting items that look familiar will make the process much
easier for them.
When
it comes to decorating, it’s given that your children won’t be capable of some
of the much bigger jobs. Paint-rolling the ceiling is tough on adult arms, let
alone children’s. However, encouraging them to help paint much smaller sections
of wall and help with dusting down fixtures and pieces of furniture will give
you one less thing to do. If you’re feeling generous, you might even let them choose
the color of the paint.
When
it comes to re-decorating in your new home, you might want to treat your kids
to some décor that is particularly child-friendly. For example, putting in
beanbags and poufs will add furniture to the room in a way that is both useful and
playful. This allows you to cater to their needs without completely pandering
to them or designing the house around them.
Slim-line the back yard yourself
Your
back yard will inevitably affect the value of your property, and so it’s wise
to give it a bit of an overhaul before you start showing people around your
home. However, this doesn’t mean you have to undergo an entirely new project to
create a state-of-the-art back yard with expensive features. Instead, spend
some time ruthlessly removing overgrown weeds and shrubs, and being honest
about what’s an eyesore and what needs to be taken out as a result. If you want
to improve the appearance of your flower beds, particularly around the front of
your home, then getting the kids involved with planting flowers and small
shrubs can be a great bonding appearance, and teach them a few useful skills.
Ultimately,
you want to improve the value of your home, and your back yard shouldn’t be
neglected – as this will also feature as part of its selling point. If you’re
looking to get your home valued quickly, then using a real estate agent, such
as the Otranto
Real Estate Co, should help to give you a sense of what
your property is currently worth, which could help you decide what to spruce up
and change.
Spend quality time in your new
neighborhood
Don’t
start off your new life in your new neighborhood feeling awkward and new. Both
you and your family should get used to your new town and what it has to offer.
Before you move in, spend time enjoying local cafes and restaurants, so you
have memories of the place you’re moving into before you arrive. If you feel it
would be beneficial, it’s sometimes recommended that you take your children to
their new rooms and build excitement by asking them how they’d like it
decorated, and what color they’d
like to paint it.
If
you’re feeling particularly bold , introduce yourself and your kids to your new
neighbors. This will help you to feel like less of a stranger – you may even find
your kids some new playmates in the process. Avoiding busy
hours such as mealtimes and during working hours is always recommended, and
instead, find a time such as the weekend to knock on their door and simply say
hello – particularly if you’ve noticed that they too have kids.
Keep your family routine
If
your family always gets up at 7am for breakfast, or if Wednesday is always film
night, then it’s important to keep these routines the same. Maintaining your
family’s routine will help everyone feel a bit less strange in a new
neighborhood and new house. It also reassures your kids that their life hasn’t
been fundamentally tipped on its head and that the feeling of being in an
unfamiliar new house will pass.
Moving
house with kids is never easy, but know that by getting them involved and
saving money along the way you can make your life much easier. A little bit of
forward planning and encouraging them to help with the process can lift a load
of work off your shoulders as a parents, and save some money in the process.
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