6 Moving Tips to Help Your Family Get Settled Faster
Moving is a big change that many of us are undertaking in 2021
Nearly a fifth (22%) of adults in the U.S. moved, or know someone who moved in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic according to Pew Research Center. According to data gathered by prominent storage and moving companies, even more people will be on the move in 2021.
Lower cost of living, wanting to be closer to family, increased work flexibility and avoiding densely packed cities where outbreaks spread more quickly, have all contributed accelerating a general migration trend west and south. Many Americans are moving from metropolitan areas to smaller cities and suburbs.
Whether you’re moving your family for the first time, or you’ve moved a few times before, this article will give you 6 moving tips to help your family settle in faster. We’re covering practical, helpful tips from getting organized, to reducing germs and helping everyone feel more comfortable on moving day.
Organize all your moving information into a sturdy binder with plastic pocket dividers for easy— and portable —access. No one wants to re-open fully packed boxes searching for paperwork on moving day.
1) Get organized: make a moving checklist and gather information
If only moving a family was as easy as moving in your twenties! The reality is that you’re not just responsible for your own comfort and work schedule, but you may also have to consider your partner’s work schedule and getting the kids adjusted as well.
Whether you hire professionals, or get friends and family to help, there’s still so many moving parts that can be easy to overlook if you don’t stay organized. Before the big day make sure you have the following neatly organized in your moving binder:
- Moving checklist to keep you on track of all the small details
- Room chart with color key/legend for where big items and boxes need to go
- Receipts/confirmation for moving, transporting and shipping services
- Travel/lodging information if your new home is more than a day away from your current home
Color-coded moving labels and removable wall decals that are safe for paint and drywall make it easy for professional movers or friends and family to get boxes and furniture into the right rooms.
2) Color-code moving boxes & furniture: everything in its place
Sorting and labeling moving boxes ahead of time means less time sorting items into the right location when you move in. There’s no need to open every box to see where the contents go.
With a color-coded room chart and color-coded boxes and furniture, there’s no guesswork on moving day. It’s basically paint-by-numbers for unpacking and makes it easier for the whole family to unpack and get settled in quicker.
3) Help them help you: communicating on moving day
A color-coded room chart and color-coded boxes/furniture is essential for keeping yourself and your household family members organized on moving day. But it won’t be practical for movers (hired or otherwise) to carry around a chart while also lugging boxes and furniture.
Color-coded wall decals are the moving day hack you never knew you needed. Especially if you don’t want to have to hover over everyone directing traffic on move-in day. Simply matching box/furniture labels to the corresponding wall decal is universal and requires minimal supervision.
Print out removable wall decals match your moving labels ahead of time and stick them in your moving binder. The day of the move you can post them in corresponding rooms in just a few minutes and voilà, no need to hover.
4) Avoid extra costs with a smooth transition of services and subscriptions
You want to make sure that you can turn on the lights and have a shower in your new place! Not to mention avoid overlapping payments for utilities on two homes, or wasting money on subscriptions and/or buying online items that never reach you.
Two weeks ahead of moving day make sure you have updated your address with the following:
- Gas and electric, water, garbage and other utilities
- Phone, cable, internet, streaming services
- Magazines, subscription boxes, etc.
- Online shopping sites such as Amazon, or grocery delivery services
Print your own note cards with our free template for “Happy Home” new address cards and make sure you’re prepared to reduce the spread of germs on moving day. For example, use protective film with antimicrobial and antiviral coating on high-touch surfaces.
5) Ensure your mail follows you to your new home
The first step to ensuring your mail follows you to your new home is to change your address with the post office one to two weeks ahead of moving. You can easily change your address online with USPS and set a specific start date.
Next is ensuring that important government agencies have your new address, again two weeks ahead of moving day. The big two are the IRS and SSA, you can change your address with them here:
Other important change of address items include: 1) driver’s licenses or ID cards, which be done via most state DMV websites, 2) bank, credit card or other financial agencies, 3) employers, 4) loan agencies, 5) insurance providers, 6) doctors, dentists, and vet and 7) friends and family.
While sending an email or mass text with your new address may seem easier, consider sending traditional new address cards for friends and family instead. Especially, if you don’t feel comfortable sending out your home address to a large number of inboxes/devices with unknown security.
You can also leave a new address card for the new tenant of your current home so it’s easier for them to forward any stray mail after moving day.
6) Think about comfort on moving day: takeout, toys and new memories
Nothing is worse than a tired, hungry family and everything is closed. Scope out the local delivery ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about dinner on moving day. If you’re ordering in, make sure you’ve updated your delivery address in your go-to food delivery apps.
While moving can definitely be exhausting physically, don’t forget about mental TLC for yourself and the whole family. Add these to your essentials bag so everyone can have a pleasant first night in your new home:
- Items that will make your kids feel comfy such as favorite stuffies, blankies, nightlight etc.
- A family-favorite card game or something simple to keep everyone entertained on the first night
- A regularly-used candle or room spray to add a soothing familiar scent to the new place
Bonus moving tips during COVID
On top of everything else, moving house during a pandemic can add an extra layer of stress. While moving it’s important to keep doing all the things you’ve been doing to keep your family safe and reduce the spread of germs.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you can do to help keep reduce the spread of germs on moving day:
Pack a separate disinfecting kit with extra masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for your family as well as any professionals or family/friends who are helping on moving day. Include disinfecting wipes for giving the bathroom and other high-traffic surfaces a quick wipe down after everyone leaves.
Cover high-touch surfaces on moving day, such as light switches and door handle, with removable adhesive antimicrobial film that doesn’t damage surfaces.
Review point number 3 on this list. Color-coded wall decals and matching box/furniture labels that communicate where everything goes make it easy to keep your distance from any moving helpers that are not in your household
Give yourself peace of mind on moving day
While moving your family can be daunting, exhausting, and even emotional, remember that a new home equals new beginnings. Getting organized and planning ahead can help make the transition smoother so you can settle into your new home faster.
From moving tips that help you organize and gather all the big information, to color-coding boxes and rooms, to just making sure everyone feels comfortable on their first night. Preparation is key so that you have peace of mind on moving day and can enjoy it as an exciting new chapter unfolding.
Shop color-coding labels and start planning and organizing your moving day now.