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Fall Moving: Tips to Help Your Family Transition Smoothly
Fall can be a great time for moving. The sweltering heat of summer is over, peak season has passed so there’s more scheduling flexibility, and school is back in session so routines have become regular again. But, moving in the fall can be more difficult with school age or little children. They know all of their classmates and teachers, are into a school/activities routine and fall holidays are fast approaching. You can make moving fun for your family however and there are ways to turn sad goodbyes and missed activities into happy hellos and exciting new adventures. These simple tips will help you and your littles survive fall moving. Plan Well In Advance of Your Move Make sure you secure your move date(s) and plan ahead for things like inclement weather, colder temps and messy walkways. At Elite Relocation Services, we have full home protection kits that include doorway and banister pads, floor runners and mask for your carpets and hardwoods as well as furniture pads and shrink wrap to protect your furniture. It’s a good idea to sweep outdoor walkways so they are free of leaves and debris just before the moving crew arrives. Start packing months (not weeks) earlier than you think is necessary. If it takes you twice as long to get out the door now than before you had kids, it will take twice as long to pack up your house, no matter how small it is. Gather packing supplies and start little by little, like with things already in closets. You can tuck those packed boxes back into closets until closer to move day. Also consider packing boxes at night when your children are asleep. Plan playdates for your children on move day so they are occupied with something fun. Out of sight, out of mind for your young children. And on that note, donate or sell items at night. Pack your Goodwill piles into the trunk of your car at night so that you can drop them off the next day without your children spotting that one toy that was in the back of the closet that they never play with. You know they will decide it is their favorite toy if they spy it. Use color coded duct tape for marking the boxes of each child’s room. This way there will be no confusion on which room they belong to. Let them help unpack their boxes in their new rooms. Make Connections and Plan Activities in Advance Contact your children’s new school(s) and find out who their teachers will be. Get in touch with the teacher and ask if they might send your child a note welcoming them to the school. Look into churches, community organizations, parks or playgroups in your new neighborhood and plan some visits after (or before if possible) your move. Also check out what fun fall and winter activities are going on in your area. This will help your children to visualize the positive things about their new home. “See You Later” Instead of “Goodbye” With technology today, staying in touch with friends is easier and easier. Work with parents of your children’s friends to encourage them to stay in contact. This can be through more traditional methods like letter writing and phone calls, but it can also be through face-to-face contact like FaceTime or Messenger. Moving doesn’t mean your children have to say goodbye altogether and, with nurturing, sometimes the best friendships are those that begin when we are young. Make Moving a Fun Event Make a fun craft activity by having your children decorate a box with pens or stickers and then pack all of their special toys into it. This will make spotting their special box easy when it comes off of the moving truck and into your new home, and it gives them a sense of ownership and being a part of the move process. Leave this box out until the morning of move day so they have their favorite things all the way up to the big day. Have a Few New and Exciting Surprises Purchase a few new toys for the move and plan a visit to their favorite family restaurant to keep up morale. Put together a little welcome basket filled with a few new items and place it in their new room. This can be as simple as some new bath toys, vinyl cling decorations for their bedroom windows or a new stuffed animal or throw pillow for their bed. Give Yourself and Your Kids a Break Moving is psychologically and emotionally exhausting. It can takes weeks and even months to fully recover. Make sure you allow yourself and your kids to run through the emotions, both happy and sad. Practicing kindness is the best gift you can give to yourself and your children.
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New Home for the Holidays?11/30/2018 It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for relocating! At Elite, we are excited for the holiday season and our crew is looking forward to bringing all the cheer they can into your new home. While we may not be there to help decorate the tree or string the lights, we do have suggestions to help you manage the stress of adding a move into the holiday mix.
Budget Early With all the travel and gift-buying expenses that normally add up during the holidays, it can already be difficult to stay on budget. Add in all the expenses associated with moving - from boxes to packing material, and you may need to look at tightening your belt. Get an estimate for your move and work out your budget well in advance and then set aside a certain amount each week leading up to your move so you’re well-covered. Plan Ahead This is the golden rule for moves all year round but it is especially helpful when the season becomes a snow globe whirlwind of events and activities. Stay in touch with us about changes to your move plan. For instance, if you originally planned to pack yourself and are simply running out of time and need assistance, let us know and we’ll do our best to schedule time to help finish your packing. We’re here to help so if you make a list, we’ll check it twice! Donate A large part of moving is getting rid of the junk you’ve had lying around the house for years. You’re also likely to find things like toys and clothes that your family has outgrown, along with electronics and furniture you no longer use. Not only is it a great time of year to donate these items, but you can write those donations off when it’s time to do your taxes. Pack Smart The last thing you’ll want to do is be packing during the already busy holiday. Usually, you’ll have at least a month’s notice before moving day. While it can be tempting to put your packing off, make a list and aim to get one room packed each week. That way the move will feel less overwhelming, particularly if you’re also trying to visit family and friends over the holidays. Hire Us to Do the Packing Let’s be honest, you have enough wrapping to do already. Why not reserve our professional packing crew for a stress-free pack? Everything from fine china to flat screen TVs can be padded and packed to prevent damage. Need it done the day before the big move? Let’s get you on the schedule for a prior day pack. If it’s just your kitchen that could use a helping hand, we’d be happy to do a partial pack. Prepare for the Weather Obviously, the weather for your holiday move is outside of your control. If you’re relocating to or from the hills or mountainous areas, you’ll need to be prepared for cold (sometimes freezing) temperatures. From white-out blizzards to icy roads, the holiday season can mean challenging weather conditions. When you’re packing, use as many waterproof plastic bins as you can. Stock up on winter-ready clothes and proper moving supplies to deal with the worst possible weather conditions. Don’t forget to make sure your electricity and heat are already turned on in your new house before you arrive. Make sure You’re Protected The weather outside is frightful, but your brand new hardwood floors are so delightful. While we always provide home protection to keep your floors, walls and banisters clean and scratch-free, having us perform a visual survey of your locations and alerting us in advance to unusual entryways, steep driveways or icy walkways is helpful so we can adequately prepare for your move day. Be Safe Sadly, robberies and home invasions tend to increase during the holiday season. According to the FBI, each November and December, more than 400,000 burglaries take place. 60% of burglars surveyed said that if they noticed a home alarm system, they would look for another target instead. To safeguard your new home, be sure to set up your security system before you move in. You’ll need to arrange this with your security system provider a few weeks before you move so they can install your system and ensure it’s working before moving day. Get in the Spirit & Make it Fun Regardless of the stress of holiday moving, find the time to sneak in some fun. Let the kids know that Santa will still be able to find them. Take the time to relax and have a family dinner after long days of packing. Put on some holiday music while you’re packing and talk to the kids about how nice the holidays will be next year in the new house. If your appliances and kitchen supplies are already packed, many hotels offer a sit-down Christmas lunch and dinner which can take the pressure off. Most importantly, give yourself a break and enjoy the season! Let us Help If you’re just starting to plan your holiday move, we’d love to help. We know how stressful it can be to relocate over the holidays, and our experienced team will do everything they can to make your move as easy and smooth as possible. |
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Movers Eugene, Oregon