The New Domestic:

Moving house is usually a stressful occasion. There’s so much to organise and figuring out the logistics can give even the most organised person a headache. There’s also the emotional element – you’re leaving a home, not just a house, and for your children it might be their first and only home. For them, they are leaving behind a safe and familiar environment - neighbours, streets, parks, even that dog that always barks when you walk by, so moving can cause a lot of anxiety and be a difficult experience. Here are some ways you can ease that difficulty.

Discuss It

Talk about the move with your children as early as possible. Ask their opinion and see if you can get them interested in helping to decide where you might live next. If you get build any sort of excitement around the move and discovering a new place, then you will help relieve a lot of the stress of the move. You can even hold family meetings where you openly discuss the move and allow for questions and concerns. If you are able to give them a voice in the process of leaving their home and finding a new one you will give them a sense of empowerment, rather than just feeling like they are being wrenched away and taken somewhere else.

Familiarise Your Kids With the New House

Where possible, introduce your children to their new home before the move day. Allow them to pick out their room and even personalise their space. Even if all you can manage is a virtual tour of the house online, then at least do that so that when they walk into the house, they already have some level of recognition. Exploring the surrounding suburb can also be a great way to ease your child into the idea of moving. Go visit the local parks, cafes, and shops and get a feel for the community.

Hire a Good Removalist

Some removalists offer the service of packing your house for you. If you decide to go for this option, then allow your child to pack the important things in their room first. Mark that box and set it aside and even take it with you if you are driving. Having a few of their special possessions with them as soon as they arrive at the new house will allow them to establish a connection with their new space sooner. There are plenty of removalists in Sydney, so shop around and decide which will offer you the best service. A good removalist will make the move that much easier and take away some of the stress you are under.

Be Organised on Moving Day

Again, try to incorporate your kids in moving day as much as possible, unless they have daycare or school. It’s also a good idea to have healthy food ready to go for snacks and lunch along the way. Make yourself a checklist of all the things that you want to have at hand on moving day. Items you are going to want include an Allen key, fresh bed sheets, screwdrivers, and spare light bulbs.

Get a Cleaner

Pay a cleaner to do the final clean of your house. Once you have moved everything to your new pad, the last thing you are going to want to do (or have time for) is to clean your old house. Hiring a cleaner will ensure that it is done thoroughly, to inspection standard and also means you can show the receipt as evidence of having the house professionally cleaned which will keep your landlord or new owners happy.

Try to be flexible. Things don’t always go to plan, so try to remain as calm as you can in front of your children to help relieve a bit of their anxiety. Be tolerant of moods and tantrums, because once they pass, you will all begin to enjoy your new home!