Are you thinking of relocating? Or maybe you’ve been given a promotion which requires you to uproot and relocate. Whatever your reason for wanting to move, it can be a stressful time for all of those involved. However, with the right planning and help out there, you can make the transition relatively stress free. This is a guide on how you can relocate the easy way and this article will be packed full of useful tips and tricks to help you along your way.
Buying or renting?
Have you considered whether you’re going to be buying or renting a property in your new location? There are pros and cons of each, so let’s look at them to help you better decide which route to take:
Buying pros
- Being on the property ladder will always reap benefits.
- You don’t have to answer to a landlord.
- Mortgage payments can work out cheaper than renting
- It’s a forever home for you and your family.
Buying cons
- If you don’t have the money immediately available, then you’re going to struggle to get onto the property ladder.
- If this new area isn’t somewhere you want to permanently reside, buying isn’t a good option.
- Any problems with the property are on your shoulders to repair
Renting pros
- As previously mentioned, if you’re not looking to permanently live in this new area, then finding a house for rent would be the best option for you to take.
- Any repairs needed to be made fall on your landlord’s shoulders to repair.
- Deposits for rented properties are much cheaper and affordable than buying.
- It’s easier to up and move if you’re renting rather than if you’re a homeowner.
Renting cons
- Having to answer to a landlord can be very frustrating, especially if their rules interfere with your ways of life.
- Renting can work out to be more expensive, depending on what sized property you go for.
- It’s not a guaranteed residence as your landlord can give you notice at any time, meaning you’ve not got much time to find another property to rent.
Schools and amenities?
While the thought of moving alone is a lot for the brain to handle, it’s definitely worth thinking about the local schools and amenities in your new area, especially if you have a young family. Before settling on a place to live, it might be a good idea to scope out the area and see how far amenities are from there and whether this would suit your way of life.
It’s a good idea to also check with the local schools to see if they are taking on any new students before moving so that when it comes to it, you’re not left stuck with your children having to travel very far to go to school. Also, if your children are of an age where they walk to school alone, are the roads and pathways safe so that they can walk to school without any risk of being harmed? Make a list for yourself to check off so that when you’re viewing schools you can be assured that you’re making the right decision.
Packing
Let’s face it, packing is a bore. Unfortunately, there’s no magical way of making it fun, or mysteriously having the boxes pack themselves. You’ve got two options here: pack yourself, or pay for a moving company to come and do all of the work for you.
The bonus of doing the packing yourself is that you can label each box and you will remember vaguely which boxes your belongings are in. You will also be able to rest assured that you’ve packed your things gently and that nothing will be broken due to carelessness.
Having a packing company come and do it for you also has many benefits, the main one being that you don’t have to lift a finger. These companies also often offer a service to transport your belongings to your new home and unpack the other end too. While this might be expensive, if you’re trying to stay stress free then it might be worth digging into your pockets.
Distraction
As mentioned earlier, moving isn’t just stressful for the adults who have to sort everything out. It can also be stressful for teenagers and children too. Being uprooted and having to rebuild their lives can be a very difficult transition.
In the days leading up to your moving date, and on the day you’re due to move, why not arrange for your children to go and do something fun while you finish off all of the last details? It will provide them with much needed distraction from their move, and it will also mean that you can concentrate on finalizing your move without having to worry about everyone else. Maybe you’ve got friends and family which would be willing to take your children on for the day. It’s definitely something to consider to help make their move less stressful.
Moving
If you decided against hiring a removal company to come and help with your relocation, then it’s likely that you’re going to need all hands on deck to get your belongings moved to your new location. Here are a few things to consider arranging before moving day:
- Getting a man with a van. Or, hiring a van for a few days so you can move large amounts of belongings at a time.
- Asking family members and friends to come and give you a hand with your move. Even if it’s people at each end helping to move boxes from the van to the property, it will make a massive difference.
- Even though your children might be distracted on moving day, making sure that they’ve seen their new bedrooms will help with their transition. You might arrange for their bedrooms to be unpacked first so that they feel as at home as possible.
Consider these five helpful topics with your relocation or next move and you will notice how much less stress you experience! Good luck with your move!
