Moving house is stressful enough when dealing with it yourself. But if you are a family person then you really have a problem. Kids rarely take changes well, and relocation is one of the big changes in life that can really have a negative impact on your child. But do not worry about it too much, there are always ways to handle even the most negative impact, and all you need to do is keep your child occupied and their attention away from the upcoming changes. 

Your child requires attention. This is something you know, of course, but it is also something that parents often forget when busy moving furniture and packing boxes. But you can integrate your child in the moving activities. This way they will have something to do and will not spend their time feeling ignored and unprepared with the future event. Give them a task, like helping you make the moving checklist, or packing their own room – something to make them feel helpful and relevant. Rewards for a good job will always be welcomed and you can offer anything from a chocolate bar to a new toy. Appreciate the child’s presence even when you are busy with a grand task like moving.

You should make the change as easy as you possibly can by packing the child’s room last. Anything else will bring them discomfort and the more discomfort your kid feels, the more restless they will become, and you do not want to induce stress for them. Help your child deal with the move just the way you are dealing with it. And when you arrive to your new address, unpack your child’s room first, that way they can immediately start acclimatising to the new environment without having to wait for the whole house to be organised. You are also then giving them a choice to either entertain themselves in the new place and return to the familiar room when exhausted, or help you with the unpacking.

Of course, you can always rely on a friend or relative to take care of your child while you prepare the house for your departure, but that means alienating them. It is much better if the child is around so that it gets used to such processes in case future events force another relocation upon you. Only the first move will be difficult, then the child will adapt, so do keep them close and keep them occupied so that they knows what it entails and what to expect if it ever happens again.

Some children can be a nuisance when trying to pack or plan out your move with the removal company. They will always want your attention and distract you which can lead to you forgetting something important. That is exactly why you should find the child something to do as often as you can and tire them out as fast as possible – a long afternoon sleep will both keep them quiet, and let you plan and pack in peace.

Kids can be a difficult thing to handle when moving, but there are always ways to circumvent that and make them a positive part of the moving process. Relocating can be fun as well, as long as you put your mind to it and prepare your child for the event.

There are plenty of removal services and you probably search for the best one or for the cheapest one. Yet there are always options and loopholes to reduce the expenses of your relocation, and here are some of the most famous ones.

- 1 - Doing everything by yourself. This by far the cheapest option instead of hiring a big removal company with professional teams for every task. When you do everything by yourself from the sorting and the packing of your items to the relocation itself and the unboxing - you save quite a lot. Of course, it may take more time and efforts, but it is usually worth it for small removals.

- 2 - Rent only a van. When you want to do everything by yourself and yet your possessions and boxes are just a little bigger than your normal car - you've definitely got to check out this option. Find a removal company in your region and hire only a van. You are the driver too and you have to do everything else by yourself, but the advantage of the van are unsurpassed when moving furniture or for small house removals.

- 3 - Ask more quotes. This is the best way to get more offers and therefore to take a pick of the best one. Stroll through the sites of the agencies in your region and fill numerous quotes with details for your move. They will send you back a quote and the prices should be nearly the same. However, the quotes will help you to choose the cheapest offer and thus to reduce the expenses for the entire move.

- 4 - Do the packing by yourself. Most removal agencies will charge you for all the complimentary services such as the packing of your belongings. That`s why a great idea is to do as much packing work as possible. Get yourself a variety of boxes, bags and other materials. Spend a few more hours sorting, de-cluttering and wrapping, and take full advantage of a lower price for the relocation. On the other hand, you can easily find and get rid of the useless objects, which will minimize the needed volume of the moving van`s cargo area.

- 5 - Find out the best season for the move. In most cases – the lowest rates are definitely in the summertime. Try to avoid moving on big national holidays or during the school vacations as well.

- 6 - Optimise the moving van`s cargo area. From centering the weight of the van to piling small boxes on top of bigger and heavier boxes - there are plenty of tips and tricks to fit your boxes in a smaller van.

- 7 - Removal boxes loopholes. The expenses for boxes usually take a great part in the budget for the move. That`s why another great piece of advice is the know some loopholes for reducing the expenses for boxes. First, if you yet need to buy dozens of different boxes – try to find a company that offers nature friendly or recyclable boxes. There are even companies that offer rental boxes that you have to return after the relocation. Second, use all the possible homemade materials and objects to protect your belongings, instead of packing each individual item in its own box. Use old clothes or blankets maybe as wrappings for kitchen appliances; old newspapers, PE bags and nylon as wrappings for smaller objects, etc. Third, try to fill all the empty objects with something else, such as the fridge and the oven with shoes and clothes, as well as suitcases, backpacks or bags with kid`s toys, books, utensils and more. 

Article provided by: Man with a Van Removals Ltd.

·         Gather up supplies and boxes of different sizes. You will definitely need them so you can accommodate the different needs you will experience. You should ensure you pick good materials and strong boxes. You will also need padding, bubble wrap, wrapping sheets as well as packing tape, scissors and other materials. Labeling stickers and marking pens will also do a great job in the process of packing.

·         Create a “packing station” in your home. Open up some space in one of your rooms and turn it into a focal point for all your packing needs. You must wrap items individually with enough layers to get things well protected. You must put them inside their boxes in careful positions so nothing can get hurt. All the heavy items should be placed at the bottom of the boxes of your choosing. Make sure you avoid placing too many heavy items in large boxes as they will easily break and only serve to damage whatever it is you plan on packing. Make sure you place those items in smaller, stronger boxes so you can make them more manageable. Fragile items will need to be handled with care, wrapping them with bubble wrap and providing them with sufficient padding. If all else fails, simply use newspapers and other paper to fill the empty parts of your boxes.

 ·         Prepare a box with basic supplies and belongings you need to open first. This will most likely have items in it that you will use right away or have been using until the very last moment. Soap, sponges, paper towels, scissors, pens, plastic plates and utensils, bottle openers and towels, knives and so forth. All of these items will be necessary on the first day if not the first few hours after you arrive, so keep that in mind and work on it. If you feel like it, you can also add in some sweets so you'll have a chance to enjoy them when you arrive.

·         Prepare a suitcase of alternately a box for each individual family members well ahead of time. They must include most of their personal belongings, such as personal hygiene items, towels, relaxed wear and at least two changes of clothes for the first days spent in your new home. These will be easy to move and use so they are necessary. Take them along with you as luggage in your car instead of letting the moving company handle them for you. For more interesting tips: movers man and van