https://unsplash.com/photos/QR_vT8_hBZM

Making big changes is all part of life. You’ve been through dozens so far, and you got through them just fine. But for some reason, whenever something significant looms over us, we like to go into panic mode – even those with a relatively level head. The pressure of something always seems to be magnified and amplified in our heads, when really the reality is fairly smooth sails. 

The high-pressure part of life we’re about to go into detail about is the normal, sensible matter of relocating. We all have to do it at some point as life takes us in different directions, resulting in big domestic changes being needed. For some, moving homes sends shockwaves through their brains as all the possible problems shoot around their thoughts. Whilst it takes a bit of work and some critical thinking, it’s not the most difficult process in the world. If you’re currently in the position whereby the move is closing in and you’re not 100% sure about how to handle it, let’s go through some things you can do. 

Plan

If you’re going into it like a headless chicken, then you’re going to come into some problems along the way, aren’t you? It’s best to sit down a few days before and run through absolutely everything that the day will entail. Make sure you have all of the necessary pieces of information down because you don’t want to get to the big day and miss out on something. It might seem tedious to some, but having a clear idea of what’s in front of you will take a bit of pressure away from you. 

Make Sure You Have The Energy

It’s a day that takes its toll on you, mentally and physically. It’s hard to just tell someone this, but try to get enough sleep the night before – you don’t want to go into this with a wrecked mind. You’ll also want to make sure you eat a big breakfast and take some filling snacks with you while you work. The physical labour might drain you, so make sure you keep refilling the tank.  

Hire Movers 

Sometimes you might feel like superman or wonder woman and want to handle everything yourself. This isn’t the best time or that, however. A lot of work has to be done, so the best course of action is to bring in people that are skilled at this exact thing. Getting in contact with your local removalist company would save you so much trouble. It might cost a little, but the idea here is to smoothly transition from A to B, and soliciting expert help would be the most sensible thing to do here.  

Take Breaks

When you feel like you have so much to do, the idea of sitting down (or lying down!) and taking a big break might seem counterproductive. Nope. When you have a little rest, your mind replenishes and your physical energy comes back. Do you often find that when you been working at something for hours and suddenly hit a wall, you return from a break and suddenly see all of the solutions? I bet you do. Do be afraid to have a little stoppage.

You’ll know when it’s time to move on, when your living space no longer comfortably seats you. Plus children and assorted pets or when working from home feels like the walls are closing in.
Then it’s time to pack up and upscale your living quarters.

Buying a new house is a healthy mixture of excitement and fear. Excitement in climbing the next rung on the property ladder. One step closer to your dream home, but fear of everything that comes with that. Money, time, complicated legal paperwork to name but a few house moving anxieties.

The process often begins relaxed enough. Browsing a few home sale sites and daring to dream about some of the properties you come across. Reality can set in pretty quickly when you’re negotiating down prices. Wondering if your dream home is, in fact a nightmare of rising damp and crumbling walls.

To avoid new move dramas, we’ve scoured the best of the web for handy hints and top tips to help make your next big move smooth sailing.

Preparation Is Everything

Perhaps you’re the kind of person who keeps everything neatly filed from the get go. All your plans and documentation are color-coded and it’s easy to lay your hands on just the right piece of paper. Or perhaps you find juggling school runs, work and home quite enough and wouldn’t even know where to find that mortgage statement or dental appointment letter.

If you’re the latter, now’s the time to get one file started: your moving file. In that, you’re going to need bank statements, mortgage statements, forms of identification and everything you’ll need to make the process of moving house as hassle free as possible. All these documents can be stored online as an extra precaution.

But hold everything, before you press play on buying your dream house you’re going to have to overcome one big hurdle: selling your own.

Here’s where it starts getting really complicated. Having the two processes running simultaneously in your head at the same time is enough to drive you crazy. That’s why, at this stage, you need to put the dream house on hold and get your house sold.

Getting Sale Ready

Before you even reach for the phone to call your realtor, start getting your property in sale shape. The best place to start is with a thorough decluttering. This can be the longest and toughest part of the process but be tough, be ruthless; when it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

Every room, every cupboard, every drawer in your property should be gone through with a fine tooth comb and anything that no longer fits, that is no longer played with or remembered needs to go to the seconds shop, or to the trash.

If you struggle to let go of objects for sentimental reasons consider gifting them to friends and family instead.

All done? You’re ready for the next step:

Be The Buyer

It’s time to look at your property through the eyes of a potential buyer. Begin at the beginning, go outside and take a good long look at the exterior of your property. What do you see? Crumbling paintwork, windows that have seen better days? If you’ve got the money to patch up some of this work, then consider getting it done. You don’t have to spend a fortune and anything you spend out should come back to you and more when it comes to your sales figure.

Employ contractors you trust for painting and professionals such as Renewal by Andersen window replacement for windows and external doors. Shop around and get a quote that sounds reasonable and fair and that can be done to a timescale that suits you.

Next, head inside. How welcoming is your hallway? What are the first impressions of this home? Perhaps you have coats strewn across the floor or gloves and hats hanging off the radiators, tell family members there are new rules now.

Take your time and slowly work your way around the house trying to imagine what each room tells your viewer. If you struggle to separate yourself from your house, then have a friend walk around with you and give you the honest truth.
All those little DIY jobs that you’ve been meaning to do, your friend’s going to tell you all about them.

Set Up Viewings

When you’re sale ready, it’s time to get in the professionals. There are plenty of options for selling your house yourself and setting up your own sales viewings but unless you know exactly what you’re doing, handing over the responsibility to a third party is often the best option.

While it’s tempting to watch over the viewings and chip in with advice and information, it rarely helps a sale and letting your realtor guide people through your home will speed the process along. Besides how would you feel if you heard viewers criticizing your bespoke furniture or favorite rug?

Not every viewing is going to lead to an offer and likewise, not every offer is going to lead a sale. There may be several false starts along the way. These aren’t your fault or your problem; they’re very much a part of the process.

Then the day comes when you get an offer, you accept and your house sale starts slowly edging its way forward. Now’s the time to get your logistics going with the selling/buying chain.

Many people opt to take the pressure off the chain by moving into temporary accommodation and placing their goods in storage for a month or so, but with a smaller budget this might not be an option for everyone.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Get Packing

Whether you move yourself or have a removals company do it for you. Make sure your goods are handled with care and attention to making unpacking easier the other side.

Look forward to that first cup of coffee in your new home, and start planning how you’re going to redecorate your perfect new abode.

We always hear about how much effort it takes to pick up your life and moves. Going places, whether to a new city for a new job, moving city to move into the home of your dreams, or simply moving down the block, is much easier than you think. It’s all about getting your ducks in line which is basically done during the planning phase. This doesn’t require for you to get up and physically get ready, packing and itemising everything you own. However, it does mean you’ll need more than just a pen and paper to write down a list. Just think about the plethora of items in your home and what techniques you should be using to simplify things. This way you can stock and package all your things in an orderly manner, not only to be able to quickly unload them into your new home but so you can find anything by going through a methodical locating process. It’s wise to sit down with the family and discuss the certain kinds of packing rules you want to be followed, such as fragile items packed together, and clothes separate from any food

you’re taking etc.

Image by Nicholas Huk

Categorizing brings order

Think about the different types of home objects you have and put them into groups. This could be done simply by categorizing the material they’re made of such as glass, wood, fabric, leather, clay/porcelain, metal and plastics etc. it’s wise to keep them packed close to each other as they will be easier to unload when you get to your new place. It’s also a great way to remember the items you have as normally when you want to identify something you go straight to what it’s made out of rather than what it’s function or meaning to the home is. This is just one way to pack. However, you could actually just relate to the function if you want to, such as lights and lamps, tables and chairs, sofas and footrests, technology and other electronics, etc. it’s up to you, whatever makes it easier not only to pack but to find things and tick them off your list when unpacking.

KODIAK, Alaska – Professional movers do all of the heavy lifting during a Kodiak-based Coast Guard family’s move to their next duty station June 11, 2012. For families like the Lally’s, having professional movers help with their change of station eases stress during what could be a busy time. U.S. Coast Guard photo by petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.

Source Jonathan Klingenberg

Doing the minimum

Contrary to what you may have seen in movies, moving day doesn’t have to be hectic and almost out of control all the time. In fact, the hardest part isn’t the actual travel and booking moving trucks; it’s the legal stuff. Once you’ve signed and made everything official with the home, next, it’s how you deal with the Moving Companies. You might have special things or very valuable items that you want guarantees that if broken or damaged by the company you hire, that you will be compensated and or have it replaced. If this is something you’re already thinking about, it’s wise to treat every moving company as individuals and really study their policy regarding insurance. A particular company may have more experience handling pricey items, and consequently may be better at wrapping and protecting your things using their own techniques and procedures.

Tackle this great event in your life with high energy and rather than waste it getting angry and tired quickly, plan ahead and take your time. Categorize all your things so everything that’s connected is close by and neatly moved as one group. Consider who you’re going to hire to help you move, read their policy and take into account their experience level.

Pexels

A big move to a new town or city comes with its fair share of anxieties and stresses, and this can be doubly so if you have young children. The task of getting ready to move, combined with the settling into a new area can take its toll, so when it comes to getting things done, what can you do to make it a swifter and easier process overall?

The first part is about getting your soon to be vacated property cleared out properly. You will need the help of movers, not just for the basic moving of your household items, but some moving companies also provide storage facilities. If you are moving a big distance, and you’re selling your home, you will want to get rid of a lot of your clutter quickly too, so if you are under pressure to get out ASAP then relying on professionals will help to make the process run smoother. Once you have finalized everything from the vacated home, you can begin to set up your new life in your new location.

Once you’ve made the big move, the first things on the list to tick off are any maintenance issues. Check the plumbing and the sinks and faucets for any abnormal leaking. You can also check to see if there is an invisible leak by checking the water meter once and then checking a few hours later but without using any water in that time period. You should also change the locks because you don’t know about everyone who has lived there before you. Also, find out where your water stop tap is and where your circuit breaker/fuse box is right away. That will be your lifesaver if you get a power cut. And get your insurance comprehensively covered. It will depend on the area and the house how much you should pay per month, but it’s in your best interest if you have valuables and are making a bit of a blind leap into this new neighborhood, especially if you had to relocate swiftly due to a job offer for example.

Once the big stuff has been dealt with, it’s time to get to know the area properly. This will be your home for the foreseeable future, and if you have children going to a new school. If you have toddlers, the effect may not be as bad as those who are older. As they will be starting again, you should be prepared for emotional highs and lows, especially if you have teenagers who feel they don’t fit in. What you need to do is to get them into their old routine as quick as possible. This isn’t meant to “paper over the cracks” but merely provide them with something they know to be able to adapt to their surroundings better.

It can take a while for everyone to adjust, but by making the transition as smooth as possible, from the moving to the children settling in, it will make living somewhere new a better life for everyone.

It’s little secret that buying a property can be stressful at the best of times. The market is so confusing, there is a tonne of legal jargon to get your head around, and there’s no guarantee you will even walk away with a house at the end of it all, either! If you are already a homeowner, you will know this only too well. But there’s one thing that can make the whole process even more difficult than normal, and that is having children. Buying your home was hard enough, and that was when you only had yourself to think about. If you are currently pregnant, or if you already have kids and desperately need to move to a bigger house, you automatically have a lot more responsibility on your shoulders. We all know how easy it can be to get carried away by big, dreamy family homes – and due to the competitive nature of the market, many people end up putting deposits down in a panic on a house that doesn’t meet their family’s needs. If you are someone who is wanting to upgrade their family home but who doesn’t want to rush into an unsuitable sale, take a look at these tips below for finding your perfect nest.

Image source

Choose practicality over your emotions

How our homes make us feel is a huge part of why we love them, and what draws us to them in the first place. For example, you may be entranced by a property you view with a stunning garden, one that looks as though it is straight out of a fairytale. Or you may fall in love with a period property that still retains plenty of its old Georgian decor and fixtures, such as adorned worktops and a spiral staircase. All of these sound breathtaking and can add a whole lot of personality and vibrancy to your home. But try and step back from your emotions for a second and look at the practicality of such features. Sure, the property with the amazing garden might capture your imagination. But if said garden backs onto a busy highway, and you have two or three ruthless children, is it the best option for your family? The same thing goes for the stunning period property. All those Georgian features might make you melt, but are those cabinets at just the right height for your child to bang their head on, and the staircase impossible for your three-year-old to navigate? It might pain you to do so on a personal level, but disregard properties like this that simply won’t work for everyday living. Your future self will thank you for it!

Image source

Bear in mind all aspects of the neighborhood

When you move house, you are not only moving to a new set of bricks and mortar. You are also moving to a new neighborhood, which will be full of new people, new amenities and new sights. As a general rule, always consider the area before you even look at any properties. You need to make sure it is a family friendly neighborhood – somewhere that your children can thrive in. Of course, everywhere has good and bad in it, and reading online forums are unlikely to give you a real view of what a particular place is like. Instead, read up on the practical things you know you can trust (like the ratings of the local schools), and then visit the area with your children in tow. Sometimes you just get a good feeling from certain places, and if you get that when you visit a prospective neighborhood, you know you can go ahead and start looking at properties.

Image source

Make sure you have enough room

The number one reason why families move home is because of a lack of space in their current property. Children may be small, but they sure do come with a lot of stuff! You also need to be aware of any privacy your children will start to require as they move into their teenage years. For example, there is no point buying a two bedroom property just because your two young twins still currently share a bedroom. By the time they reach puberty, they are going to want some of their space, so invest in a three bed instead. This will save you a lot of hassle in the future. It can also be worth buying a home with an attic or a basement, as this gives you the option to carry out a future conversion if you so wish. Attic and basement conversions can add thousands of pounds onto a property’s value, so don’t rule this out when buying a family home.
Image source

Image Credit:

Your first home is undoubtedly the one that you’ll remember more than any ever in life. However, as your family circumstances change with time, it’s quite likely that you’ll need to a bigger and better property. It’s not that there is anything wrong with your starter home, you’ve simply outgrown it.

It can be a stressful process. In addition to the financial elements, you now have kids to worry about too. Therefore, taking the right steps towards a successful and efficient move is essential. Here’s all you need to know.

1)Finding The Right Location
When you move home, you aren’t just looking for a new property; you are starting a new chapter in your lives. Whether you’re moving five miles down the road or 500 doesn’t matter. You need to know that the new place is situated in a place where you can live happily for years to come.

This should have been an important factor last time. However, second time homebuyers have an even greater need to find the right property in the right location. After all, there’s a strong chance you’ll be spending a long time in this new home.
As well as using the help of experts, you should test the waters yourself. Drive through the area late at night to check noise levels, and use the internet to check crime rates and other important elements.

2)Finding The Right Home
Finding the right neighborhood for your family is a vital starting point. Nonetheless, the most important thing is that you find the right property. Let’s face it; this will be the focus on your long-term happiness.

With a growing family, there are a number of things that you need to look for in the new home. Space is obviously top of the agenda while simple things like color schemes shouldn’t bother you too much. Perhaps most importantly, though, a property survey will give you the peace of mind that the building is safe and secure.
It might take months to stamp your personality on the property. By having those key elements in place from day one, though, you’ll make that transition far smoother.

https://static.pexels.com/photos/77931/pexels-photo-77931.jpeg
Image Credit:

3)Selling Your Existing Property
Unless you’ve suddenly come into a huge cash injection, your move to the new home relies heavily on the sale of your current home. You cannot afford to forget it.
As a homebuyer yourself, you already know what potential investors want from a property. Going the extra mile to ensure the existing property sells for the best price is key. Moreover, you need it to sell fast. Otherwise, it could be holding up the purchase of the next property.

If all else fails, you could use quick cash sales or send it to auction. As long as you take the necessary precautions, though, you should be just fine.

4)Preparing For The Big Day
The process of selling a home and buying a new one is extremely stressful. But you’d be a fool to think it ends on the move day. If you have children, it’s likely to be one of the longest days of your life. That’s not to say it isn’t worth the hassle. Nevertheless, you should be prepared.

Moving is a big deal for your kids, especially if they are leaving behind their friends. Ensuring that you pack the car with some entertaining features like a DVD player can make a big difference throughout the journey. Meanwhile, you should promise them a trip to a local attraction in the days following your move.

At some stage in our lives, we find ourselves needing to get out of situations. From all social circumstances down to financial situations. There will always be a time in your life where you are looking to improve things or get out of things. But, I find there are two common themes that I think all of us will want to exit at some stage in our lives. Your work, and your home. Of course, not always for bad reasons either. You may have got a better job with more prospects, or suddenly afford to live in a larger home in a prosperous area. But, of course, there will always be the negative side of things. I thought it would be handy to share with you all some tips on how to get out of the two most common scenarios we can all face. Be it a good reason or bad, these should help you get things moving much faster.

1-1226855068M3Db.jpg
Sourced picture

Moving out of your home, quick
Whether you want a bigger place, a better area, or simply don’t want to live in your current home anymore, moving house can seem like an epic thing to do and a long drawn out event. The whole buying and renting process can be stressful with money passing hands, checks that need to be done, so it’s understandable that people would assume you can’t do this fast. But getting yourself a financial associate to handle all of that for you can take some of that stress away and speed things up. Moving doesn’t have to be the headache you imagine it to be. With moving services online to help you with the whole process, you can actually be out of one home and into the next in no time at all. Sometimes we have to help ourselves, so packing items up strategically to help in your new place is an excellent tip to take on board. Pack for your new home and make sure you use this opportunity to get rid of any unwanted items or clutter you have hoarded over the years. Moving home is always a chance for a fresh start, no matter what the circumstances may be.

Changing jobs and career, fast

I think anyone can get a little disheartened with their jobs at some stage in their lives. No matter how much you love it and gain job satisfaction from it. But there will be scenarios in your career where you change job. You may want the next career step and move for a promotion, perhaps even changing your career altogether and learning new skills and venturing into a new industry. Changing jobs is much easier than people would think. As long as you adhere to any contractual obligations you have such as a notice period and working for competitors, you can move from one job to the next with ease. The main thing to consider would be the reasons for you wanting to move. You have to ensure that you won’t find yourself in the same situation weeks later, as consistently changing jobs can have a detrimental effect on your resume.

I hope you find some of the information useful should you find yourself in any of these situations in the future.

Preparing a home move is one of those things that is not stressful until the moving day arrives and then you suddenly find that you don’t have enough hands to pack it all. We can’t make the move easier, but planning well in advance can sure make it go a lot smoother on your nerves and minimise the moving shock for your children. Here, we have compiled your top 3 essential steps to guide you through the process and help you keep your head cool and your smile bright.

Don’t Leave The Emotional Goodbyes For The Last Minute

Moving out is a big deal: It means leaving a life behind to settle elsewhere. Even if you are moving only a few streets away, make sure that you let your kids enough time to adjust to the idea of a new home. There is no way around it: You will need to bring the news to them as early as you can. They might be tears, there might be anger, there might be sulking. But your kids will need to prepare emotionally for a new life and it is only fair to plan time for a Goodbye party with their friends, and for a last walk in their favourite spots.

Image by Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/angelganev/14582720768)

As a working mommy, it’s not always easy to make room in your agenda for these. Therefore the more time you give your kids to think about moving out, the better it will be. Keeping organised at this point is essential to make sure that you can help your kids keep happy memories throughout the moving.

Don’t Do It On Your Own

Packing and moving out represent a tremendous amount of work to prepare. So why should you do it on your own? Ask friends and relatives to give you a hand with packing the seasonal boxes in advance: For example, if you are moving in April, you can safely pack all your Halloween and Christmas decorations away and store them in the garage. You don’t need to hack through hundreds of boxes. Just pack a little regularly, and allow for breaks. Why not combine the seasonal decoration packing with a nice barbecue and an afternoon out, for instance? By doing this, and planning step by step, you can fully enjoy every day and still create fond memories that will be precious to keep your spirits up.

Moving image from Flickr https://flic.kr/p/8hKLE

Help can come in different shapes, so make sure that you also book a cleaner using, for example, the Whizz app to enjoy a last time your favourite restaurant with the kids while the house is being cared for.

Be The Queen Of Planning

As a rule of the thumb, you can count 8 to 12 weeks of planning for a smooth and almost stress-free moving day. Moving out is never without stress, but you can avoid most of it if you start well ahead. There are more than just boxes and goodbyes to think of when you decide to change address and neighbourhood. You will be facing questions of complex logistic (“How many boxes do I need? Will they all fit in one moving truck?”), difficult financial calculations (“How much does it cost and how can I make it cheaper without losing on quality?”), mindboggling geographical considerations (“Where do we live again? I can’t find the way to the new house!”), etc. So make sure to take as much pressure off as you can by putting on your planning hat and starting early.  

Have you ever dreamed of moving to Australia? A lot of people have but don’t ever get around to investigating the possibility. If an opportunity has come up for you or you want to find one, there are some fantastic reasons to move there. As a parent, you might worry about the upheaval your children will have to experience. They will have to leave behind what they know and start a new life. But Australia can be an incredible place to raise a family. Both parents and children alike will be glad they took the risk to experience something new. Check out these incredible reasons to move.

Family Homes and Neighborhoods

Depending on where you live now and where you move to, you could upgrade your home if you move. Australia has plenty of spacious and beautiful family homes. What’s more, many of the cities are currently experiencing a lot of development. Some of the suburbs are receiving new homes that are modern and high-standard. They are usually very close to the CBD of the city too. You’ll find some great estate agents to find property for your big move. They can help you to discover some of the newer neighborhoods that come with excellent amenities for both kids and adults.

Outdoor Lifestyle

One of the excellent things about Australia is the weather. In fact, it’s what makes many people want to move there. While some places can get a little chilly in the winter or experience storms, there’s plenty of sunshine in the summer. This means that many people have a very outdoor lifestyle. People like to exercise and engage in sports outside, from running to surfing. You can also just spend time sitting outside on a sunny day. This is excellent for kids, giving them plenty to do and ensuring they aren’t stuck inside.

Work/Life Balance

A lot of people worry that they work too much but feel that they can’t cut their hours. People in Australia are often much happier with their work/life balance. There’s a better emphasis on sensible working hours and enjoying leisure time. While this is obviously good for you, it’s also excellent for your kids. You’ll be able to spend more time with them, whether it’s at home or on the beach. Plus, many Australians are much happier when they are at work. If you’re happier, your family will be happier too.

Health and Happiness

Happiness and health are two of the main attractions for living in Australia. The desirable work/life balance and the emphasis on fitness are ideal for families. If you want your children to grow up valuing their health and happiness, Australia could be the right place for it. Don’t think that you’ll be isolated in Australia, either. You have the whole country to explore, as well as places in Asia and Australasia to visit. Plus, the heavy amounts of sunshine are sure to help anyone be happier.

Australia attracts many people each year, both as visitors and residents. It could be the ideal place for your family – if you can get in.