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Switching residences is as exciting as it is overwhelming. However, it is an old process that has existed since prehistoric times, when humans were hunting and seeking better lives. If individuals before were looking for a place rich in food that offered protection, today they’re leaving their homes for better education and healthcare systems and better job opportunities.

If you are saying goodbye to your sweet home next year and stressing about how your kids will take it or how to ensure your pets’ safe movement, these tips will help you out.

Be honest with your kids

Start with transparency. As soon as your arrangements are done, talk with your children in age-appropriate language. Are you relocating to be closer to your family? Or is this a job-related move? Inform them in advance and work with their fear of the unknown, if there’s one.

Sometimes, not even the best intentions can help some children. If your children don’t find the long “trip” exciting, a therapist should quickly help them understand the necessary undertaking. Children have an additional sense and can detect even the slightest family mood change, so don’t wait until they’re overwhelmed by your mood swings. Instead, open up to them right away and wipe any doubts, fears, and sadness away. They might need a minute to grasp the news, so give them that too.

Of course, there are several situations requiring a very delicate touch. Consider your child’s bond with your significant other before determining how to initiate the talk, for example, if you’re blending families. There’s no worst age to move a child, just more impractical methods to ensure their quick

Figure out how you’ll move your stuff

If it’s overwhelming to pack for a 2-week trip, no one can stress enough how nerve-wracking it is to pack your whole home. However, there are pieces of furniture you know for sure you’re not leaving without them. Some have emotional value; others are too qualitative to throw away. All in all, such a situation can only beg the question, “How am I going to transport a ton of stuff overseas?”.

And the long-awaited answer is “By container shipping!”. There’s no other easy way to get the job done since your furniture isn’t foldable or lacks the teleporting function. To ensure your furniture will have the trip of its life, be protective of its feelings by using protective plastic wrap, and read more information here to determine how it will be shipped. You can choose 20- or 40ft containers according to the quantity sent. Go with a full-container load if you want your stuff to be shipped ASAP, or choose a less-than container load if you want to move on a budget.

Don’t leave your pets at home

If you’re a pet lover and have a two- or four-legged friend, don’t think they should be left behind with grandparents or friends. The truth is they’re the happiest when they are with you, just like you are around them. Luckily, there are thousands of ways to take them with you. If you’re moving by plane, they can too. The same goes if you’re traveling on land or water.

Here are some tips to ensure your pet is taking the movement well:

  • Prepare an overnight kit and keep it close in case there are urgencies
  • Contact your vet for a complex check-up before you leave
  • Get a pet-friendly chair, pillow or blanket
  • Don’t let your pet out or in dangerous places until you arrive

When you arrive, update their tags or microchip information with the new location and phone number.

Involve your kids in the move

There’s no better way to prepare your toddler or youngster for a significant move than by involving them in the moving process. From packing up treasures to picking a new house, enlist your kids as part of the team. After all, it’s a family event, and if you approach them correctly, they might be even more excited to lock the door of their old home forever.

Give them a vote as you look for a new house by looking at photos online together or using Google Maps to “walk” in the new neighborhood. Consider their needs and preferences when pondering how many rooms the home should have or how they should look. Remember how proud you felt when you were little, and some grown-up would ask for your opinion? Such moments make kids feel important, responsible, and mature.

What about the backyard? Have they always wanted to live in a treehouse? Is it on their wish list to have a swimming pool? Ask for their ideas, listen to their pros and cons, and consider their suggestions while making your decision. Keep the fantasy-house exercise realistic; you don’t want to disappoint your kids if you can’t give them the hillside castle they’ve been dreaming of.

Determine what to do first once you get there

Yes, unpacking and installing are the first things you do when entering your new home’s doors. But the thrill goes away soon, and you and your kids want to keep it going. Therefore, don’t make the first days all about arranging and cleaning, because you have all the time for household chores.

Instead, look in advance at what entertaining activities you can perform in the proximity of your beloved residence and get familiar with them. You can first see the neighborhood and check the closest stores, the best prices and places to eat.

Extra tip: Pay attention to the healthcare system.

Health is the most crucial aspect of life, and many individuals switch countries for better healthcare systems. If this is the underlying reason for your undertaking, too, then you know it.

But if not, make a goal to find the best doctors and clinics in town. Here are some tips on how to do it without relying on online reviews:

  • Evaluate their expertise
  • Evaluate the way the clinic looks
  • Evaluate the customer service
  • Seek referrals
  • Listen to patients’ conversations in the waiting hall
  • Check your insurance
  • Narrow down your choices
  • Prepare questions beforehand.