Choosing the right time for a family move
If you have school-age children, the summer holidays are the most popular window because nobody misses lessons and there is time to settle before September. The catch is that everyone else has the same idea, so summer dates book up early.
Moving during term can work well too, particularly if children are staying at the same school. They keep their friends and routine while the house changes around them. Our guide to the best time of year to move compares the seasons in more detail.
Whichever you choose, book your survey early so the date can be planned around the school calendar rather than squeezed into whatever is left.
Preparing children before the move
Children cope best when they know what is happening and feel part of it. How you explain it depends on their age, but the same principles apply.
- Tell them early and honestly. Explain why you are moving and answer questions, including the difficult ones about friends and school.
- Show them the new area. Visit if you can, or look together at parks, clubs and the walk to school.
- Give them a job. Let them pack a box of their own things and decorate the label.
- Keep a comfort bag back. A favourite toy, book, blanket or game should travel with them, never in the lorry.
- Plan goodbyes. A last visit to friends or a favourite place helps them close one chapter before starting the next.
Moving day with children
A house full of boxes, open doors and people carrying furniture is not a safe place for toddlers. If you can, ask a grandparent or friend to look after younger children for the day, then bring them to the new home once beds are up.
Older children can help with small jobs, such as checking rooms are empty or guiding the crew to their new bedroom. Keep a bag of snacks, drinks and chargers to hand so nobody runs out of patience.
Pack children's bedrooms last and unpack them first. A familiar bed, the same duvet and their own things on the shelves make a new house feel like home far faster.
Getting pets ready in the weeks before
Pets notice change long before the boxes come out. A little preparation keeps them calmer.
- Get them used to the carrier. Leave it open with a favourite blanket inside so it becomes a safe den rather than a trip to the vet.
- Short car journeys. Dogs who rarely travel benefit from a few practice drives.
- See the vet. Check vaccinations are up to date, collect records and ask about ways to keep an anxious animal settled.
- Update ID. Have a new tag ready and change the microchip details to your new address and phone number.
- Keep their things till last. Bedding and toys carry familiar smells that help them settle at the other end.
Pets on moving day and in the first weeks
On the day itself, keep pets away from the activity. A pet sitter, kennel, cattery or friend's house is ideal. If they must stay home, shut them in an emptied room with water, bedding and a sign on the door so nobody opens it by mistake.
Pets should travel in your car, never in the back of a removal lorry. Do not leave them alone in a parked car, especially in warm weather, and plan breaks on longer journeys.
At the new home, set up one quiet room with their bed, bowls and litter tray before letting them explore. Keep cats indoors for the first few weeks, walk dogs on a lead until they know the area, and stick to usual feeding times. Speak to your vet if their behaviour changes and does not settle.
Moving abroad with children and pets
An international move adds school places, healthcare registration and pet travel rules to the list. Allow at least three to four months to plan, and longer if pets need vaccinations or health certificates before they can travel.
Rules for taking pets abroad differ by country and change from time to time, so check the official government guidance for your destination and talk to your vet early. Our moving abroad checklist and international removals pages explain how 1st Choice handles the household side of an overseas move.
How 1st Choice helps families on moving day
We are a family business ourselves, and we know moving day is as much about people as furniture. Our full-time uniformed crews protect floors, banisters and door frames so you can concentrate on the children and animals rather than on the carpet.
If time is short, our packing service can take the kitchen and fragile items off your list, and storage can bridge a gap between homes. To plan your family's move, get in touch or call 01202 570970.
