Moving in the summer can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s convenient if you have children who will need to change schools, but hot temps can give packers and homeowners pause.
According to truck rental company U-Haul, 17 to 20 million people in the U.S. may move this summer, with nearly 45 percent of those moves occurring between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Here are SEVEN tips to help ensure smooth moving all summer long:
1. Plan your move mid-month and mid-week. Summertime is when most people move, including those with small children and people in the military. Movers may be overbooked and the prices may be a little higher than other times of the year.
If possible, plan your move for mid-month and mid-week instead of during a long holiday weekend (when everyone else has the same idea).
2. Make a game out of packing and unpacking. Get your kids into the whole moving thing by rewarding them for packing and unpacking their rooms. You can award them prizes or promise them a trip for ice cream after their rooms are good to go.
3. Allow children to “label” boxes. Turn those cardboard boxes into blank canvases for aspiring Picassos. This will not only keep them busy while packing and cleaning are swirling around them, it will help get them excited about their new home and new adventure.
4. Keep necessities handy. In your easy-access box with necessary goodies like toothbrushes and favorite toys, be sure to include your children’s transcripts, vaccination records (for kids and pets) and other important documents you’ll need in order to register them for school.
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Every time you load or unload the boxes and furniture for one room, take a water break. Be sure to keep snacks handy for little ones, too. And don’t forget to provide hydration for any professional movers or friends you’ve enlisted to help you settle into your new home.
6. Give your kids a jumpstart on making friends. If possible, enroll your children in summer camp or community activities or sports that will encourage them to meet new friends prior to school starting. This way they’ll feel a little less intimidated on the first day and set themselves up for a successful year.
7. Take advantage of amenities before you move in. In some communities, resident amenities are made available for use as soon as you sign on your builders’ dotted line and make a significant deposit. In Nocatee, this means future residents can enjoy Splash Water Park, Spray Water Park, a zipline, kayak launch, dog parks, resident events and activities, and all other amenities while their homes are still being built.
Lock down a new home and spend the summer meeting new friends and neighbors prior to moving in. It’s a win win.
For more information on new homes available and the Nocatee lifestyle, explore www.Nocatee.com, stop by the Nocatee Welcome Center or call 1-904-924-6863.
