Moving house is stressful enough. Add two kids under eight and a dog who panics when you get the suitcase out, and it’s a whole different level. We moved from the North Shore to East Auckland a while back, and I learned more about planning in that one week than in years of work projects.
These are the things that genuinely helped.
Tell the Kids Early, and Keep Telling Them
Little kids don’t really understand “we’re moving” until the boxes appear. Older ones understand it too well and worry about friends and school.
We told ours a few weeks out, drove past the new house a couple of times, and found the closest playground. Small thing, but it gave them something to look forward to. We also let each kid pack a “special box” of their own favourite things, which they carried in the car rather than on the truck.
Keep Routines Going
Bedtime stories, the usual breakfast, the same Saturday sport. Kids cope with change much better when the little stuff stays the same. It’s tempting to let everything slide when you’re busy. Try not to.
Get the Kids Out on the Day
I know some parents like the kids to be part of it. For us, it was much easier to have Grandma take them for the day. Moving day involves heavy furniture, open doors and a truck reversing. It’s not a great playground.
Same goes for the dog. He spent the day at my sister’s place and we picked him up on the way over that evening. Cats are even more sensitive, and a lot of vets suggest keeping them in one closed room at the new place for a while so they can settle.
School Stuff, Sorted Early
If the move means a new school, start that paperwork as early as you can. Our eldest needed proof of address for enrolment, which we didn’t have until the tenancy agreement was signed. A few days of panic there. Ask the new school what they want, and when, the minute you know you’re going.
Also, pack the school bags and uniforms separately. You do not want to be digging through twelve boxes marked “kids’ clothes” at seven on a Monday morning. I have done that. It was not fun.
The Dog Had Opinions
Our dog noticed the boxes about a week before anyone told him anything. He started following me from room to room and sleeping on the pile of packed stuff, like he was guarding it. So we kept his bed, his bowls and his favourite chewed-up toy out until the very last morning. Those went in the car with us, not on the truck, and came straight out first at the other end.
When we got to the new place, we walked him round the street a couple of times before letting him inside. Then he sniffed every single corner of the house. Took about three days before he stopped pacing at night. Totally normal, the vet told us later.
Set Up Their Rooms First
At the new place, we set up the kids’ beds before anything else. Same bedding, same night light, same soft toys. It meant they had something familiar that first night, even while the lounge was still a maze of boxes.
Pack a First-Night Box for Everyone
Pyjamas, a change of clothes, toothbrushes, any medicines, a couple of toys, snacks, the dog’s food and bowl. Plus a kettle and mugs for the grown-ups. This box rides in the car with you, not on the truck.
Think About Getting Help
With kids around, packing takes about twice as long because you’re interrupted every eight minutes. We ended up paying for packing for the kitchen and lounge, and it was the best money we spent on the whole move.
If you’re looking at movers and packers in Auckland, CityMove is one to consider. They do house moves across Auckland, offer packing and furniture reassembly on the same booking, and can hold things in storage if there’s a gap between keys. Being able to sort it with one phone call meant one less thing to juggle.
One more tip from our move: get quotes from two or three companies, and ask whether GST and fuel are in the price. CityMove includes both in the quote, so the invoice shouldn’t throw up surprises. That matters a lot when you’ve already got school fees, a bond and a vet bill landing in the same fortnight.
After the Move
Give everyone time. Kids can be unsettled for a few weeks. Pets too. Explore the new area together, find the local park and the nearest dairy, and get back into normal routines as fast as you can.
The Short Version
Talk to the kids early, keep routines going, get the little ones and pets out of the way on the day, and set their rooms up first. And if packing with children sounds like a nightmare, it probably will be, so think about getting a hand from a crew that does house moves in Auckland every day.