Moving can be an overwhelming experience, especially when it involves navigating both a home sale and a home purchase. It gets even more complicated when children and other relatives are involved. It’s important to do everything you can to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved. It can be a very emotional experience. Yet, important practical and financial decisions must be made to protect your family’s best interests.
Challenges of Moving with a Family
Buying and selling real estate is often stressful enough on the parents. It can be easy to overlook how the experience is affecting the children. Younger children are generally more adaptable. Teenagers may have a tougher time leaving their friends and comfortable routines. You may also have grandparents or other relatives involved in the move. Multi-generational living has become a popular trend in recent years since the pandemic. This just adds another layer of complexity when making a big move.
Finding the Right Community and Home
Other than the challenge of keeping a family home clean for showings, the home selling process can go relatively smoothly with the right preparation, planning and real estate representation. Finding the right new home and neighborhood for your family can be more daunting. You have to consider the immediate needs of your children, while also anticipating future needs as they grow.
Do your research about schools in the area around any new homes you are considering. Look at community amenities that are important to your family (or may be important in the future). Find a neighborhood that fits your budget and works for your family dynamic. Also, consider the size, floor plan and other features of the house. How much space do you need? What is the ideal use of space? How will the house work for you, your children and anyone else living there? Your budget may limit your options, but proper research and planning can help you make the best decision for your family’s new home.
Tips for a Smoother Family Move
Here are a few more tips to help you navigate a complex and emotional family journey as you move from one home to another:
Create a Plan
A successful family move will require organization, prioritization and attention to detail. The more you are prepared, the easier it will be on everyone.
Communicate Openly
They may not always be easy conversations, but do what you can to involve your children in the process. Talk with them openly. Answer their questions. Find ways to get them excited about moving to a new place. One great tip is to assign roles to everyone in the family. Each person may be responsible for certain tasks. Even if you are making the final decisions, the kids will feel more involved and engaged if they have some sense of ownership over various aspects of the move.
Visit & Research
Moving to a new location without doing your research can be a risky idea. Plan a family trip to the area to see what it is really like. Spend a little time there and know as much as you can about the house, the neighborhood and the community before making any major decisions.
Manage Your Emotions
Everyone gets emotional during a move, including the main decision makers. That is perfectly normal. Understand everyone will have their own feelings, frustrations and trepidations. As the family leader, however, you have to make an effort to manage your emotions in front of the family. If you are on edge all the time and showing that to your kids, just imagine what they are feeling throughout the move.
Maintain Routines
Even though the moving process is anything but routine, do what you can to maintain normal family rituals and routines. This will help everyone feel more comfortable along the journey.
These are a few tips and issues to consider when planning a big move with your family. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Southeastern Pennsylvania or Northern Delaware areas, it’s never too early to start planning. Contact The Cyr Team today. We are a family team, and we will share our real estate experience to help you and your family get the most out of your move.