Packing up your family and uprooting your life can be a stressful time. More often than not, the kids are running around, the summer sun is beating down on you, and the traffic never seems to end. In spite of Murphy's Law, we believe that when you combine the right moving company with a solid packing plan, it’s possible to prevent the chaos that’s so often associated with relocating a family.
Keep the Kids Busy
For a multitude of reasons, summer is usually the busiest moving season. For families, it’s much easier to relocate once the kids are out of school. In fact, a 2017 study by the Census Bureau found that a staggering 48.4% of all moves take place between June and September.
However, with your kids at home, moving can present a whole new set of challenges. To ensure the relocation process continues running smoothly and the kids are out of harm's way, it’s a good idea to keep the little ones busy. Depending on their ages, try a few of these suggestions:
- Hire a babysitter to watch the kids as you pack.
- Assign tasks to children that are age appropriate (i.e., packing stuffed animals, etc.)
- Invite the kids to practice their spelling by labeling boxes.
- Put aside some of the children's favorite items to keep them preoccupied during the moving process.
Mainly, you need to make the whole experience go as quickly and smoothly as possible. By keeping the kids busy, you’ll expedite the packing process while also maintaining your sanity.
Prepare For The Heat
You might be surprised at how suddenly the heat can sneak up on you. While taking the usual precautions such as drinking water or staying in the shade will help, moving at the height of summer can be downright dangerous.
Case in point, The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that about 65,000 people a year end up in emergency rooms because of a heat-related incident. When relocating with the family, be sure to:
- Apply sunscreen
- Avoid caffeine
- Dress for the heat
- Drink water and sport drinks
- Remain in the shade whenever possible
- Stay hydrated several days before the move
Common heat-related illnesses include, but are not limited to sunburns, heat exhaustion, and most dangerously, heat stroke. If you suspect you or a family member is showing symptoms of heat stroke (dizziness, throbbing headaches, lack of sweating, dry skin) be sure to call for immediate medical assistance. While you’re waiting for paramedics, be sure to:
- Move the person (or yourself) into a cooler environment
- Remove hot and/or restrictive clothing
- Monitor body temperature
- Drink cold fluids (not alcohol!)
- Place cold compresses or ice packs under armpits, neck, and/or groin.
Eliminate the added stress by reaching out to a mover early. If you’re planning on relocating in the summer months, be sure to schedule a professional mover at least six weeks in advance. At B.F. Fields Moving & Storage, an award-winning agent for North American Van Lines, we’ll do all the heavy lifting for you so you can kick back and relax while we pack the truck.
Avoid Heavy Summer Traffic
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety considers the summer months “The 100 Deadliest Days.” On average, AAA found that ten people a day die in car accidents during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This saddening statistic marks a 14% increase from the rest of the year.
Although it’s tempting to use your friends and family as movers over three-day weekends, there are more car accidents around Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day than during the rest of the summer. If you’re planning on moving in the summer, use a professional mover to ensure the safety of your belongings so you can focus on the safety of your family.
At B.F. Fields Moving & Storage, we also track our driver’s handling performance through a Quality Claims Ratio Program. This program ensures a safe move from starting location to the destination. All North American Van Lines drivers undergo a detailed road-safety certification test. What’s more, all of our drivers meet the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMCSA) Regulations. It’s important to us that we keep the roads as safe as possible. Plan Ahead With a Schedule
Hiring a reliable mover will keep your move on track. When scheduling a professional mover, you should reach out six to eight weeks before the big day. Remember, nearly half of all relocations take place between the months of June and September! Schedules can often fill up quickly due to the high demand during these months.
Make The Move Easy on Yourself
There is no doubt that moving with a family can be challenging. However, if you plan accordingly and use a professional mover to help you during this transition, many of the typical difficulties of moving with children can be alleviated. If you’re interested in hiring a professional mover, be sure to reach out to B.F. Fields Moving & Storage to get a quote.
