Moving House with Children in Hertfordshire & Bucks: A Practical Timeline
Moving with children brings an extra layer of planning. Alongside the solicitors and removal quotes there are school runs, clubs, homework and little people who may be feeling unsettled about the change. As a mum of three, I know how much there is to hold in your head.
This is the simple timeline I share with families.
Eight weeks before
- Start decluttering the loft, garage and any storage areas.
- Sort outgrown clothes, toys and baby equipment while the children are at school.
- Think about schools, nurseries and clubs near the new house if they are changing.
Six weeks before
- Book your removal company and any packing or unpacking help.
- Involve older children in choosing what toys and books to keep. Giving them some control helps a lot.
- Begin using up food in the freezer and cupboards.
Four weeks before
- Pack things you will not need: out-of-season clothes, spare bedding, books and decorative items.
- Label every box with the room it is going to in the new home.
- Update your address with schools, doctors and dentists.
One week before
- Pack a first-night box for each child: pyjamas, a favourite toy, toothbrush, a nightlight and their own bedding.
- Pack an essentials box for the kitchen: kettle, mugs, snacks, plates, cutlery and phone chargers.
- Arrange for the children to spend moving day with family or friends if you can.
Moving day
- Set up the children's bedrooms first so they have a familiar, calm space to come back to.
- Keep the first-night boxes with you in the car, not on the van.
The first two weeks
- Prioritise the kitchen, bedrooms and the morning routine: coats, shoes and school bags near the door.
- Leave decorative unpacking until everyday life is running smoothly.
- Be patient with everyone. It takes a little while for a new house to feel like home.
Planning a move?
All my moving home work runs through Your Moving Day, the specialist decluttering and unpacking service I run with my business partner Ruth and our small, female-led team. Read more on my moving home page, or go straight to Your Moving Day to tell us about your move.