Single career professionals are not the only ones seeking out furnished apartments. From time to time, families with children find themselves in need of temporary housing while they’re working on a home renovation or building a new house or relocating to a new city and looking for a permanent home.
So, let’s talk about what it’s like to relocate to a fully furnished apartment when you throw kids into the equation. Moving is a lot of work, and kids add to the load. Not to mention, one apartment for an entire family may sound unrealistic.
While we won’t try to tell you that relocating with kids is easy, we are here to make it easier. Keep reading for tips on moving to and living in a furnished apartment with kids.
Pick practically.
There’s a lot to consider when leasing a temporary apartment for your family. You want to make sure it’s big enough, and it would be nice to know that the neighbors are pleasant. Some things you can control, and some things you can’t. Here are a few things to take note of before deciding on your family’s furnished apartment:
- Lease timeline. Make sure you’re not locking yourself into a lease that’s longer than you need. Apartment leases are expensive to break, which is one reason it’s so great to work with relocation services that provide flexible lease agreements.
- Location. Of course, you want your apartment to be in a convenient location, but you should also make sure the neighborhood is kid-friendly. If you’re sharing a downtown apartment with four kids who have nowhere to play but in the middle of Main Street, you’re going to tire of apartment life very quickly!
- Bedrooms. Don’t skimp on bedrooms just because your stay is temporary. Remember, apartments are smaller than houses, so the more bedrooms you have, the easier it will be to find a quiet room where your toddler can take a nap or an out-of-the-way place where kids can play.
- Community amenities. Every apartment community has its own unique culture. Some places cater to young professionals with community cocktail parties, and others are more family-oriented with playgrounds or family movie nights on the lawn. Better to find out what type of community a place is before signing your entire family up.
Show your kids the new apartment ahead of time.
If you’re moving into a fully furnished apartment, try to make arrangements so that your kids can see the space before you actually move in. This will help them feel more comfortable with the idea of moving because they’ll know what to expect.
If it’s not possible to tour the apartment ahead of time, at least show them the apartment community online and explain to them what it will be like to live there. Get the kids excited about amenities they can take advantage of, such as the swimming pool or the games in the community area.
Pack with your kids.
At first, it may sound like an invitation for chaos, but letting your kids help you pack accomplishes a few purposes. The main purpose is to help prepare your kids to say goodbye to their current home. As they’re packing, they’ll also have plenty of chances to ask questions about the move, which will build their confidence as moving day approaches.
The best way to pack with your kids is to give them a contained area, several labeled boxes, and instructions to put everything into the boxes. Let your perfectionism go, and trust them to get the job done. They may surprise you!
Remember, labeling is key. You’ll thank yourself later.
Pack an overnight bag.
If you’re moving your family into an apartment that’s already fully furnished, you won’t be arriving with as much luggage as you otherwise would. However, when you arrive, you will likely be just as exhausted. The last thing you’ll feel like doing is searching through all of your bags and boxes for your 8-year-old’s toothbrush or your 2-year-old’s stuffed cow that he refuses to sleep without.
By packing overnight bags, you can send your kids to their rooms with everything they need for a good night’s rest, which means you will rest better, too.
Make it an adventure, but stay true to routines.
Kids love adventures. Get them excited about all of the things you’re going to do together in your new apartment community—but also make sure you stick to their routines as much as possible. If your kids are used to reading a book before bedtime, make sure you pack and bring some of their favorites along. Little things like this can do a lot to give them a sense of stability in their new setting.
Ready to get moving?
We’re here to help with all of your relocation needs. Contact us today if you’d like a capable team in your corner during your family’s big move.
