Small Movers, Big Thoughts – A Child’s Eye View of Moving Home

Small Movers, Big Thoughts – A Child’s Eye View of Moving Home

If you’re thinking about moving house in 2024, there’s a lot to mull over, especially if you have children to consider.

We know how important (and valuable) it is to listen to your kids when you’re selling up and moving on – they always have lots of thoughts and feelings about it.

We spoke with a six-year-old, Olivia, about her family’s recent move.

Her insights are fascinating and help us see things from a kid’s point of view.

1) New friends

“I was a bit sad to leave my friend next door. But guess what? There’s a girl next door at the new house, too. That made me excited!”

2) A bigger space

“I thought our new house would be bigger, and I was right! There’s more room for my toys.”

3) My own room

“I got my own room in the new house! No more listening to my big sister’s snoring all night.”

4) Packing adventures

“We had to put all our things in boxes. It was a lot of work and sometimes confusing.”

5) Room size wonders

“I kept wondering just how big my new room would be.”

6) First thoughts

“When I saw our new house, I thought, ‘Very nice but a bit old.’”

7) Kitchen fun

“There’s a breakfast bar in the kitchen. I can eat my cereal there!”

8) The moving process

“Moving is easy-peasy. You pack, get in the car, drive to your new house, and look around.”

9) First night fun

“We slept on a mattress on the floor the first night. It was like camping!”

10) Mixed feelings

“I felt happy, excited, sad and glad all at once. It’s a bit strange but mostly good.”

Reflections and advice from a six-year-old mover

When we asked our young helper for advice for other kids about moving house, Olivia said, “If you’re sad about moving, it’s OK! You can make new friends. And packing can be fun. It’s like a big adventure, plus you can ask for sweets without the grown-ups complaining.”

So, if you’re considering a family move, remember to involve your little ones.

Their perspective can be eye-opening, full of surprises and often very amusing.

For friendly, knowledgeable and experienced advice on moving with your family, feel free to contact us at Hi Residential.

Recent Blog Posts

Latest news and updates

Small Gestures, Big Impact: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day 9th April Uncategorised

Small Gestures, Big Impact: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day

Small Gestures, Big Impact: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day Random Acts of Kindness Day is this Saturday 17th February. The idea of a day to perform random acts of kindness began in America in 1995. It’s spread globally and is a great opportunity to show how small, thoughtful actions…

Read More
What You Should Know before You and Your Partner Live Together  If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first.  Here at Hi Residential, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible.  But dishing out relationship advice is a step too far – even for us.  So, if you’re considering moving in with your partner, we’ll leave the big decisions and lovey-dovey stuff down to you.  However, if you decide to co-habit, we have some useful, albeit unromantic, advice for you.  It’s based on insights we’ve gained over the years from helping many couples set up home together.  Speak to your landlord  One option when moving in together is to start afresh in a new rental property. However, if you plan to move into your partner’s rented place or for them to join you, then you need to discuss this with the landlord. Be aware that you’ll need to get the landlord’s permission first, and they’ll most likely have to run a reference check.   Budget and bills  The good thing about living with someone is you can share the financial burden of renting. But you’ll need to have a frank conversation at the start to discuss how much you can afford to pay in rent and how you’ll split the bills.  Jointly liable  It’s worth understanding that when the two of you sign a tenancy agreement, you are both ‘jointly and severally liable’. This means that if, for example, your partner loses their job and can’t pay the rent, you could be liable to pay their share. The same goes for the upkeep and maintenance of the property. You’re both equally responsible.   Logistics  If you both already have your own homes, decide what furniture you’ll each take to your new property. It’s unlikely that you will have room for more than one sofa, bed or dining table, so you may need to give away or sell some big-ticket items. At this point, you may also get the home-making bug and decide to buy some items to turn your new place into a cosy love nest. In that case, it may be time to put your relationship to the test by taking a trip to Ikea. Good luck.  If you’re looking for a new rental property, contact us here at Hi Residential today. 9th April Uncategorised

What You Should Know before You and Your Partner Live Together If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first. Here at Hi Residential, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible. But dishing out relationship advice is a step too far – even for us. So, if you’re considering moving in with your partner, we’ll leave the big decisions and lovey-dovey stuff down to you. However, if you decide to co-habit, we have some useful, albeit unromantic, advice for you. It’s based on insights we’ve gained over the years from helping many couples set up home together. Speak to your landlord One option when moving in together is to start afresh in a new rental property. However, if you plan to move into your partner’s rented place or for them to join you, then you need to discuss this with the landlord. Be aware that you’ll need to get the landlord’s permission first, and they’ll most likely have to run a reference check. Budget and bills The good thing about living with someone is you can share the financial burden of renting. But you’ll need to have a frank conversation at the start to discuss how much you can afford to pay in rent and how you’ll split the bills. Jointly liable It’s worth understanding that when the two of you sign a tenancy agreement, you are both ‘jointly and severally liable’. This means that if, for example, your partner loses their job and can’t pay the rent, you could be liable to pay their share. The same goes for the upkeep and maintenance of the property. You’re both equally responsible. Logistics If you both already have your own homes, decide what furniture you’ll each take to your new property. It’s unlikely that you will have room for more than one sofa, bed or dining table, so you may need to give away or sell some big-ticket items. At this point, you may also get the home-making bug and decide to buy some items to turn your new place into a cosy love nest. In that case, it may be time to put your relationship to the test by taking a trip to Ikea. Good luck. If you’re looking for a new rental property, contact us here at Hi Residential today.

What You Should Know before You and Your Partner Live Together  If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first. Here at Hi Residential, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible. But dishing out…

Read More