Moving house with pets can be extremely stressful – for both you and them. In particular, cats and dogs become very attached to their territory and will need care and attention when you move home.

However, there are ways that you can make the process run significantly more smoothly, saving you stress and worry; energy that could be better spent planning the layout of your new home or saying goodbye to your old one. If you’re thinking of relocating to a bustling city like Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA), do check out these Tips for Moving to DTLA as there are some additional considerations you’ll want to keep in mind.

However, there are ways that you can make the process run significantly more smoothly, saving you stress and worry; energy that could be better spent planning the layout of your new home or saying goodbye to your old one.

To make your moving experience easier, we have compiled four of the best tips for tying up loose ends in your old property and preparing your new one to be lived in. Following these tips might even allow you to enjoy the moving experience — this is an exciting time of your life, after all, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy it!

Find the right home and area

If you have a young family you wouldn’t move to an area that’s not child-friendly, and similarly, you need to ensure it’s suitable for your pet. This may not be a concern if your pet is kept indoors, but if you have a dog that needs walking it’s a consideration. Is it an area with green spaces nearby, and are there other dog owners around?

Check out the local area for a veterinary practice. This is particularly important if you have an unusual breed of pet or one with medical needs. If you have time, it may be worth paying a visit to check if you’re happy with the service on offer.

Notify people that you are moving home

While this may seem like an obvious step, you’d be surprised how many services and utilities are reliant on your postal address. If you move home without notifying these parties, they could still be sending personal correspondence to your old address — this highlights confidentiality issues and may also lead to bills being missed or unpaid, which would pile even further pressure on the move. Combat this by making a list of everyone who needs to know of the move, and notifying them accordingly, or set up a postal redirect service with the Post Office, so any mail addressed to your old home will be sent automatically.

Make the most of wireless internet

In modern times, a lack of Wi-Fi can leave you feeling isolated. When moving home, you will probably find yourself in a dark period where your internet has been removed from your old home, but not yet installed in your new home. If you don’t have access to mobile data, this can cause problems. Be sure to print out all documents and do all the necessary research before you lose internet privileges.

Arrange for large, unwanted items to be picked up

It can be very difficult to attract buyers for old furniture or fixtures, so it may be a lot easier for you to give them away for free instead. You could arrange for your local council to come and take them away, though this usually comes at a charge. Another option is to sell or donate your unwanted items to those who may have use for them. Websites such as Gumtree or FreeAds allow you to list your items for free, advertising them to people who are already actively looking for second-hand goods — a great way to save money on disposing of unwanted items.

Use appropriate packing materials

Packing and transporting your belongings is by no means an easy task, and can be made all the more difficult if you do not use appropriate packing materials. Using old crisp boxes or weak cardboard boxes is a recipe for disaster, and you should consider using plastic storage boxes for packing fragile items. It may even be worth bringing in an expert to ensure that this job is done well. Apex Removal Companies Across the UK has a dedicated team for packing items, utilising the appropriate packing materials for each item to ensure safe transportation with minimised risk of damage to your property in transit.

The important thing to remember when moving house is not to let the stress get the better of you. Think about how much you are going to enjoy living in your new home and use that to motivate you into doing a comprehensive moving job — it’ll be worth it in the long run.