Most people consider the act of moving to be somewhat of a work-in-progress. From finding a new home to gradually packing up the old home, it’s easy to get caught up in the world of boxes, packing tape, and label-makers. Of course, the culmination of this multi-week or multi-month process is none other than Moving Day itself. As nerveracking as the period leading up to the big day might be, Moving Day, for many, can fly by in a rapid frenzy. With boxes soaring out the door at rapid speed and your home as you once knew it suddenly getting hauled off before your eyes, your moving day can be both hectic and overwhelming.
The idea of retaining your sanity alone can be a challenge on Moving Day; so if you have small children or pets to contend with at the same time, then you should know that your stress level might truly run the risk of reaching an all-time high. Of course, children and pets are generally wonderful and endearing additions to people’s lives. But when it comes to moving, children and pets have a strong tendency to get in the way and make the process significantly more difficult for everybody involved. Nathan Howell is the sales manager of Affiliated Movers of Oklahoma City, Inc., a company dedicated to impeccable customer service and care, and he likes to warn parents with small children and pets that having them around during Moving Day is not always the best idea.
For starters, movers need to constantly have clear pathways in a home in order to safely and efficiently do their jobs. The thing about small children is that if they’re old enough to walk, then they’re less than likely to spend a day – or an hour, for that matter - sitting still in a corner. Some young kids also have a habit of being friendly to visitors and new faces. While that particular quality might be charming on most occasions, a chatty child can really distract a mover and cause him to slow down.
Household pets like dogs and cats are pretty much guaranteed to cause trouble unless they are truly adequately contained in closed-off areas or crates. The problem with cats is that they actually don’t tend to make much noise, but can suddenly appear out of nowhere, which can startle movers and cause them to possibly drop what they are carrying or even run the risk of tripping over one of the little creatures.
Dogs, by contrast, tend to be loud. While some dogs are friendly, attention seekers by nature, others tend to get nervous or aggressive when they feel that their turf is being invaded by strangers. So while your dog is less likely to sneak up on a mover, there’s a good chance that he’ll make the move more difficult if left to roam freely about the house. Even the idea of putting a dog in a crate for the duration of a move is not wise. If a dog isn’t used to being contained, then he’s likely barking his head off the entire time that he’s locked up, which can be distracting to movers and make it difficult for them to communicate from room or area of the house to the next.
Another thing to remember about your moving day is that most household doors are likely to remain open while the movers are busy loading up their trucks. By having pets around during the process, you run the risk of them escaping. And although children are less likely to run out the door if otherwise instructed, there’s no guarantee that they’ll actually listen to your commands to say put. Also, don’t assume that you’ll be able to keep an eye on your pets and children throughout the move. Remember, even the smoothest of moves tend to be hectic, and your movers will need your attention so that you can answer any questions that might arise throughout the day. So, you’ll be best serving yourself by eliminating any sources of personal distraction.
From a safety perspective, the best place for your children and pets to be on Moving Day is in another location, out of harm’s way. By hiring a babysitter for the day or boarding your pet in a kennel, you won’t have to worry about them getting hurt, running away, or preventing your movers from doing their jobs efficiently. And as bad as you might feel about sending them off, you’ll be that much happier to have them back at the end of the day as you welcome them into their new home.
