Top tips when moving house with kids

5 min read
December 20, 2023
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From our Moving Partner, Muval

Embarking on a grand family adventure like moving house is filled with twists and turns Add a sprinkle of fun, and watch as one of life’s most stressful events transforms into a day filled briming with excitement. Alana has created the ultimate moving house with kids tips to help you plan with ease, move with less stress and keep a few tricks up your sleeve.

Top Tips when Moving House with Kids

Moving House with Kids – The Ultimate Family Adventure

Ah, the thrill of moving to a new house with kids! It’s like embarking on a grand family adventure, filled with twists, turns, and a bit of magical chaos along the way. The process can be stressful, both for you and your little ones, as they may have a hard time coping with the changes that comes with moving. But, we get it – even the most exciting adventures can have their moments of pandemonium which is why we’ve created the Ultimate Moving House with Kids Tips to help you plan with ease, move with less stress and keep a few tricks up your sleeve.

So let us sprinkle a little fun, throw in some expert wisdom and whole lot of organisation and you’ll find one of life’s most stressful events will turn into a day that can be as enjoyable as a day in the playground!

Alana’s tips for adding magic to your move with kids

Communication is key

The key to any great family adventure is open communication. Sit down with your little explorers and have a heart-to-heart about the move. Listen to their questions, feelings, and concerns, just like you’d listen to their tales of playground adventures.

Plan early and plan together

Get the logistics for you moving day sorted early by comparing, reviewing and booking your removalist with Muval. By doing this early this then gives you the time to get your kids involved in the rest of the planning process. Ask for their input when choosing their new rooms and how to decorate them. Maybe take them shopping for one new items for their new bedrooms!

Create a comfort “survival” kit

Every adventurer needs their trusty gear, right? Pack a special “Comfort Kit” (survival kit for the parents!) for each child, filled with their favourite toys, blankets, and snacks. Include colouring books, crayons and storybooks to fuel their imaginations and maybe a boardgame for some interactive playtime. If digital devices are on your list of approved entertainment, download their favourite movies or TV shows.

This kit is their secret weapon against moving day jitters and the “I’m bored” chorus.

Stick to routines

Routines are like a guiding star for kids. Try to maintain your regular schedules as much as possible. Familiar routines can help kids feel secure during this period of change.

Packing as a game

Turn packing into an exciting game. Set a timer and see who can pack their toys the fastest. It’s a fun way to make them feel involved in the process.

Explore the new neighbourhood and have a picnic

Before the big move, take your family on a neighbourhood exploration adventure. Visit nearby parks, schools, and even pack a picnic, then visit a local ice cream shop to introduce your kids to their new surroundings. It’s a great way to explore the local area and maybe even make some new friends before you move in.

Positivity is contagious

Your attitude sets the tone for this adventure. Stay positive and enthusiastic about the new home and all the wonderful experiences it will bring.

Your little helpers

Give your kids age-appropriate tasks to make them feel responsible and involved. Let them label boxes with pictures and colourful textas, or help with small chores. They’re like your trusty sidekicks on this moving adventure!

Create a “first night” box

While you’re busily packing up the house, task the kids with packing a box with items they’ll need to settle into the new place. Get them to think about all the little things they want with them for their first night in their new room, so they don’t need to dig through all the boxes! Some staples would be PJs, stuffed toys or favourite cuddly, toiletries and night lights.

Moving into a whole new space can be a big adjustment. Having favourite items nearby on the first night can help bring a sense of comfort and make the transition a little easier.

Moving Day Child Care

While the removalists are working their magic, consider options to keep your kids safe and entertained.

Organise childcare – it’s wise to have a friend or family member look after your kids on your moving day

Organise a playdate – If that can’t be organised, invite some of your kids’ friends over for a moving day playdate. It’s a great way to keep them entertained and provide a distraction from the hustle and bustle of the move.

Create a moving day safe room – Finally, if you do have kids in the house during your move, create a moving-day safe room. Designate a special area in the new place for the kids on moving day. Set up a cozy spot in the spare room or the study full equipped with all their must-haves such as iPad, laptop, books and treasure trove of toys.

Ensure you inform the removalists and any other generous family and friends lending a hand where the kids’ designated room is.

Recycle moving boxes with craft creations

Now that you’ve settled into your new place and have a surplus of moving boxes and tape at your disposal, it’s time to get creative with your unpacking process. Instead of leaving cardboard boxes strewn about the house, why not organise a craft station to turns those unwanted moving boxes into magical puppet theatres or an ice-cream truck. Your imagination is your only limit!

Campfire story night

On one of your first nights in your new place, have a “campfire story night” in the backyard. Setup a small firepit and roast marshmallows, drink hot chocolate and snuggle under blankets. Use this time to share stories and talk about your family’s adventure creating memories that will bond you to your new home!

Article by: Alana Lowes

The tree-change towns where home buyers are negotiating deeper discounts

4 min read
December 19, 2023
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Article by Elizabeth Redman, from our Property Partner Domain

Home buyers are negotiating deeper discounts than a year ago in a string of regional towns as the tree change boom eases.

Rising interest rates and the return to CBD offices have discouraged some potential buyers, so those who are still looking can find better opportunities.

Home buyers in Daylesford are negotiating deeper discounts than a year ago. Photo: iStock

There are also some suburban markets offering price cuts, but in many inner and middle suburbs buyers will be harder pressed to find a vendor willing to discount now compared to this time last year.

In NSW, the areas that recorded the biggest increase in the average size of discounts over the past year were the Bourke/Cobar/Coonamble region, followed by Griffith/Murrumbidgee (West), the Snowy Mountains and Lachlan Valley, on Domain data. It compares asking prices to sold prices for private treaty sales in the six months to November.

Tamworth, the South Coast, Albury, Orange, Armidale and the Richmond Valley hinterland are all offering bigger discounts on average than a year ago.

In percentage terms, the largest average discount was 11.5 per cent in the Bourke/Cobar/Coonamble area, up from 8.3 per cent a year earlier.

In Victoria, average discounts are deeper than a year ago in the Creswick/Daylesford/Ballan area, at 10.5 per cent compared with 7.5 per cent a year prior, and deepened in Colac/Corangamite, Shepparton, Gippsland, east, and the Wellington Shire.

Discounting is also on the increase in the Heathcote/Castlemaine/Kyneton area, the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula region, and in Ballarat.

But inner-city Darebin (south) bucked the trend to record the biggest jump in average discount size in Victoria. It also had the deepest discount in percentage terms at 13.9 per cent, from 6.5 per cent a year ago.

Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said the deeper discounting in regional areas showed where property price growth has been stronger this year, that is, in capital cities.

“The focus has moved away from our regional areas and it’s probably why some sellers are having to make decisions to be able to shift their properties, to be able to sell it,” she said.

She also pointed to stretched affordability among local regional buyers hit by reduced borrowing capacity as interest rates rise.

“Prices have made such a vast change in regional areas and the affordability is certainly not as great as it was prior to the upswing.”

A six- to seven-hour drive west of Sydney, Elders Real Estate Griffith’s Brendan Catanzariti said there are good opportunities for potential buyers in an area with a shortage of workers and a shortage of housing.

He said Griffith’s property market had risen during the early part of the pandemic and experienced a slight drop since, as the supply of homes for sale increases.

“This year it’s probably gone back to pre-COVID, in reference to a bit more property coming on the market which has given buyers more selection,” he said.

“The ones that are sitting there have some anomalies. Whereas last year they would be sold, this year, because there’s more selection, they’re [buyers are] a bit more picky.”

He said the string of interest rate rises had slowed down some buyers in their search, but rental demand was high as workers searched for accommodation.

Reasonable quality homes on large blocks of 6000 to 8000 square metres have been selling for more than $1 million, while newly built large homes fetch about $1 million, more compact new homes settle for about $700,000 to $800,000, and established older homes trade for about $500,000 to $750,000 depending on their quality and level of renovation, he said.

He praised the area’s community feel, quality schools, restaurants, wineries and upgraded sporting facilities.

“Come to Griffith and enjoy getting out of the hustle and bustle and still live a fairly cosmopolitan regional/rural life,” he said.

In Victoria, the Daylesford area jumped in popularity during the lockdown years, but the market has since been hit with interest rate rises and a shift back to Melbourne CBD offices.

“People are saying, ‘my boss told me I have to come to Melbourne,’” Belle Property Daylesford’s Natalie Fagan said.

“There’s more stock for sale – if you are looking for a property here it is probably the best time to come up.”

She praised the area’s strong community, great lifestyle, lack of traffic lights, year-round appeal with bushwalks and lake walks that can be enjoyed in any season, restaurants and wineries.

Her cheapest entry-level offering is a three-bedroom house on a smaller block asking $549,000, but at the other end of the spectrum an acreage property is guiding $3.8 million.

First home buyers were able to take advantage of entry-level properties and avoid paying stamp duty on homes worth $600,000 or less.

“It has also given a lot of opportunities for people who can’t afford Melbourne,” she said.

Original article can be found here.