Moving house can be stressful at any stage of life, but moving with children adds another layer of organisation.
Alongside solicitors, estate agents, packing and removal arrangements, parents may also be dealing with schools, childcare, bedrooms full of toys, bulky outdoor equipment and the challenge of keeping everyday family life running while half the house is packed into boxes.
One solution is to avoid trying to move everything at once.
Using temporary self storage alongside a professional removals service allows you to move non-essential belongings out of the house before moving day, keep them securely stored, and bring them into your new home when you’re ready.
At SecureStore, our Removal + Storage service helps families across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford make moving home more organised and manageable.
Why Moving With Children Can Feel So Overwhelming
Children accumulate an impressive amount of belongings.
Depending on their ages, you could be moving:
- Beds and bedroom furniture
- Toys and games
- Bikes and scooters
- Prams and pushchairs
- Clothes
- Books
- Gaming equipment
- Sports equipment
- Garden toys
- Baby equipment
- School supplies
- Boxes of keepsakes
Add the contents of the rest of the house and suddenly moving day becomes a significant logistical exercise.
The key is to start early.
Don’t Leave Everything Until Moving Day
One of the easiest ways to make a family house move less stressful is to move belongings in stages.
Several weeks before completion, start identifying things you won’t need immediately.
Good candidates for temporary storage include:
- Seasonal clothing
- Christmas decorations
- Books
- Garden furniture
- Spare bedroom furniture
- Collections
- Camping equipment
- Decorative items
- Excess toys
By moving these belongings into storage early, there is considerably less to deal with on the final day.
Declutter Children’s Bedrooms Before Packing
Children’s bedrooms are often one of the biggest sources of boxes.
Before packing everything, sort belongings into categories:
Keep – favourite and regularly used possessions.
Store – things worth keeping but not currently needed.
Donate – good-quality items that have been outgrown.
Sell – suitable belongings that still have resale value.
Recycle or dispose – damaged or unusable items.
For suitable children’s clothing and toys, platforms such as Vinted UK and eBay UK can provide a way of selling belongings you no longer require.
Keep Favourite Items Out of Storage
Don’t pack every toy.
Children may find moving unsettling, particularly if they’re leaving a familiar home, bedroom or neighbourhood.
Keep a small selection of familiar possessions readily available, such as:
- Favourite toys
- Books
- Comfort items
- Night lights
- Bedding
- Games
- Tablets and chargers
Having familiar belongings available on the first night can help the new property feel more like home.
Pack a First-Night Family Box
There are certain things you absolutely do not want buried at the back of a storage unit or removal van.
Prepare a clearly labelled FIRST NIGHT box or suitcase containing essentials such as:
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Toilet roll
- Children’s pyjamas
- Changes of clothes
- Chargers
- Basic kitchen equipment
- Snacks
- Bedding
- Cleaning supplies
Keep important documents and necessary medication with you rather than packing them into general storage.
Moving During the School Holidays
Many parents try to move during school holidays to reduce disruption.
If you’re moving to a different area and changing schools, there may be additional arrangements to make.
GOV.UK school admissions guidance provides information about applying for school places in England, although arrangements can vary depending on the local authority and type of school.
Getting the practical arrangements started early leaves you with more time to concentrate on the actual move.
Storage Can Help When Completion Dates Change
Property chains don’t always run perfectly.
Your buyer may want to complete before your onward purchase is ready, or your new property could require work before you move in.
If the dates don’t align, you might temporarily stay:
- With family
- In furnished accommodation
- In a hotel
- In short-term accommodation
Trying to take an entire family’s furniture with you isn’t practical.
Temporary storage provides somewhere secure for suitable belongings until everyone can move into the new home.
Make Your Existing Home Easier to Sell
Storage can also help before you’ve even found a buyer.
Removing excess toys, furniture and boxes can make rooms appear more spacious and organised for photographs and viewings.
Most buyers now begin their search on major property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket.
A cleaner, less cluttered home can make it easier for potential buyers to appreciate the available space.
What If the New House Needs Decorating?
Sometimes you receive the keys but aren’t actually ready to move everything in.
You might want to:
- Paint bedrooms
- Replace carpets
- Install flooring
- Fit wardrobes
- Decorate the children’s rooms
- Complete minor repairs
Keeping some furniture in storage for an additional week or two can make these jobs considerably easier.
There’s little point moving a wardrobe into a bedroom on Monday if you’re going to have to move it again to fit a carpet on Wednesday.
Keep New Furniture Deliveries Under Control
A new house often means new furniture.
You may be ordering beds, wardrobes, sofas or other items from major retailers such as IKEA UK, John Lewis & Partners, DFS or Dunelm.
Try not to arrange every delivery for immediately after completion.
Give yourself time to understand how you’ll use each room before filling the property.
Removal + Storage Means You Don’t Have to Do Everything Yourself
Moving a family home involves a lot of physical work.
There may be beds to dismantle, boxes to carry and bulky furniture to transport.
SecureStore now offers Removal + Storage, allowing customers to combine the two parts of the process.
Depending on your requirements, we can help move suitable belongings into storage so you don’t have to arrange separate companies.
When you’re ready for those belongings again, you can plan the next stage of your move.
Storage Is Particularly Useful for Bulky Children’s Equipment
Some children’s belongings take up a huge amount of room despite only being used occasionally.
Examples include:
- Bikes
- Scooters
- Prams
- Travel cots
- Highchairs
- Outdoor toys
- Baby equipment
- Children’s furniture
If you’ve kept equipment for younger siblings or future use, you don’t necessarily need it occupying valuable space in the new home from day one.
Use Storage to Unpack Gradually
There is no prize for unpacking an entire house in 24 hours.
Moving essential belongings into the new property first allows you to establish the main living areas before bringing everything else across.
Start with:
- Bedrooms.
- Bathroom essentials.
- Kitchen equipment.
- Everyday clothing.
- Children’s essentials.
Once those areas are organised, you can gradually introduce the belongings you’ve placed into storage.
This can make the new home feel organised rather than chaotic.
Label Everything by Room
Clear labelling makes a huge difference.
Instead of writing vague descriptions such as MISC on boxes, use labels such as:
JACK’S BEDROOM – BOOKS
KITCHEN – BAKING EQUIPMENT
LIVING ROOM – ORNAMENTS
GARAGE – SPORTS EQUIPMENT
CHILDREN – WINTER CLOTHING
This makes it much easier to find specific belongings later.
Give Children Their Own Moving Jobs
Age-appropriate involvement can make children feel part of the move.
They might choose:
- Which toys come with them immediately.
- What goes into storage.
- Which belongings they’ve outgrown.
- How boxes for their bedroom should be labelled.
Older children can also pack some of their own non-fragile belongings.
This turns moving into something they’re participating in rather than something simply happening around them.
How to Book Your Unit with SecureStore
Arranging storage for your family move is straightforward:
- Decide which belongings you need immediately and which can go into storage.
- Contact SecureStore with an idea of how much you need to store.
- We’ll help you choose a suitable storage unit.
- Ask about our Removal + Storage service if you need assistance transporting your belongings.
- Move essential items into your new home first.
- Bring the remaining belongings across when you’re ready.
Call: 0161 470 0288
Email: info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk
Visit: 574 Manchester Road, Bury
No deposit required in many cases; same-day move-in may be available.
Moving Your Family? SecureStore Can Make It Simpler
Moving with children doesn’t have to mean trying to transfer your entire life from one property to another in a single day.
Temporary storage allows you to break the move into manageable stages, keep non-essential belongings out of the way and concentrate on getting your family settled first.
SecureStore provides flexible self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford, helping families make their next move easier.
Call 0161 470 0288, email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk, or visit 574 Manchester Road, Bury to discuss your move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we put our belongings into storage before moving day?
Yes. Moving non-essential belongings into storage beforehand can significantly reduce the amount you need to handle on moving day.
Can SecureStore help collect our furniture?
Yes. SecureStore provides Removal + Storage. Speak to our team about what you need moving and where it needs collecting from.
What should we keep with us rather than store?
Keep everyday essentials, important documents, necessary medication, children’s comfort items, chargers and anything you’ll need immediately.
Can we leave furniture in storage while decorating the new house?
Storage can be particularly useful while flooring, painting or other work is being completed because it keeps furniture out of the working area.
How much storage does a family home need?
It depends entirely on the size of your home and how much you’re storing. Tell our team what you intend to store and we’ll help you identify a suitable unit size.
