Moving can be stressful as is, and adding in pets to the mix will only add on another level of stress. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving far or close, buying a bigger house or downsizing your home, you’ll need to do a lot of pre-planning to get your pets—and yourself—ready for this move. Before you pack up all of your pets belongings and head out to the new space, here is everything you need to know about moving with pets.
Consider a moving company.
Packing up everything on your own could be a way to stay organized during the move and save on an additional expense, but moving companies could be a good idea for those with pets. This way, you’re creating a low stress moving experience that you don’t have to think about. According to Burbank movers, “Using moving companies offers peace of mind to homeowners because they don’t need to worry about the details.” By having a moving company do the dirty work for you, you can put more focus on your pets and their overall safety and well-being.
Make plans for your pet for moving day.
When the day comes to move boxes out of your old house and into your new house, you should make plans for your pet. Find a friend, neighbor, or relative who will take your pet for the day. This will keep your pet out of the way during the move. Plus, since doors will likely be open for extended periods of time, having your pet somewhere safe will also reduce the likelihood of them getting out and running away. It is also a good idea to put a GPS tracker on your pet to prevent it from getting lost. After all, a lost pet is the last thing you’ll want to deal with in the middle of a move.
Pre-plan your pet’s travel arrangements.
No matter if you’re moving across the country or nearby, you will still need to move your pet. You’ll want to plan your pet travel ahead of time to ensure your pet is safe and that you don’t run into any unavoidable hurdles. For instance, will you be driving to the new home? If so, will your pet be coming with you in the car or truck? If so, make sure you have plenty of food and water on hand, and be sure you take precautions if your pet is prone to motion sickness. If your pet will by flying, you’ll need to make arrangements for this ahead of time too. The more advanced planning you can do for your pet’s travel, the better it will be.
Find pet-friendly hotels.
Sometimes you may be able to move into your new place right away, and sometimes there may be a gap in time. If there is a lapse between you moving out of your old space and into your new space, you’ll need to find a pet-friendly hotel or other arrangements. You can always see if your pet can stay with nearby friends or family members, and you may even also be able to board your pet too. Knowing all the options available to you will make it easier for you to know the plan.
Keep your pet supplies organized.
Moving can often be chaotic, but you don’t want your pet’s food and supplies to get lost along the way. Make sure you keep your pet’s supplies organized by giving them their own box or their own tote. Be sure to label this appropriately and keep it somewhere you can easily access during the move. You don’t want to have all your pet’s necessities buried in the back of a moving truck, so be sure you have this organized as best you can.
Introduce your pet slowly.
Once you’ve successfully made it to the new place, you’ll need to introduce your pet slowly. Your pet may be overwhelmed with the new space, and you’ll want to ensure they can find their way around while also staying safe. Allow your pet to have access to one room in the house at first so they can become familiar with the smells and sights. Continue introducing more space to your pet until they are comfortable. It’s also important that a pet may want to mark its territory in a new space, especially if other pets lived there before. Don’t be surprised if you find accidents in your new home for the first few weeks.
Moving with pets can be stressful, but using these tips will ensure you have an easier time making it happen.