5 Tips for Moving Into a Multigenerational Home

With housing costs, it’s not surprising that many families are buying homes to fit multiple generations. As a result, it’s easier to share the financial burden and work together.

If you’re buying a new home to accommodate it, you’ll need a plan to move everybody.

Moving multiple households isn’t easy, but it’s not as scary as it seems. Here are five tips to remember.

1. Plan Early

Usually, at the best of times, moving takes several weeks. However, if you’re moving more than one home, you may need more time.

Coordinating a few moves usually calls for advance notice to the moving company. Early planning allows you to have more options.

You’ll notice more obstacles if you move during the peak season of summer. However, moving during the off-season may offer better flexibility.

2. Establish Expectations

Before seriously planning the move, you should establish expectations for the multigenerational home with every adult. You need to be sure that everyone is on the same page.

Multigenerational homes might involve separate spaces and some shared spaces. Talk about who has control of each particular area. For the shared spaces, outline some compromises.

If there is any conflict, try to work out the more manageable parts first. For example, it will be simpler to figure out control of a single room if everyone feels like they still have somewhere to put their stuff.

3. Divide the Home Into Zones

As you prepare for moving, you must clarify which rooms relate to each part of the family. Avoiding confusion will make packing easier.

Consider making a floor plan of the home. Be sure to include accessory dwelling units, the basement, and the garage. Then divide the house into zones, and assign each zone a color.

When you pack, label the boxes with a color that coordinates with that person’s zone. Then, on the day of the move, you can direct the movers to unload the cartons into the correct area.

4. Pack in Stages

If you’re packing for multiple families simultaneously, it’s best not to confuse it. Instead of packing a single room together, you should consider packing for the zone.

You could pack the kitchen items for one part of the family in one pass, then pack the kitchen items for the other.

Keeping the boxes organized by room and zone will also reduce mistakes. Consider staging the boxes by zone to estimate how much you will bring to the new home.

5. Consider Multiple Moves

If the idea of trying to coordinate multiple moves at once feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Sometimes, it’s easier to do the work in more than one day.

Multiple moves make a lot of sense, particularly if you are moving from various locations that aren’t very close to one another.

Remember that cost may not be comparable for more than one move. So it’s a good idea to get a quote for either option if you’re unsure which one to choose.

Moving Help

Moving into a multigenerational home takes a lot of planning to ensure everyone is happy in the end. Contact us for a quote to get started on your upcoming move.