How to Tell Friends and Family That You’re Moving

Not sure how to tell your family you’re moving? What about your close friends? From sadness and shock to confusion and joy, spilling the news of your move will undoubtedly lead to a wide range of emotions among loved ones. For this reason, it’s important to convey excitement about the move, while simultaneously considering their (possibly hurt) feelings. Here are 9 tips for telling friends and family that you’re moving without upsetting them in the process.

Tell family and close friends in advance

When it comes to telling friends and family that you’re moving, make sure to tell them well in advance of the move. Parents, siblings and close friends should be the first to know. If possible, share your moving plans at least a couple of months in advance. Not only will this give your loved ones plenty of time to process the news, but it will also give you a handful of close confidantes to confide in before the move. Keeping the news a secret will only make it harder to say goodbye in the end. Not to mention, it could also offend your loved ones for being left out in the dark.

Don’t break the news in a public setting

When breaking the news of your move to family and close friends, be sure to do so in a private setting. Surprising loved ones in a public setting isn’t the best idea – especially if the friend or family member is highly emotional and/or tends to cry easily. Instead, set up a time to catch up in a private setting, preferably at home. This will ensure that your friend or family member receives the undivided attention they deserve.

Consider their feelings

Chances are, close friends and family won’t be over-the-moon excited about you leaving. This is a perfectly normal response. While they’ll likely be happy for you eventually, don’t expect tears of joy at first. When sharing the news about your move, be sure to consider their feelings. Sadness, disappointment and anxiety are all normal feelings for a close friend or family member to feel when learning that a loved one is moving away. Help them cope with the news by being mindful of their feelings. If your loved one becomes upset, assure them that you will stay in touch after the move.

Avoid making an online announcement before telling loved ones

Don’t post the news of your move on social media (think: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) before telling close friends and family first. If your loved ones find out about the move via an online announcement before hearing about it directly from you, they will almost certainly be upset and offended (and who could blame them!). While it’s a good idea to make a public announcement about your move, wait until after you’ve told the news to those closest to you. This will prevent hurt feelings from damaging your relationships before the move.

Throw a goodbye party

As the time to move draws near, arrange to have an official goodbye party at a bar, restaurant or your home. Throwing a goodbye party will give you a chance to officially say farewell to friends, family and coworkers. It will also ensure that you see everyone you want to see before moving away. Don’t expect others to throw the party for you. Instead, take the reins and plan the goodbye party yourself. Be sure to send out invites at least a few weeks in advance, so that friends and family can plan for the party. For more advice on how to throw a goodbye party, check here.

Don’t wait to tell your office

A word of advice: don’t wait until the last minute to tell your boss and coworkers that you’re moving. Be courteous by giving your office at least two week’s notice. This will give them ample time to plan for your departure. To make the transition as easy as possible, offer to assist with interviewing and/or training your replacement. If you’re looking for a job in a new city, be sure to also ask for references and recommendations.

Send details about your new address

After you move, make sure to send all new address information to your friends and family. Not only will this will make it easier to keep in touch, but it will also ensure that you receive Christmas cards and other fun pieces of mail from loved ones. Also, don’t forget to change your address with the United States Postal Service, your credit card companies, utility companies and bank.

Hire a professional moving company

If it’s in your budget to do so, we highly recommend hiring a professional moving company to help you with your relocation. Moving to a new city is no easy feat. From packing your belongings to loading a truck rental, DIY moving is often laborious and exhausting. It also takes away from time you could be spending with close friends and family. To get the most out of the last few weeks in your current home, try hiring movers to handle all of the time consuming moving tasks. You can search for a reliable moving company through Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable movers – all licensed and insured. By choosing a Moving.com mover, you can rest assured that your move to a new city will be in good hands.

Don’t fall out of touch

Finally, try your best to assure close friends and family that you won’t fall out of touch after the move. Make phone calls, send texts and plan visits. While it’s perfectly fine to gradually lose touch with social friends and acquaintances (after all, you can’t expect to stay in touch with everybody!), it’s not okay to completely lose touch with close friends and family. The people that matter the most to you should be the ones you prioritize communication with after you move to a new city.

We know telling loved ones that you’re moving is never an easy thing to do. Fortunately, discussing the move with friends and family well in advance will make the process an overall easier experience. For help finding new friends after you move, follow these six simple steps to making new friends in a new city. Best of luck and happy moving!