Moving to a new home or apartment requires a lot of moving parts, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed if you don’t plan ahead.
As you consider how long does it take to move, you need to plan for several factors that help you get an accurate timeline. Moving can be difficult, but sticking to a time frame that works shouldn’t be.
After all, you don’t want to cause more worry than you probably already have!
Read on to learn more about the most important things you need to know so you can plan a perfect, stress-free move.
Buying and Selling Your Home Takes Time
If you’re simply moving from one apartment to another, your timeline will be shorter than if you’re a homeowner. Unless you can pay two mortgages, you’ll want to sell your current home first.
Start planning to market your home as soon as possible for a quick sale. Even if your current house sells fast, you still need to be ready to apply for a new mortgage on your end.
Ideally, it takes about four weeks to get approved for a mortgage. Tack on another 10 weeks to transfer ownership from the current owner over to you which includes closing, surveys, and documenting the transfer with your city or county.
Selling a home can take just a few weeks or several months depending on the market. It’s a good idea to account for around two months total if you’re planning to sell and then buy a home.
How Long Does It Take to Move With a Moving Company?
If you’re planning to hire a professional moving company, start shopping for costs as soon as possible. You can also find a mover online and ask for quotes via email. Click here to learn more about how you can calculate an estimated cost in advance.
It should take around one week for you to find the right mover and secure the date. Be sure you do your homework and ask people you know for any recommendations they can offer. Read reviews to find a company you know you can trust to handle your move in a professional way.
While you’re working on hiring a moving company, it’s also a good time to start decluttering your home. The less stuff you have to move, the lower your costs should be.
Ideally, you should book a mover around six to eight weeks before your moving date. For those who prefer to move themselves, give yourself plenty of time to find and secure a rental moving truck.
Scheduling Transfers and Other To-Do’s
Moving involves much more than simply packing boxes and moving into your new home. You’ll also have a lot of important things you need to take care of like transferring your address and other information.
Give yourself around one full month to update things like medical records and school registration. You’ll also need to change your address with your credit card company, the department of motor vehicles, and the US Postal Service.
Write down all of the things you need to update ahead of time so you don’t leave anything out. An address change is immediate with most accounts, but it could take a few weeks for the post office to catch up.
Don’t forget to factor in the time it takes to either transfer or cancel your utility accounts. You also need to update your pet’s records so that your new vet has all of your information.
Sort through your records and make a dedicated folder that contains the information you need to update. Once you have everything together, it shouldn’t take longer than a week to get it completed.
How Long Does It Take to Pack?
Packing for a move is time-consuming, and it can take a lot longer if you’re doing everything yourself. The length of time it takes to pack can depend on several factors including the size of your home and how much stuff you have.
Overall, it shouldn’t take more than two days to pack a two-bedroom home or apartment. Count on a week or maybe even longer for a three or four-bedroom residence.
You can start packing certain items early to help save you some time. Prepare boxes and fill them with things you know you won’t need until you settle into your new place. This can shave off several hours, depending on how much you pack in advance.
The basement, garage, and storage shed will add a lot more time and effort to the process. Try to plan ahead for these areas to save time if you can. You should also procure boxes, tape, and bubble wrap before the day you pack so it’s ready to go.
Professional movers can help you transport large items like furniture, and they can get it done in a matter of hours. A small home or apartment takes just a few hours to pack and move, while a bigger home takes around six to eight hours to complete.
Make Your Move Seamless
As you think about how long does it take to move, planning ahead can make the transition easier and shorter. Make a list of things you need to do well in advance so you can start creating a timeline that works for you.
Get moving quotes online and start prepping your packing as early as possible to help you save some time. With the right mindset and some patience, your next move can be easy, quick, and stress-free.
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