Moving to a new home soon? Whether you’re renting an apartment or buying a house, you’ll want to plan ahead for a smooth move-in day. To help you prepare for your relocation, here are some timelines to consider when moving into an apartment or house.
How Long Does It Take to Move Into an Apartment?
Moving into a new apartment involves several key steps. Typically, it takes about two to four weeks to find a place that fits your needs in terms of budget, location, and apartment amenities, and at least a couple more weeks to get approved, sign a lease, and move in. However, times can vary greatly. The actual move-in process—including packing, transporting belongings, transferring utilities, and unpacking—can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size and amount of your belongings and the level of assistance you have. To avoid delays in securing your apartment, keep your personal paperwork handy, and make sure to set utility transfer dates and hire movers—or enlist help from friends—as soon as you have a moving date. Once you’re moved in, remember to document any existing damage or issues.
How Long Does It Take to Move Into a House?
Overall, the house hunting process, home purchase, and moving in can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months—and many of the steps happen simultaneously. You’ll need to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan, which involves providing information to a lender about your income, assets, and debts. If approved, you’ll know what your price range is and can proceed to closing when you find a home—at which point, you’ll sign paperwork and finalize the loan. You may have to restart the process numerous times in your home buying journey, depending on how competitive the market is and if you’ve found a real estate agent you trust. Additionally, the moving timeline for a house can be extended if the new home requires inspection repairs, and the sellers are willing to either resolve them or negotiate the costs in the contract—or you need to go back to house hunting. Your actual move-in day can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day or more, depending on the distance, amount of belongings you own, and how many people are helping.
Factors That Can Influence How Long It Takes to Move
Many factors can influence how long moving takes, including weather conditions, delays with movers, amount of belongings, or the distance of the move. By considering these factors and planning accordingly, you can mitigate potential challenges to ensure a smoother moving experience. Here are a few common factors that affect how long it takes to move!
Packing Moving Boxes
The amount of items you have to pack will impact how much preparation time you’ll need prior to moving day. Whether you’re packing in advance or moving on short notice, make sure to pack items properly to help minimize moving costs, avoid potential damages, and stay organized. Labeling your moving boxes by room so movers know where to place them in your new home can also shave some time off of the unpacking process. If you’re wondering how long it takes to pack for a move, here’s a general timeline:
- 1-bedroom home or studio apartment: 4 hours to 1 day
- 2-bedroom home: 6 hours to 2 days
- 3-bedroom home: 3 to 5 days
- 4-bedroom home: 3 to 7 days
Hiring Movers vs. Moving by Yourself
Cost is top-of-mind during a home relocation, and those looking to save money can consider several options for an affordable cross country move or local move. Relocations within the same city or region can often be done with friends and family, though hiring local movers for furniture and other large items can help mitigate the stress of the transition. It’s also a good idea to budget for professional movers if you’re moving long-distance—professional movers are trained to handle weighty, bulky furniture and fragile items safely, reducing the risk of injury. Professional packers are also equipped with the right materials and techniques to efficiently pack your belongings and protect them during transit. Ultimately, the process will take longer if you decide to move by yourself, but it can reduce costs significantly, giving you a more budget-friendly move and complete control over your schedule and pace.
Delays in Booking Movers During Peak Seasons
While summer is one of the best times to move due to the good weather, increased demand during this time may make it more difficult—and more expensive—to book movers. Moving during the holidays can also present challenges, since many people take time off or travel, making it harder to secure a moving company. To avoid scheduling issues, it’s crucial to book movers well in advance, ideally 1-2 months before your desired moving date. If you have to move during peak seasons, you may have better luck scheduling your move on weekdays rather than weekends, due to lower demand for movers and less traffic during working hours.
Amount of Belongings
The more belongings one has, the more time it’ll take to pack, load, unload, and unpack them. If you’re moving out of your parent’s house for the first time, this usually isn’t much of a concern since you’ll likely be buying furniture essentials for your new home. However, decluttering your belongings before packing for a move is one great way to make the packing and transporting process go by more quickly. Moving companies often charge based on the weight or volume of your belongings, so having more possessions can also lead to higher costs. And if you aren’t renting a truck or hiring movers, you’ll need to account for how many things you can fit in your personal vehicle and how many trips back and forth you’ll have to take to move everything.
Furniture Assembly or Disassembly
Depending on the circumstances, furniture assembly or disassembly can both shorten or lengthen the moving time. Having to assemble furniture like beds, desks, or bookcases can add extra time to the packing and settling-in process—especially for complex furniture that requires multiple steps and tools. However, disassembling large furniture pieces before moving to a new home can often make the move itself go more quickly since it makes lifting and carrying them easier. It also lowers the chance of breakage during a move by alleviating stress on hinges, joints, and other areas of each piece. Be sure to keep any necessary tools and instructions handy—and organize small hardware by bagging and taping it to the corresponding furniture piece for easy assembly in your new home.
Distance of the Move
The distance of your relocation—whether it’s a cross country move, a move to another state nearby, or simply a move across town—can affect your timeline, as well as the availability of moving crews and trucks. In addition to more time and planning, long-distance moves require proper packing of your belongings—regardless of whether you plan to transport possessions in a moving truck or ship your items in a portable storage unit. Short-distance moves within the same city or to a nearby area can usually be completed within a few hours to a full day. Whichever move describes your situation best, it’s important to plan out your route and factor in potential delays to help ensure a smooth and efficient relocation.
Weather Conditions
Adverse weather is another factor that can increase the time it takes to move. Inclement weather—such as heavy rain, snow, or extreme summer heat—can make loading and unloading difficult, increase the risk of damage to belongings, and present more safety risks for movers. If you’re going to be moving in unfavorable weather, moving slower is better than risking anyone’s safety—which is why it’s crucial to monitor weather forecasts and prepare for potential delays and challenges.
A Gap Between Your Move-Out Date & Move-In Date
You may find yourself with a gap between your move-out date from your old place and the move-in date for your new place—which can extend the moving process. If your moving dates don’t overlap, consider short-term self storage for your belongings. While you’re waiting to move into your new home, reserve temporary housing, or save on accommodation costs by asking to stay with friends and family. By planning ahead and considering these options, you can minimize the stress and inconvenience of a moving gap.
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