Congratulations! After months of scrolling through Zillow on your phone and a high-stress week of house hunting, your offer on your dream home has been accepted. It’s everything you’ve imagined it would be, and you’re so excited to take the next step on your new adventure. When you close your eyes, you can picture backyard barbecues, lazy Saturday mornings in your new breakfast nook, and fun-filled weekends spent exploring all that your new town has to offer.
Except…now reality crashes in, and you realize you’ve somehow got to transport years and years of accumulated belongings from your current home to a whole new city. Not only that, but you’ve only got about a month (or maybe even weeks!) to figure out the logistics.
If you’re stressed, you’re not alone. Moving is hard! You may be wondering, “how long does the moving process take?” Well, you’ve come to the right place. This article addresses many of the factors that can affect your moving timeline, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect when planning your move.
Factors to consider when estimating your moving timeline
Deciding to move is a personal choice, and your situation isn’t going to look like anyone else’s. Likewise, the timeline of your move depends entirely on your specific circumstances and what service package you choose. Typically, the moving process will last anywhere between 5 and 10 days from start to finish, but there are several variables that can impact your timeline.
Let’s take a look at an example. Julia and Hank Martin are moving from El Paso to Chicago (about 1,500 miles). They currently live in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with an estimated load size of 10,000 pounds (which comes out to about 150 boxes), and they’ve elected to have Appleton pack their belongings for them.
Packing
A crew can pack about 100 to 150 boxes a day, so in the Martins’ scenario, they’d need to schedule one day to pack. If you choose to pack on your own, this won’t be factored into your moving timeline.
Weight of shipment
Your load size also affects the moving timeline. A 10,000 pound load such as the Martins’ would take one day to load. There’s also the delivery window, which will be given to you when we schedule your move. The delivery window depends both on the weight of the shipment and the distance the truck will travel, and it begins the day we load your belongings onto the truck.
Distance of move
Are you moving locally, or is this an intrastate or interstate move? In our example, since the Martins are making a 1,500-mile interstate move, their delivery window could range from 4 to 11 days.
How long does the moving process take for a shorter distance? If the Martins were moving somewhere a little closer, like Colorado Springs (about 500 miles away), that delivery window might change to 2 to 7 days. Again, these are just estimates. Your actual timeline will be specific to your move!
Does the time of year I move affect my timeline?
When you’re moving also impacts the timing of the moving process. During peak season (which starts in the spring and ends in the fall), moving companies are in high demand, and sometimes our trucks will already be at capacity. If you still need to secure your move date and we’re at capacity, we are still ready to make your move! We can find alternate hauling options or tinker with schedules to get your move on the books.
If you have additional questions about how long the moving process takes, or if you’re ready to schedule your move, please contact us for a quote. Your move is unique, and we will work with you to create a timeline that works for you. Let’s get to work, so you can get one step closer to those weekend barbecues in your new backyard!