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How Long Does It Take To Move Into a House?

James Anderson

June 27, 2021

Moving to a new place is not only difficult and expensive but also very time-consuming and risky. Whether you're getting ready to own a new house or you're relocating to a new home because of work, school, or any reason, there'10 Most Affordable Places To Live In Alabama For 2020s a lot that needs to be planned before moving day.

Before the big day comes, you need to make a myriad of moving preparations and plan the process.

You can't complete the move over a weekend (unless you're moving locally)“ loading your belongings on the moving truck and transporting them to your final destination may take up to one or two weeks, depending on the relocation distance.

So, how long does this whole moving process take? In this article, we're going to answer some common frequently asked questions associated with the amount of time it may take for you to find a new house and move into it.

How Long Does it Take to Find the Perfect House?

The average time it will take you to find the perfect house for you may vary from a couple of days to a couple of months. In cases where youÃ're moving further away (50-60 miles or more from your current location), you may need some additional time to try and figure out which house will be best for you and your family.

You will also need to take some time to research the area so that you can determine which neighborhoods, schools, and other local entities may be best for you to live in or near.

The majority of the people are looking for a house during a period of time of 3 to 5 weeks, this gives them plenty of time in which they can research the area and it allows for more houses to get on the market, as well.

Obviously, not everyone falls into that time frame. And in some cases, individuals may need to move a lot more quickly, and they may be able to find the right house within a shorter time frame if necessary.

But, if you have the time to do so, be sure that you really look around and find a house that you like. Don't settle on something just because you're tired of looking around for a house.

If you want to just settle on something, you are likely going to be in a position where you want to move out within a couple of years.

What's the Average Amount of Time it Takes to Sell a House?

The short answer it takes 65-70 days to sell an average house. However, this is the median timeline for selling homes and the sales timeline will widely fluctuate from market to market.

While looking for a new house, you will need to arrange to sell your previous house it will take a couple of weeks to stage the house for sale and get a few valuations, then there will be viewings and negotiations with potential buyers and various other details that need to be taken care of.

The entire process usually takes about one or two months, but it may be much longer, depending on the type of your property, the price you request, and its location.

If you're moving out from a rented property, you will need to review the conditions for ending your lease agreement and notify your landlord about your move a month in advance.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Mortgage Approved?

The short answer is 2 weeks, however, it depends on different financial factors.

If you're applying for a mortgage on the property, keep in mind that on average it may take 2 weeks but it also can take at least 3 to 4 weeks to get mortgage approval.

You'll need about 10 weeks to complete the transfer of your ownership (making the offer, completing the conveyancing process, closing the deal, and getting a house survey report).

If you're looking for a rental, the process will be much faster and easier once you've found the right place to move into, signing the lease contract will only take about a week (until your future landlord agreed upon the details of the lease and performs a background check on you). 

Quick Recap: Generally it takes about 6 months to find and purchase a house, from start to finish. On average a buyer needs 10-12 weeks to find the right property, and between 18 and 40 days to get accepted for a mortgage.

How to Find a Good Moving Company

Total Time: 5 days

  1. Prepare a List of Potential Movers

    You first need to research your options, get recommendations, and look through a Google search. Prepare a list of potential moving companies. A list of 5-7 companies should be fine.

  2. Check out their Social Proof

    Check their reputations and online social proof. Read their reviews left by previous customers of the companies, review their websites, verify their USDOT numbers, and check their ratings with the BBB (Better Business Bureau)

  3. Contact 3 of the Top Potential Moving Companies From Your List

    Request an on-site quote from the top 3 companies from your list. Interview them, discuss the details of your move, and figure out their prices. Let them know what your expectations are.

  4. Choose your Mover

    By now you will have a good idea of who you would like to hire to complete your move. Now, it is time to call them and make the necessary arrangements.

Estimated Cost: 1250 USD

Tools:

  • Phone and Computer with an Internet connection

Materials: Paper, Pen/Pencil

The better, the earlier you book the services of a trustworthy moving company, so it is advisable to do your own research and make your choice about 6 - 8 weeks before your desired moving date.

Or if you've decided on a self-move, you'll also need a few days to find an appropriate and affordable moving truck to rent and get all the necessary moving equipment.

What Do You Need To Prepare For Moving?

You'll need to take care of a number of other moving tasks while scheduling your move. It will take about a month to put the necessary paperwork in order:

  • collecting and organizing your financial records and personal documents
  • obtaining your and your family's medical records
  • obtaining your children's school records
  • obtaining your pets health certificates and vaccination records
  • transferring your drivers license and obtaining a new registration
  • transferring utilities
  • changing your address
  • canceling any subscriptions and memberships

You need to allow some time to review and organize your papers, as well.

How Long Does It Take To Prepare For Moving?

You will - need a couple of days to weeks to sort out and organize your belongings (depending on the size and capacity of your household).

This has to be done about 6-8 weeks prior to your actual move, so that you have enough time to sell or donate your no longer needed items that are still in good condition, to deal with the things you're not going to relocate and throw away any useless, worn out, or damaged ones.

Allow yourself a day or two to create a moving inventory of the items you want to take to your new house.

Your moving inventory list will help you to keep track of your possessions, will double as a packing list, and will serve as proof of the pre-move condition of your belongings should get damaged during the relocation.

Always keep in mind that it will take a lot of time to sell your unwanted items at a profit, you will have to list the items online or to organize a garage sale and arrange payment and delivery.

Hot Tip: If you want to get rid of your stuff fast then donate it to the Salvation Army. However, if you want to sell more valuable stuff then consider selling through Facebook's Marketplace.

How Long Does It Take To Pack a House?

The short answer is 25-30 hours to pack a two-bedroom house or apartment. However, each house is different in size and everybody has a different amount of belongings.

Packing a house for moving is laborious and many things can break--so be careful!

You need to have enough time to be safe and ensure the best possible protection to your items packing in a hurry may result in damage to your items and belongings as you won't have the time to take proper care of each and every item.

So, you should start packing as early as possible and spend a couple of hours a day on the task so that you can ensure the safety of your belongings.

Good to keep in mind that packing the storage areas in your home basement, garage, attic, etc., will require more effort and time than packing a standard room, so deal with them first while you have still plenty of time and energy.

Also, make sure that you have all the packing supplies on hand so you don't have to run back and forth to stores. The appropriate moving supplies are:

  • packing peanuts
  • cardboard boxes
  • packing tape
  • sharpie marker (for labeling),
  • ratchet straps
  • moving blankets

We have mentioned how long it would take to pack a two-bedroom house or apartment. Here are the estimated times for other types of situations (assuming that you are packing by yourself):

  • 12-16 hours - to pack a studio or one-bedroom house or apartment
  • 40 hours - to pack a typical three-bedroom house or apartment
  • 50-55 hours - to pack a four-bedroom house or apartment.

If you hire professional packers, they will complete the task in about:

  • 2-3 hours to pack a studio or one-bedroom house or apartment
  • 3-4 hours to pack a two-bedroom house or apartment
  • 6 hours to pack a three-bedroom house or apartment
  • 8 hours to pack a four-bedroom house or apartment

How Long Does It Take To Load a Moving Truck?

The short answer is a few hours.

However, the average time it will take to load your belongings on the moving truck depends on several factors.

  • the number of household items and boxes you have for moving
  • the required or necessitated extra services
  • the flights of stairs your items will have to be taken down
  • the distance between the moving truck and the entrance to your house, etc.

If you are well prepared and no unforeseen obstacles occur, a team of four professional movers will load the moving truck in about:

  • 2 hours for a studio or one-bedroom house or apartment
  • 3 hours for a two-bedroom house or apartment
  • 4-5 hours for a three-bedroom house or apartment
  • 6 hours for a four-bedroom house or apartment
  • alternatively you can use a trailer, make sure that the trailer and truck are up to the task. Check all the parts, especially if there is a hydraulic scissor lift. The last thing you want is hydraulic oil leaking everywhere.

How Long Does It Take To Get To Your New Home And Get Settled In?

Moving to across town, it will take only several hours a day to transport your items to your new house.

But if you're moving across the country, however, the delivery may take several days or may take even a week. The transportation time will depend on the weather conditions, on the traffic, and at the time of your move as well.

Regarding your own trip, you may arrive at your new house after several hours or several days (if you're moving a short distance or if you're flying to your new city, or if you're driving from coast to coast).

You will need a few days to arrange your new house or apartment and unpack your items but it may take you several months to really settle in and feel at home in your new place.

Always you can take advantage of some time-saving tricks if you're moving on short notice or if you're pressed for time.

Legs Sticking Out From Under A Pile Of Cardboardboxes

Yet, it is better to pay attention and take your time to every detail of your move this will ensure a smoother, safer, and stress-free relocation. If you are looking for affordable places to live in Alabama then check out our post.

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