Depending on who you ask, the full process of moving house can take anything from a couple of weeks to several months. It’s a “how long is piece of string?” question.
Here, we’re not looking at the full process (from sale agreed to moving day) but at the time it takes to physically move your goods from one property to the next.
So, we start our clock after all the preparation (acquiring a new property, booking a mover, etc) is done and you are ready to start packing.
Packing & Preparing
If you are doing the packing yourself, you will need to have your boxes and materials delivered by your mover at least a week before the moving date. Although you can’t pack everything yet, (you still need to use much of what you’re moving) you can make a good start. This will alleviate the pressure and stress on moving day and allow you time to get extra boxes if you need them.
It is during this time that you will make other preparations, such as reducing the contents of your freezer and arranging a professional to disconnect other appliances.
Packing Services
Most movers offer a range of packing services, from fragiles-only to full-pack and even unpack (to flat surfaces). Generally, a full pack can be done the day before the move. Depending on the volume that needs to be packed, a fragile-pack can often be done on moving day, but the mover may send a packer for a couple of hours the day before.
Even if you use the packing service, it is still your responsibility to prepare your kitchen appliances, e.g. disconnecting cooker, washing machine, etc.
Day of the Move
On moving day, the crew and van will arrive to a fully packed house, so they just need to load up and maybe dismantle a bed or two. This gives them plenty of time to empty the property, ready for the new owners to take possession and move in.
On an average move, the removals crew will be fully loaded and on their way to the new property by lunch time. For local moves, they may be ready to unload by 1:00 or 2:00pm. For longer distance moves, they may need to deliver the next day as driving and working time regulations may be in play.
Unexpected Delays
The most common delay on moving day is that caused by the wait for keys. While the removals crew is sat in a fully loaded van outside the delivery address, the customer is waiting for the sale of the house to be finalized, the money to be transferred or the estate agent to hand over the keys.
As this waiting time is outside the contracted work of the remover, it usually incurs extra costs. Although most movers offer a waiting time waiver to cover those costs, if the keys arrive late into the evening, it can often mean the move cannot be completed that day.
Conclusion
So, how long does a house move take? Every move is unique, so the question can’t have a simple answer. Your mover will be able tell you how long it should take, but cannot predict delays.
