How Much Time Should You Allocate For A Move?

Moving is stressful and time-consuming, and that’s why so many people dread the process. Of course, moving from a small apartment takes less time than moving out of a 3-bedroom house. So, how much time should you allocate for a move?

Ideally, you should allocate up to 10 hours for a move, especially if your home has several bedrooms. Moving out of a 2-4-bedroom home takes between 4 and 7 hours, depending on how much stuff you have. Call the moving company 2-3 months in advance and start packing early to save time and money on your move. 

Sell and donate everything you can before you move, so that it takes less time. Follow along as we explore how much time you should allocate for a move. 

How Long Does Moving Take?

It typically takes between 2 and 10 hours to move, but it depends on the size of your home. Ideally, you should allocate a full day for moving, as it can take longer than expected. Of course, moving goes much faster when you hire professional movers.

For example, moving from a 3-bedroom house can take 5-7 hours with movers. The same move could take at least 2-3 hours longer if you don’t hire professional help. That’s because moving companies typically send out crews of at least 3-4 people for medium-to-large-sized homes. 

It only takes 2-4 hours to move out of a studio or 1-bedroom apartment. How long your move takes depends on the volume of your belongings and the distance between your old and new home. Moving takes less time and money if you pack your belongings and have movers simply move them for you. 

Home Size Moving Time

How To Make Moving Go Faster

1. Hire A Moving Company

Hiring professional helpers can shave hours and even days off of your up-coming move. Moving companies send out crews made up of several skilled, experienced people. While moving is hard for most people, professional movers do it every day.

They often work quickly and carefully to protect your belongings and get them from point A to point B. Professional movers also have equipment like dollies and ratchet straps that make the job easier and safer. Movers charge an average of $60 per hour on labor, but it varies. 

Moving companies offer both flat rates and hourly rates. Hourly rates come in handy for small moves, whereas fixed rates are better for big moves. It’s not worth paying an hourly rate if you have a big home with lots of furniture, in many cases.

2. Downsize

Downsizing can make your move go much faster than it would if you held onto clutter. Today, it’s easy to sell your belongings online or in person at secondhand stores. Facebook Marketplace is one of the best resources for selling household items.

However, you must be careful about who you sell to and where you meet the buyer. It’s best to meet buyers in public places with lots of visibility. Decluttering and selling unused items can help you put money toward your upcoming move. 

The best items to sell when moving include clothes, old electronics, out-dated furniture, linens, and appliances. Keep in mind that you must list them at low prices, especially if the items are heavily used. Otherwise, you will have a hard time selling your belongings. 

3. Enlist Help

It’s hard to justify spending a fortune on professional movers in some cases, and that’s understandable. Luckily, you can save a lot of money if you enlist the help of your friends when you move. This will speed up your move and shave off several expenses. 

Of course, you can still pay your friends to help you move or at least compensate them somehow. Even still, it won’t come out to be nearly as much as movers charge. This can also provide peace of mind, as you don’t have to worry about strangers handling your belongings. 

4. Consider Storage

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when moving with a large volume of items. It takes longer to move when you have lots of furniture, clothes, and collectible items. You can shave some time off of your move if you put some of your belongings in storage.

This is something you can do without professional help if you plan efficiently. For example, you can slowly bring some of your belongings to a storage unit for months before you move. Not only does this save time, but it can also save money.

That’s because most professional movers use shipment weight and volume as a cost factor. You can lower the overall cost if your shipment volume is relatively low. The other benefit of this is that you can slowly retrieve your belongings after you get settled in your new home. 

5. Donate As Much As Possible

Whether it be food items or old clothes, donating your belongings can make moving go faster. Not only is it a good deed, but in some cases, donating your belongings is also faster than selling them. This is a great option if you don’t need to sell your stuff for extra money. 

You can even earn charitable deductions when you donate food and clothes. However, you must look it up to see if the place you donate to qualifies for this. The Salvation Army and Goodwill can provide tax deductions for donations. 

6. Avoid Premium Services

Moving companies offer premium services that are convenient, but they add time and money to your move. For example, most moving companies offer full packing and unpacking services. The moving crew will pack your belongings, load them on the truck, and unpack the boxes at your new home.

This premium service can add up to $1,000 to your moving costs, especially if you have lots of belongings. That’s because it often takes hours longer than it would if you packed without help. Other premium services, like white glove service, can also make your move take longer.

Granted, white glove service may be necessary if you have large, valuable items that are hard to move. Otherwise, it’s best to stick to a bare-bones move without premium services if you want to save time and money. 

How Much Time Do You Need To Plan A Move?

You need at least 2 months to plan a move, whether your home is large or small. This gives you time to make new living arrangements, sign a lease, or buy a house. Moving companies recommend that you schedule your move at least 2-3 months in advance. 

You can also save money on your move if you book it far in advance. Not only is it hard to book last-minute moves, but moving on short notice is also more expensive. Moving companies often charge inflated prices for expedited moves.

Ideally, you should book your move between January and March or September and early December. This is the off-season for moving, so you can expect to spend less. 

Summing It Up

You should allocate up to 10 hours for a move, especially if your home has several bedrooms. It takes as little as 2 hours to move out of a studio, but moving from a 3-4-bedroom home takes up to 7 hours. Your move can take up to 10 hours if you have 4-5 bedrooms and lots of furniture at home.

Related Guides:

• What To Do If Movers Damage My Property
• Best Ways To Save Money On Movers