Moving house is a large feat to undertake. Sometimes it can be done in as little as a month but other times it could take as long as five months. The timeline depends on so many different things that it can be very difficult to estimate how long it may take.
If you are buying a home or selling the one you are in now that will have a significant impact on how long the process may take. In 2016 it was reported that selling a home in the UK took an average of 74 days. So, if you have not started that process yet you could be looking at a few months before you are able to move house.
Move House
If you are buying a home, even if you have signed the contracts already, it could still take months to move into that home. There are surveys and different processes that the homeowners have to go through before being able to actually sell you the home. This will ensure that you move into a stable and ready home though so it is for the best.
If you are renting or looking to rent the process may be quicker. Generally, those who rent must tell whoever they are renting from that they are planning to leave a month or two in advance. This makes it possible for these companies to put the rental property on websites and look for a new tenant.
That means that when you look for a rental property you will be able to see when you will be able to move into it. Generally, it is only a month or two different from when you begin looking. This is where the low end of the moving timeline comes in. Eight weeks is a viable timeline for moving if you are renting or planning on renting.
Eight Weeks
If you are simply looking at the time period of moving things out of your current place and into your next place then times are much shorter. The waiting period on being approved for rentals and buying houses is what takes the most time in the moving process.
Moving out of a one-bedroom flat would normally take an expert moving company no more than 4 hours. This includes picking everything up, bringing it to the new location, and then unloading it. This is if you are not moving too far, obviously you have to account for travel time from one place to the next as well.
Moving out of a four-bedroom place usually takes more than a full day. This is because there is obviously a lot more to pack up and multiple trips may be needed to bring things to the new home. However, if you do a lot of decluttering work and packing beforehand things may be much speedier.
There are a few main things that impact the time needed to move from one place to another (just the moving of items part.) As stated above the location of the new place can account for most of the time if you are looking to move further away. Traffic can impact this even more so if you are moving from or into a larger city.
Home Size
The size of the place you are moving from is a large factor as well since it will impact how much you actually have to move. Moving from a 2 bedroom to a 4 bedroom is no issue because you are going to a larger house and you may not have much to move. However, moving from a 4 bedroom anywhere else is difficult due to the sheer volume of belongings.
If you need specialized packaging for important or expensive things then it may take even longer. However, this is to be sure that your pieces are getting taken care of in the way they should be. Assembling and disassembling this packaging is much more labor-intensive than a simple box normally.
The last thing that could impact your moving time greatly is whether you hire movers or choose to do it yourself. If you hire professionals then they are experts at packing efficiently and effectively so that everything is moved out faster. This is a good choice for those who are looking to move quickly.
Final Thoughts
However, if you choose to move on your own, without professionals, then it may take much longer. You will have to sort through all of your belongings, especially if you are moving somewhere smaller. Then you will have to pack and move everything yourself. This is a large feat for many people.
On average the time needed for moving house in the UK is 8 to 22 weeks. It is a large range but there is a lot to account for. Planning it out can make things go much quicker and easier.
