Home Moving Timeline

Posted by Justin Havre on Monday, October 1st, 2018 at 8:17am.

A Calendar and Timeline for Moving to a New HomeMoving to a different home is both exciting and stressful, and when people decide to pack up and move, they can quickly get overwhelmed. Fortunately, with a proper timeline and a good calendar, it's possible to take a lot of stress out of the experience of relocating or buying a new home. Here's a calendar/timeline that can help.

Start at Least Eight Weeks Before Moving

Not only should a homeowner have a firm moving date, they should also have a timeline of the things that need to get done before that date arrives. Eight weeks out, consider:

  • Hiring a mover and setting things up
  • If you have a large safe, talk to a professional about moving your safe
  • Getting everything out of the basement, attic, and shed
  • Using up things that aren't moving, like frozen food
  • Learning about the new city or location
  • Looking into moving apps that can make your experience less stressful 

Then, with six weeks left, it's time to:

  • See what can be donated or thrown away
  • Find out what moving expenses might be deductible
  • Locate all important documents
  • Start notifying people about the move
  • Get records from doctors and other professionals
  • Set up any storage needed at the new location

Keep Up With Things as the Move Gets Closer

The more solid the timeline and the more detailed it is, the more an Evanston new homeowner can accomplish the things they need to do without getting too stressed out about those things. A timeline is a good planning tool, but it's also a way to have more peace of mind. As the move gets closer, with just a month left, consider:

  • Sending in a change of address
  • Arranging transport for pets and plants
  • Contact utility and insurance companies
  • Get moving boxes

Two to three weeks out from the move, a homeowner will want to:

  • Make official travel arrangements
  • Open new bank accounts, if the current bank doesn't have a branch in the new area
  • Get the car serviced if it's being driven
  • Settle any outstanding bills with local companies and individuals
  • Tie up loose ends like library books and dry cleaning
  • Pack some personal items that will be needed right away
  • Set aside anything that's not moving, so it doesn't get on the truck by accident
  • Take some time to rest and go over things, so nothing falls through the cracks

How Soon Should Planning Begin?

Ideally, planning should start as soon as a move is being sincerely contemplated. The earlier the planning begins, the less stressful it can be. With a timeline that's created almost right away and a calendar used to fill in all the things that need to be done by specific dates, anyone can get through a move more easily.

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