How to Develop Your Moving Timeline
A moving timeline can be a helpful tool when trying to keep track of events or deadlines that are constantly changing. By creating a visual representation of your timeline, you can easily see at a glance what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Here are some tips on how to develop a moving timeline.
Move Planning 101: Your Timeline
When we talk with many of our customers in the early stages of planning their move, we often get asked about timelines.
Some of the questions are more specific: what day will my items be packed and loaded and will they be delivered on the same day or a different day?
Some are more long-range: How much time should I allow myself for packing and cleaning? How many days should I take off work for my move? How do I know the best way to choose a moving date?
When building your moving timeline there are a few key pieces to the puzzle that you will want to have in place –
- When do you need to be out of your current residence?
- When is your new residence Available?
- If you’re moving for a new job, when do you report for your first day?
- When are you able to book moving services?
Once you are able to answer these four questions you can begin building a timeline based off those dates. If you know you have to be out of your home by the 1st and your new home isn’t available until the 15th, you will want to include plans for short-term housing and storage, and coordinate those items with your moving company. The sooner you are able to book your moving services, the better.
Pro Moving Tip: Always Plan Ahead
We suggest planning several weeks in advance to ensure that you have a better choice of dates that may fit your schedule. If you are moving in the summer, try to be flexible; consider options like moving on a weekday to ensure you are able to get as close to your target move date as possible. When all your key dates are set, begin planning your personal timeline of tasks that you need to complete before moving day. These items include things like
- Cleaning
- Planning/Organizing donations or yard sale items
- Packing
- Organizing moving day childcare
- Transferring utilities and accounts
- Changing your address
- School or childcare registration
Know Your Moving Options
Depending on where you are headed, there are a few different types of moves that you may need to consider ahead of booking. First you’ll need to decide if your move will be a local move or a long distance moves, and then if you’ll book a full-service relocation or plan to D.I.Y. your move.
Local Moves
A local move is typically defined as a move that is under 50 miles from your current residence. Local moves usually take 1-2 days and can be booked with most moving companies with little notice.
If you will be packing your own belongings, start by purging items you no longer need or use; this will make packing and unpacking a much smoother process. Once you have sorted through your belongings, begin to pack items that you won’t need prior to the move date. You should also start to gather packing supplies like boxes, tape, and markers. If you plan to use a moving company for your local move, be sure to book your services at least 2-3 weeks in advance.
Long Distance Moves
A long distance move is typically defined as a move that exceeds 50 miles from your current residence. These moves often take 3-5 days and should be booked with a moving company 4-6 weeks in advance.
In addition to the standard packing and purging process, long distance moves often require additional planning. If you are driving to your new location, you will need to map out your route and make sure you have planned for rest stops, food, and lodging. If you are flying, you will need to make sure your airline tickets are booked and you have arranged transportation from the airport to your new home.
Full-Service Moves
A full-service move is a great option if you don’t have the time or ability to pack and load your belongings yourself. With a full-service move, the moving company will handle all aspects of your relocation from start to finish. This includes packing, loading, transportation, and unloading. Full-service moves are often more expensive than other types of moves but can save you a significant amount of time and effort.
D.I.Y Moves
D.I.Y moves are a great option if you are on a tight budget or have plenty of time to plan and execute your move. With a D.I.Y move, you will be responsible for packing, loading, and transporting your belongings to your new home.
If you are planning for a DIY relocation using a company like our partners at Augusta Go-Mini’s, we recommend allowing yourself several days to get all the sorting, packing, and cleaning is done and a few extra days on the back end so you aren’t rushed getting settled into your new home.
Not sure where to start – check out this infographic to help you stay on track as you prepare for your move.
Need More Move Planning Resources?
- Need some extra help as you plan your move? Get our move planning timeline.
- Try these checklists to keep you on track.
- Get answers to some of our most frequently asked moving questions.
- Follow us on social media or check out our blog for more tips!
Ready to Get Moving? ADSI Can Help.
If you are in the very early stages of planning your relocation, contact ADSI Moving Systems today to schedule a free in-home estimate for your relocation. With over 50 years of specialized experience, our team has been providing customer-focused, quality-driven relocations to our clients, whether they are moving across town or across the country. We look forward to helping you get moving!