How long does it take to move house? Most people think it's a weekend job. The whole process usually takes 6 to 10 weeks from original planning to final settlement. Moving day timing varies substantially based on your situation. A professional removalist team moves a one-bedroom flat in 2-4 hours, but larger homes with four or more bedrooms need 7-9 hours with a full removalist crew. DIY moves take longer and stretch to 2-3 days for a medium-sized home.
Let's break down the complete moving timeline. You'll learn realistic packing estimates and understand what to expect during each phase of your house move. This piece covers all the key timeframes you need to know for local relocations and house packing tasks.
Moving house involves much more than just transporting your belongings. You should start preparing 6-8 weeks before your moving date to make the transition smooth. Here's how you can break this experience into simple steps.
Your moving clock starts ticking the moment you decide to relocate. Moving experts recommend starting your preparations 4-6 weeks before your actual moving date. Early preparation makes the difference between a chaotic move and a well-arranged transition.
According to industry estimates, the cost of moving in Australia can vary significantly depending on the size of the property and the services required. On average, relocating a two-bedroom apartment typically costs between $500 and $1,500, while moving a four-bedroom house can range from $1,500 to $2,500. For larger homes or more complex moves, costs may rise to $4,500 or more. These figures are based on local moves and may increase depending on factors like distance, packing services, access issues, or the need for additional manpower. See our Sydney removalist prices here.
Decluttering comes next. Professional packing company Mrs Packer suggests setting aside 2-3 full days just to declutter, or spreading it across 3-4 weekends if time is tight. This step alone can substantially reduce your packing work and moving costs.
A floor plan of your new home helps determine where furniture will go. Measure doorways and spaces so larger items fit through entrances and in their intended spots - this simple step saves you from major problems on moving day.
Packing becomes your main priority after planning. Moving experts suggest you should start packing 3-4 weeks before moving day. Start with items you rarely use - seasonal decorations, special occasion dishware, and off-season clothing.
Mark each box with its contents and destination room clearly. List everything in each carton and note any existing damage. These records help if disputes come up later. Start telling organisations about your address change during this time - the electoral commission, driver's licence authorities, and subscription services. Set up mail redirection to catch anything you might miss.
Use up your freezer and pantry food two weeks before the move. Schedule time off work and arrange childcare and pet care for moving day. Put together two essential kits - a first-night box with immediate needs (toilet paper, simple kitchenware, bed linens) and a DIY tool kit with screwdrivers, Allen keys, and measuring tape.
Moving day rarely goes exactly as planned, even with great preparation. Professional organiser Robyn Amott recommends moving items into your new property before your official move date if possible. This early access helps spread out the workload instead of cramming everything into one tiring day.
First-time movers often don't realise the physical demands and time needed. A three-bedroom house takes a full day even with professional help, while DIY moves can take 2-3 days.
Narrow doorways, steep driveways, and multiple flights of stairs can turn simple furniture moves into complex challenges. That's why experienced movers suggest having extra help and allowing more time than you first estimate.
Note that settling in takes longer than the physical move. While moving your belongings might take a day, unpacking and organising usually takes 2-3 weeks when done in stages each evening. Most households take between 30-90 days to find a proper place for everything.
Packing takes up most of your time when you move house, but people often don't realise how long this vital task actually takes. Let's get into realistic timeframes based on your home size and situation.
Studio apartments and one-bedroom flats need about 1-2 days to pack everything. This timeline works best when you've already sorted your belongings and packed without interruption. A typical studio needs between 10-40 boxes, and each box takes about 20-30 minutes to pack properly.
You'll spend roughly 6-10 hours packing a studio apartment, while a two-bedroom property needs 15-20 hours. These estimates assume you're working straight through rather than spreading the work over several evenings.
New movers often think small properties won't take long to pack. The reality is that even a minimalist one-bedroom flat needs at least a full weekend of focused work to pack everything properly.
Three-bedroom homes match the average UK property size and need about 3-5 days to pack. You'll fill roughly 30-40 boxes, which takes professional packers about 4-4.5 hours.
DIY packing takes much longer. Set aside 25-37 hours of actual packing time]. If you're working around a job, this usually means spending 1-2 weeks of evenings and weekends.
Tackling one room each day makes the process more manageable for three-bedroom homes. Most families find their kitchen needs extra time because of all the fragile items that need careful wrapping.
Bigger homes with four or more bedrooms need much more time, usually 5-7 days of focused packing. Four-bedroom houses fill about 50 boxes, while five-bedroom homes often need more than 60 boxes.
Large homes take between 50-75 hours to pack. Even with family helping out, you should start packing at least three weeks before moving day.
Six-bedroom properties or homes with lots of storage space need 7-10 days minimum, especially when you have collections or special items that need careful handling.
Professional packers work much faster thanks to their experience and efficient methods. Two pros can pack a one-bedroom flat in just 1-1.5 hours. The time scales up with house size:
3-bedroom home: 3-3.5 hours with two packers or a full day (8-12 hours) with three packers
5-bedroom house: 6-6.5 hours with professional service
Professional packers can fill about 5 boxes per hour per person, working much faster than homeowners. The service adds 75-100% to moving costs, but many people find it worth the investment, especially for larger homes.
These services include materials and can finish in 1-2 days, which might take weeks to do yourself. This makes professional packing especially valuable when time is tight.
Your actual moving day takes up just a small part of the entire house move timeline. Yet it's the most intense phase of the process. Knowing how long moving day operations usually take helps you plan better and stay stress-free.
Your property's size directly affects how long professional movers take to load your belongings. A studio or one-bedroom flat needs about 1-2 hours with two movers. A typical three-bedroom house takes 3-4 hours to load.
Bigger homes need more time and people. Four or five-bedroom properties usually take 4-5.5 hours to load with three movers. Really big properties might need over 6 hours even with extra crew members.
Access plays a huge role in these timelines. Each flight of stairs adds about 30 minutes for every 10 cubic metres of items]. The distance from truck to door matters too - every extra 10 metres means another 10 minutes per 10 cubic metres.
Transport time varies based on distance. Local moves within the same city add just 30-60 minutes to your moving day. Traffic can make this longer, especially in busy city areas.
Long-distance moves take much more time:
200-400 miles (4-7 hours driving): 1-2 days total moving time
400-700 miles (8-12 hours driving): 2-3 days total moving time
700-1000 miles (12-17 hours driving): 3-4 days total moving time
Long-distance moves often split loading and delivery across several days. This helps with transport logistics. Clear communication with your movers about arrival times becomes crucial during this time.
Unloading goes a bit faster than loading, but not by much. A small flat takes about 1-1.5 hours to unload. Medium-sized homes need 3-3.5 hours, while larger properties take 4-4.5 hours with professional help.
You should unpack your first night essentials first. Start with bedrooms and bathrooms to ensure basic comfort. The kitchen comes next - focus on unpacking essential crockery, cutlery and appliances.
A complete professional move usually takes:
Studio/one-bedroom flat: 2-4 hours total
Two-bedroom apartment: 4-6 hours total
Three-bedroom home: 6-8 hours total
These times assume good access and professional movers. DIY moves take longer - what professionals do in a day might take you a full weekend.
Your moving timeline can stretch way beyond your original estimates. What looks like a simple process can turn into something much more complex. A good grasp of these delays will help you plan your house move better.
The gap between your old and new homes will affect your overall moving timeline by a lot. Local moves in the same city like Bronte to Manly in Sydney usually add 30-60 minutes to your moving day. Long-distance interstate moves take much longer. Like Sydney to Canberra obviously takes longer. Long-distance relocations often mean your stuff gets loaded one day and shows up several days later. This extra time lets movers handle transport logistics better and gives them time to rest and stay overnight when needed.
Small access problems can add lots of time to your move. Each flight of stairs adds about 30 minutes for every 10 cubic metres of stuff. The distance from truck to door matters too - every extra 10 metres means another 10 minutes per 10 cubic metres.
Tight driveways, parking issues, and limited elevator access often cause delays. You can avoid these headaches by telling your movers about access limits early and trying to save parking spots where you can.
Delicate items need extra care and time. Packing glass, art, electronics, and antiques needs special materials and methods. Big furniture, pianos, and heavy appliances are tricky and need specific tools and know-how.
Professional packers are a great way to get help with valuable items, though they'll add time to your prep work. These experts usually finish in 1-2 days what might take weeks on your own. This makes them perfect if you're short on time.
Weather changes can affect your timeline a lot. Summer is the busiest time to move, which means fewer available services and longer wait times. Spring brings better weather, but watch out for surprise rain that slows loading and unloading.
Winter moves come with their own set of problems, including ice and freezing temperatures. These conditions make driving dangerous, slow down travel, and make it hard to carry heavy furniture on slippery ground. Professional movers suggest adding extra time for winter moves and having backup plans ready for bad weather.
Moving to a new home involves more than just transporting your belongings. Your new space takes time to feel like home, and the process happens in distinct phases.
The first 24 hours should focus on simple functionality. A well-packed "essentials box" is a great way to get through this significant period. People often call it a "first night box" or "open first box" - it holds everything you need for your first day and night.
Pack your bed linens, toiletries (toilet paper is a must!), simple kitchenware, chargers, medications, and spare clothes. Smart movers prefer using a suitcase instead of a cardboard box because it's easier to move around. Keep this box with you rather than putting it in the moving truck so you can access it right away.
Your bedroom setup should be your top priority. Nothing beats sleeping in your own bed after a tiring moving day]. The goal is to create basic comfort rather than perfect organisation.
The next seven days are about security and making things work. Change your locks first thing the morning after you move in. You should test all electrical outlets, check circuit boxes, and verify that smoke alarms work properly to ensure safety.
A working kitchen makes your new house feel more like home, so set that up early. On top of that, you need to organise important papers, set up utilities, and learn about your new neighbourhood during this time.
Most people take about 14 weeks to unpack everything. The key is to focus on making essential spaces work rather than achieving perfect organisation in the first week.
The time it takes to feel completely at home ranges from 3 months to 2 years, based on your situation. Your emotional connection to your old home, family situation, and time spent at your previous place all play a role.
This period is perfect to make the space truly yours. Adding photos (37% of movers prefer this), indoor plants (36%), and artwork (27%) helps create that personal touch.
New routines help you deal with any feelings of loneliness in your new surroundings. Getting involved in local activities, discovering neighbourhood spots, and meeting your neighbours helps you adjust better.
People who move often say it takes about a month to really feel settled. Remember that settling in means more than unpacking - it's about connecting with your new environment until it feels like home.
Moving houses takes more time and effort than people expect. The actual moving day might need just 2-4 hours for a small flat or 6-8 hours for a larger home. The complete process needs meticulous planning that spans several weeks.
Your preparations should begin 6-8 weeks before the move date to handle each phase properly. This timeline becomes vital especially when you have larger properties or long-distance relocations. Professional moving services can substantially reduce certain time frames during packing and loading phases, but they need booking well in advance.
Your new home's settling process follows its own natural rhythm. Simple functionality might take just a week to establish, and complete settling typically spans 30-90 days. The adjustment period shouldn't be rushed. Create functional spaces first and gradually personalise your new environment.
Realistic planning and adequate time for each phase form the foundation of a successful move. Breaking down the process into manageable stages makes the whole trip smoother. Your new house will soon feel like home, making all the careful planning worth the effort.
