How Long Does a House Move Take?
It’s one of the most common questions we get, and it’s a good one to ask before you start planning.
The honest answer is: it depends. But that’s not very useful on its own, so here’s what it actually depends on, and what realistic timings look like for different types of moves.
Moving Day Itself
The part most people mean when they ask how long a move takes is the day itself. Loading up, getting there, unloading. Here’s a rough guide based on what we see regularly.
A studio or one-bedroom flat with a reasonable amount of belongings typically takes two to four hours. A two-bedroom property, four to six hours. A three-bedroom house, six to eight hours. A four-bedroom house or larger can run to a full day, and occasionally two if there’s a lot of furniture or a significant distance involved.
These are working estimates, not guarantees. The actual time depends on a handful of things that vary considerably from move to move.
What Makes a Move Take Longer
How packed everything is. If boxes are sealed, labelled, and ready to go when the team arrives, the job moves quickly. If packing is still happening on moving day, it doesn’t. The single biggest time variable we see is the state of preparation when we arrive.
Stairs and access. A ground-floor flat loads and unloads in a fraction of the time a fourth-floor flat without a lift does. The same applies at the other end. If either property has awkward access, a narrow staircase, or no parking close to the front door, add time.
Parking. Urban moves in particular can be slowed significantly by parking. If there’s no space directly outside either property, every trip to and from the van takes longer. A parking suspension permit for moving day is worth arranging in advance if you’re in a city or busy town.
Distance between properties. A local move where both properties are within a few miles of each other is very different from a cross-county or cross-country move. Longer distances mean longer transit time and, in some cases, the need to plan around driver rest requirements for very long journeys.
Large or difficult items. Pianos, American-style fridge freezers, large sofas that need dismantling, pool tables. Anything that requires extra handling adds time. Worth mentioning when you get your quote so the team comes prepared.
How many people are helping. A two-person team on a four-bedroom house will take considerably longer than a three or four-person team on the same job. When you get a quote, make sure the team size is matched to the job.
The Full Process, Not Just Moving Day
If you’re buying a property, the process from exchange of contracts to moving day is typically one to two weeks, though it can be as little as 24 hours in some cases and considerably longer if both parties want more time. The timescale is agreed between solicitors at the point of exchange, and the moving date is set then.
One thing worth knowing: completion day can be a slow start. The funds transfer from solicitor to solicitor, and the keys are usually released once the seller’s solicitor has confirmed receipt. That often happens mid-morning, and occasionally early afternoon. If you’re buying, don’t plan for the van to arrive before you know you have keys.
For renters, the process is more predictable. Your notice period is set in your tenancy agreement, typically one to two months, and the moving date is your last day in the property. You know the date well in advance, which makes planning considerably simpler.
How to Make It Go Faster
The biggest thing is preparation. Everything packed and ready before the team arrives. Large items dismantled if they need to be. Clear access to the front door at both ends.
Beyond that: make decisions in advance. Moving day is not the time to work out whether the sofa is coming or going to a friend. Those calls made earlier save a surprising amount of time on the day itself.
Finally, let the team get on with it. Our lads work efficiently and they know what they’re doing. The jobs that run well are usually the ones where everyone’s clear on what’s going where from the start.
Getting a Better Estimate for Your Move
The best way to get a realistic time and cost estimate is to describe your move accurately when you enquire. Property size, rough volume of belongings, any large or unusual items, floors at each end, distance, and any access or parking considerations. The more detail you give, the more accurate the quote you’ll get back.
If you’d like a straightforward quote from a team you can trust, find your local YMWAV branch here.