How Long Does it Take to Move?

If you’re preparing for a big move this year, you may be overwhelmed by the timeline to be expected. The good news is that if you have a timeline in advance, you can plan your life around that much easier.

It’s not only important to know the important deadlines for the move, but it’s good to know if you’ll need any time away from work or if you’ll need to say no to any opportunities that come up this year. While the speed will vary for everyone, you can base your timeline on the typical timeframes it takes to move while remaining flexible if things change. Here is a look at the typical time it takes to move.

Finding your new home and selling your current

The first part of determining your timeline is to look at how long it will take you to sell your home and find your new one. This is likely to be the longest part of your move because it’s determined on when the perfect home becomes available and when you can find a buyer.

Finding the appropriate home for your family could be as quick as a week or could last a couple of months, depending on what you’re looking for and what the market is like in your area. You’ll need time to determine what you’re looking for and what your budget is, as well as finding a realtor to help you through the process and getting a pre-approval for your mortgage. Once you’ve found the home, you’ll need around 10 weeks to transfer ownership, between the negotiations, surveys, and closing.

When it comes to selling your home, you’ll have to factor about two months, if everything goes smoothly, to list the home with cleaning, staging, surveys, and showings before closing with the right offer.

Getting paperwork

Next, you’ll need to take some time to get all of your paperwork in order. You’ll need school records to take to the kid’s new schools. You’ll need to transfer your driver’s license and register your car in your new state. You’ll need to obtain your medical records and pet records, as well as gather records related to your property, financial documents, and any other personal documents. Don’t forget about changing your address with the USPS and transferring utilities. Give yourself a month to do all of these tasks.

Hiring movers and packing

Once you know when you’re going to move, you can hire movers and get packed. Give yourself a week to secure a moving crew, another week to organize and purge unwanted items, and up to a week to pack the house. You’ll only need a couple of days for a smaller space and a week for a 4-bedroom home. If your residential movers are packing the home, they can have even a 4-bedroom home packed in a day.

Moving day and unpacking

Lastly, give yourself a week for final moving preparations, up to a day to move, the length of time you’ll need to travel to your new home, and as long as you’d like to get unpacked. A move into an apartment will look much different than one into a large home, while a move across town will look much different than a move out of state.

How long does it take to move?

All in all, your moving process will average about 3 months but could happen as quick as 2 months depending on what areas move more quickly than normal. Try to give your family a break for the approximate 3 months it takes to move by saying no to things that come up, taking time off work, and allowing yourself plenty of time to take care of each task that needs completed. This is an exciting change and one that can occupy an entire season of the year!

How to Safely Pack All Your Electronics

Moving some of the more delicate items in your home can be worrisome for a family, but one area you may not have looked into is the moving of your electronics. Unless you’ve shipped electronics to someone in the past or had electronics shipped to you, you may not have thought about how fragile these items can be and how much protection they should have.

The last thing you need for your upcoming move are broken laptops or printers, or missing cords and pieces when you go to reassemble something at your new home. Take a look at the ways that you can safely pack your electronics so that you can have a worry-free move to Chicago.

How did you receive it originally?

Something to consider first is how you received the electronic originally. If you happened to have saved the original packing materials, you can just repack it into its original box for the best protection. If not, you can use your product manual to get advice on the best way to pack and store the electronics. The product manuals can often be found online. If you don’t have the original box, simply make sure you have all of the essentials. This includes sturdy cartons, paper wrapping such as a newspaper, packing tape, and labels with markers to mark all of your boxes.

Organize cords

You can also stay organized by taking some precautions before taping up the box. While you are packing, use color labels for your cords to make sure you know what goes to what. Your computer or stereo may have several cords involved and it may get confusing trying to remember which goes to which device. Use color coding to know that all orange cords go to one device while all green tags go to another.

Don’t be shy about extra protective materials

It’s more than alright to go overboard on your protective materials. Don’t be shy about getting extra protection such as by adding blankets or moving pads to your electronics for the move. You’ll be glad that you were safe rather than sorry.

Think about the temperature

You may not have realized the importance of temperature when it comes to electronics safety. Computers and TVs are more sensitive to temperature and may fare better in a climate-controlled storage facility. Be sure to find out from the manufacturer if the temperature is a consideration before moving electronics.

Keep track of the inventory

You’ll want to keep track of everything using an inventory. Make sure to write down what is in each box, as well as the components in each box so that you don’t forget. You’ll also be able to see if something is missing at the destination.

Wrap and tape

Lastly, be sure to wrap your electronics with clean paper or linen to prevent dust. You’ll also find it easier to prevent dust from getting to your devices when you use proper packing tape for sealing the box.

You can safely pack and move your electronics by taking extra precautions ahead of time. Use these tips before moving your valuable devices.

How to Prepare your Office for Relocation

Moving from one office to another can be a chore, especially when you want to continue running your business through the process. No one likes to feel that their business is out of commission when they have customers counting on them, but sometimes exciting changes happen like upgrading your office location.

You can make the move feel seamless by having a good plan of attack and a professional moving crew with experience moving offices. Once you’ve picked a time and hired the movers, here is what you need to do to prepare your office for the relocation.

Start planning

You’ll want to start by planning out how this is going to go down. Several weeks before, you’ll want to choose the timeframe for the move, depending on important dates coming up in your calendar, and also depending on if your current lease is ending. Next, call a professional moving company to schedule a time and to find out what to expect on moving day.

Be sure to start getting your team involved to make sure everyone knows when to expect the move. Suppliers and employers will need to know where to report during the move and to know not to schedule anything for your old location after the moving date. Talk to everyone about their part in the move and have a meeting to discuss the current details. Having a timeline that everyone is included on will make things run seamlessly.

Next, you’ll need to take a closer look at the new space to see if you’re going to need any projects done ahead of time. You may need a painting crew to paint in advance of moving in furniture or you made need to talk to a carpenter about the flooring or constructing walls.

Come up with the layout for the new space, including where desks will go, a receptionist, storage spaces, and where electrical outlets will be available. Are there any problems you could foresee that you’ll need a backup plan for, such as needing more cubicles or finding a place to keep the waiting area or lobby?

Assign tasks to your team

Now that everything is organized, you’ll want to start delegating tasks. You may want to ask for volunteers or assign tasks, as well as let each employee know what they need to do individually before the move.

Whether it’s packing their own personal effects and desk or helping move furniture, your staff will need to know what tasks they have been assigned and at what time. Having meetings will help to answer questions and keep everyone on the same page.

The weeks before the move

You’ve been preparing for 2 months now with your team and now it’s time to handle some of the details that come with running a business. A month before the move you should take the time to inventory everything, purge any extra clutter, notify everyone of the change of address, and order new business cards. This is the time to get rid of furniture or décor you won’t be using, taking note of everything you will be moving, and updating all marketing pieces with the new address.

Now you’ll need to prepare the new space by turning on utilities, notifying area businesses about your plans for the moving day, communicating with the building manager about your moving day needs, and talking to the moving company about their access for unloading at the new office. You’ll want to start getting things packed and labeled and letting your customer base know about any interruptions to business, whether it’s for a few hours or a few days.

Moving your office may sound overwhelming, but with the right plan in place everything can happen smoothly. Use this guide to make it happen efficiently so that you can look forward to your new office!

Helpful Tips for Settling in For a Chicago Winter

You’ve just moved to Chicago or you are on your way and the excitement of living in the Windy City is about to begin. While you’ll be blown away by the beautiful high rises, the gorgeous views, and the excitement of big city live, you also need to prepare yourself for what a Chicago winter is like.

Many newbies to the area aren’t prepared for just how cold it is or what it’s like to get around. Having an idea now will make it easier to enjoy yourself once you arrive. Take a look at these helpful tips that you’ll want to know before settling into your new Chicago home this winter.

What is Chicago’s climate like?

The first thing to understand is what the climate in Chicago is really like. While you’ll get to enjoy all four seasons between the humid summers, the mild autumns, and the cool springs, you’ll have a very cold winter, especially during January and February.

You’ll have the humidity and the cold that comes with being next to Lake Michigan. The winter season in Chicago can change in one week from highs of 30 degrees to lows of 16 degrees. You’ll likely see temps below zero and spontaneous snowstorms in the winter, but if you hold out until May or June, you’ll see warm weather again.

Flying in and feeling the cold

If you’ve never visited during the winter season, the first thing you should do is plan to fly into Chicago Midway to lessen your chances of a delay or cancellation. O’Hare tends to get more of the winter weather effects than Chicago Midway. Prepare before your flight by checking on the current weather conditions.

You may be surprised how cold it is when you arrive. The best thing you can do is embrace the season of cold temperatures and enjoy the things that cold weather brings with it. You’ll be able to spend this season enjoying ice skating at the park, enjoying Christmas lights, and shopping at holiday markets.

How to dress

The most important thing to do is to prepare your wardrobe for the weather. You’ll want to dress appropriately when you arrive and then consider how you’ll dress commuting each day. You can always make the weather more tolerable by dressing appropriately. This means that you need to have waterproof boots for snowy and slushy sidewalks, a warm jacket to protect you from the wind, as well as gloves, a hat, and a scarf for protection.

Make sure you dress each day in layers that can be removed since you’ll enter heated buildings. You can always pack different shoes to change into when you arrive at the office. When it comes to your days off with sightseeing, you’ll have more options to tour the city outside of public transportation, such as the hop-on and hop-off tours where you can warm up without having to commute to the subway or buses.

Safety at home

You’ll probably be tempted to stay indoors this season. You’ll love the indoor attractions around town, as well as snuggling up by your fireplace. Be prepared for a higher heating bill but also beware of fire safety especially if you’re using a wood or pellet stove or are unsure if your HVAC system has been checked. Make sure to get out to avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder, but be sure to take a winter driving course to make sure you stay safe on the road. 

Have some winter fun

Don’t forget to have some fun this winter. Talk to the locals about staying warm this winter when you’re out enjoying ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, or the caroling and ice skating at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park Plaza. If you want to stay indoors, check out a Christmas performance, a museum tour, or dinner out in your new town.

Moving in the winter can be tough, but planning ahead can make all the difference. Make sure you’ve hired your professional moving crew that can transport your household goods safely in the winter conditions and knows how to keep things protected in slippery conditions. Buy a new wardrobe and start booking your flight. When you arrive to your new home, enjoy the most exciting season of the year in the Windy City!

Simple Holiday Moving Guide

The holidays are here and it’s time… to move? This is one of the least popular times of the year to move, but once it’s done, you’ll get to spend the holidays at your brand new home! It may be one of the most exciting times to move since everyone is already available to celebrate the holidays, help you pack, and give you an extra special sendoff.

While you’re singing carols and driving past holiday lights, you can still successfully move your family into your new home without missing a beat this holiday season. You’ll want to plan ahead, consider the weather, and make it a fun process being the holiday season. Take a look at this guide that will make winter moving during the holidays a little more simple and exciting.

The planning process

Start with a great game plan. While you probably won’t have time to do everything you would normally do during the holiday season, you can still do what you make time for. Keep your expectations reasonable knowing that you are going through a big life change of moving during an already busy holiday season. It’s time to make a list of the things that have to be done and what things could be missed this year.

Instead of putting up your decorations this year, pack anything that you would normally pack away to put up your holiday decorations. If you’ll be spending a decent amount of time in your original home, be sure to decorate at least one space to keep the holiday spirit alive before moving to the new house. Start purging the rest of the house to eliminate things that you don’t need anymore, and start purchasing your moving supplies to pack up right away.

Consider your budget with the move and what you can afford for holiday shopping this year. You can have presents shipped to your new home by buying online and updating your shipping address. Pack up plates and dinnerware in exchange for high-quality paper and plastic items that can make party cleanup a cinch while still looking elegant. Then be sure your professional moving crew is hired and ready for moving day.

Have a moving holiday party

This is a great time to have a holiday party that can also be thought of as a moving party. Keep out a few holiday items for the party and that can get you started in your new home. Have a holiday playlist for the party that you can also enjoy on your travels to the new home and for when you arrive. It will be a great send-off that also gives you that holiday cheer you want to enjoy right now. This is also a great time to hand out your holiday cards with your new address!

The actual move

For the moving day, be sure to have your first-week box ready for your essentials, favorite holiday items, and supplies for the actual trip. You may want to pack a picnic if you plan to drive far and try to stop somewhere fun on the way, such as a national park or landmark that the kids would love. Bring hot drinks and blankets for the winter move. Don’t forget your holiday playlist, snacks for the trip, winter supplies such as coats and ice scrapers, and preparing your driveway to get the car and moving truck in and out safely.

Of course, you should have your utilities set up in advance so that your home will be nice and heated upon arrival. Once you’ve unpacked everything, you’ll now have the convenience of boxes to use for wrapping gifts, and a new home ready to start new traditions in. Allow yourself to dine out as you get settled and enjoying community holiday events for the first time.

Try to have fun with your holiday move knowing that you’re moving during that time of year where everyone is already a little bit jollier and there’s an excitement in the air. Enjoy your new home and the new space to celebrate your family holidays every year!