Moving advice
Moving time depends on the size of your home, access, how prepared everything is and how far you're travelling. Here's how to plan your moving day realistically.
Moving day
A move can take a few hours for a small, straightforward home, while a larger household can take most of a day or longer. The distance between properties is only part of the picture.
Loading, travel, unloading and access at both properties all contribute to the total time. The amount of furniture and belongings being moved, how well everything is packed and whether there are stairs or difficult access can also make a significant difference.
What affects moving time
A small one-bedroom move will generally require considerably less loading and unloading time than a large family home. The volume of furniture and boxes is one of the main factors movers consider.
Easy driveway access and a short distance from the truck to the door can make a move much quicker. Stairs, narrow entrances, long carries and limited parking can add time.
Having boxes sealed, labelled and ready to go means the moving team can concentrate on loading rather than waiting for items to be packed or sorted.
Large furniture, heavy appliances, fragile items and pieces that need careful handling can take longer to move safely.
For a local move, travel may be a relatively small part of the day. Longer-distance moves need more planning because driving time becomes a much larger part of the overall journey.
A typical move
The team works through the property, protecting furniture where required and loading the truck in a practical order. The size of the load and access conditions have a major effect on this stage.
Once everything is secured, the truck travels to the new property. Local moves may have a relatively short travel period, while intercity moves naturally require more time.
At the destination, furniture and boxes are unloaded and placed according to your instructions. Access, stairs and the distance from the truck to the house can affect how long this takes.
Before moving day
Unless you've arranged professional packing, have your boxes packed and ready before the moving team arrives.
Keep hallways, doorways and access routes clear. This makes it easier for movers to carry furniture and boxes safely and efficiently.
Make sure the moving team can get close to the property where possible. If there are stairs, restricted access or parking limitations, mention them when arranging your move.
Set aside important documents, valuables, chargers and anything you'll need immediately rather than packing them into the moving truck.
Planning realistically
It's easy to focus on how long the truck will take to travel between two addresses. For many local moves, however, loading and unloading account for much of the working time.
A move can also take longer than expected if there is more to move than originally estimated, access changes on the day or packing is still unfinished. Building some flexibility into your schedule gives you more room to deal with the unexpected.
Moving day
Have ordinary household items packed and sealed unless you've booked a packing service.
Remove unnecessary obstacles from the route between rooms, doors and the truck.
Let the movers know about stairs, lifts, narrow access, long carries or parking restrictions before work begins.
Know where larger furniture should go so the team can place it correctly rather than moving it again later.
Professional movers
At Fragile Removals, we help homes and businesses move throughout Waikato and across the North Island. Before your move, we can discuss the size of the job, access, timing and any items that need special care.
We provide free, no-obligation fixed-price quotes so you can plan your moving day around the job rather than trying to guess how long everything will take.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to move a three-bedroom house?
There is no fixed timeframe. The amount of furniture and belongings, access at both properties, packing, travel distance and the conditions on the day all affect the total time.
Does packing make a move take longer?
Yes. If belongings are still being packed when the movers arrive, loading cannot proceed as efficiently. Having everything ready beforehand can help keep the move moving smoothly.
Do stairs make a house move take longer?
They can. Carrying furniture and boxes up or down stairs generally takes more time than moving items directly through an accessible doorway.
How long does a local move take?
Local moving times vary considerably depending on the size of the move and access at both properties. Travel may be relatively short, but loading and unloading can still take several hours.
How long does an intercity move take?
An intercity move takes longer because the journey between properties becomes a larger part of the overall schedule. The exact timing depends on the route, load and delivery arrangements.
Can Fragile Removals give me an estimated moving time?
Yes. When preparing your quote, we can consider the size of your move, access, locations and other practical details to help you plan the day.
Ready when you are
Tell us what you're moving, where you're going and when you need to move. We'll prepare a free, no-obligation fixed-price quote.
