Moving Tips for North Shore Buyers & Sellers

Once you sell, buy or both in the North Shore real estate market, it’s an exciting feeling of accomplishment! Unfortunately, the stress of moving can get in the way of your celebration. As your North Shore real estate agent, I am here to share some moving tips with you, so you can plan ahead and make the process as least stressful as possible!

Plan ahead in twos – Moving experts recommend that you think in terms of twos before moving. Start planning your move two months beforehand, and start packing two weeks before. This isn’t always possible, as you don’t know when exactly you will sell or buy, but start planning early.

Make a timeline – Create a timeline for yourself, such as packing up one room each week, or packing up items you know you won’t need before the move, or at least decluttering and getting rid of items you don’t want to move with. Consider hosting a yard sale or donating.

Follow a checklist – There are a lot of things to keep in mind, so don’t try to remember them all without a checklist. Write down what needs to happen before or right after the move, such as hiring a moving company, cancelling or changing utility services, changing mailing address, changing locks, scheduling cable and internet installation, etc. These are all things you’ll want to do quickly.

Treat moving like a marathon – Don’t leave everything last minute like a sprint. Start early and take your time, going through each room, starting with small tasks, getting rid of anything you no longer need, packaging everything to keep it safe, and marking all the boxes clearly with what is in them and which room they belong in.

Plan for the new space – Once you know where you’ll be moving, study the floor plan and square footage of each room, to determine if your current furniture will fit in the rooms and through the doorways. If something won’t fit, there’s no use in bringing it. If something needs to be taken apart to fit, that is something you can do ahead of time.

Contact moving company – Spend time reading reviews and asking for recommendations on a moving company, so you find one that is trustworthy and reliable. Check in two weeks ahead to confirm what time they are showing up on moving day, and check again the day before. Find out what you are responsible for doing ahead of time.

Pack a suitcase – You don’t want to feel rushed and anxious about unpacking, or lost without your essentials in your new home. Pack a suitcase with all of the things you will need your first few days in the new home, such as clothes for a few days, sheets and pillows, toiletries, medications, etc.

Good luck with the move! If you still need to sell and/or buy in Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Lake Forest, Wilmette, Evanston, Glenview, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, and other North Shore communities, I am here to help! Contact me, your North Shore real estate agent, for help accomplishing your real estate goals this summer!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

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