6 Month Moving Timeline: What to Do Before, During, and After Close

by Suzanne Clark Cambray

Relocation Guide

Most of the stress in a long distance move doesn't come from the move itself. It comes from bad sequencing: trying to do everything at once, or realizing something needed to happen weeks ago. Here's the timeline I walk relocation clients through, worked backward from your close date, so nothing sneaks up on you.

Every relocation timeline looks a little different depending on your close date, your current lease or listing, and your work schedule. Reach out to Suzanne to build a version of this mapped to your actual dates.

Getting settled into a new home after the move

6 Months Out

6 Months Out: Lay the Groundwork

• Get pre approved with a lender who understands out of state or relocation buyers

• Research neighborhoods based on commute, lifestyle, and budget, not just online photos

• Schedule a house hunting trip if you haven't been to Portland recently

• Start a moving budget that includes more than just the movers, such as deposits, temporary housing, and travel

• If you're selling a home elsewhere first, start that conversation with a local agent there

3 Months Out

3 Months Out: Narrow and Commit

• Narrow your neighborhood shortlist to 2 or 3 areas and start actively touring or virtually touring

• If you have kids, begin school enrollment research and required paperwork

• Get quotes from at least three moving companies and book early if moving in peak summer months

• Start decluttering. Anything you're not taking, begin selling, donating, or planning to leave behind

• Research employer relocation benefits if applicable. Many go unclaimed simply because no one asked

1 Month Out

1 Month Out: Lock in the Details

• Complete home inspection and any negotiated repairs

• Schedule utility transfers, including electric, gas, water, and internet, to start the day you close

• File your USPS address change and update it with banks, subscriptions, and employer

• Confirm your final walkthrough date and moving truck arrival window

• Pack a "first night" box with toiletries, chargers, a few dishes, and bedding, so day one doesn't require unpacking everything

Move Week

Move Week: Execute

• Do the final walkthrough before close to confirm agreed repairs and that the home is as expected

• Close on the home and get your keys

• Confirm movers have the right address and any building or HOA move in requirements

• Locate your circuit breaker, water shutoff, and thermostat before the truck arrives. It's a small thing that saves a headache

First 30 Days

First 30 Days: Settle In

• Update your driver's license and vehicle registration with Oregon DMV

• Register to vote at your new address if you'd like to

• Find a local doctor, dentist, and pharmacy

• Introduce yourself to neighbors. It's genuinely one of the fastest ways to feel at home here

• Explore your immediate neighborhood on foot before you default to the same three places

Want a Version of This Built Around Your Actual Close Date?

Let's build your personal timeline together, nothing generic about it.

Suzanne Clark Cambray

Principal Broker, Moving to PDX Collective

+1 (503) 806-9332
suzanne@movingtopdx.com

Wendy Foster

Real Estate Advisor

+1 (503) 459-8936
wendy@movingtopdx.com

Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty | movingtopdx.com

GET MORE INFORMATION

Suzanne Clark Cambray

Your Trusted Advisor, Licensed Principal Broker in OR & NY | License ID: 200608182

+1(503) 806-9332