When you sell a home or give notice on a rental, you have a finite amount of time before you have to vacate it one way or the other. But this means you need somewhere to move into, of course. This gap often makes people anxious about the possibility that they will have to move twice — once into a temporary home and again into a permanent one. 

What can you do if you face this problem? Here are a few moving tips for those who worry about moving twice. 

1. Reduce Your Stuff

If you may have to do extra work for this move, pare down what you move to begin with. While many experts always recommend you purge some things before a move, this may be a time to be more aggressive with getting rid of things. 

Get help sorting through your old clothing, kitchenware, hand-me-downs, and garage tools. Give things away, donate, gift to friends, and hire a dumpster if need be. The lighter you are, the faster you can pivot. 

2. Store With the Movers

Many moving companies today offer storage services as well. This can be a huge help in your circumstances because it turns two moves into one long event. If you end up having to arrange storage on your own, you'll have to move stuff in and out of a storage space as well. Let the moving company keep it, and you only have to do your part once. 

3. Know Your Area

Research where you're going so you can minimize the chances of delays and surprises. 

Make sure you have plenty of inventory to choose real estate or rentals within your price range. Get pre-qualified and have down payments/deposits saved up in advance. Be ready to put in offers right away. And talk to locals to get more details about specific neighborhoods and markets. 

4. Outsource the Work

Moving twice will undoubtedly be a challenge for the homeowner. However, you can make it more manageable by outsourcing as much work as you can afford. Movers often provide services like packing, disassembly and reassembly, furniture placement, cleaning, and even handling utilities or other related tasks. Share the workload to avoid burnout. 

5. Separate Your Stuff

It's best to plan for the worst but hope for the best. How can you do this when moving? Pack with the possibility of a temporary housing stay in mind. 

Make a list of items you'll definitely need at hand. Color code these boxes differently than boxes for more long-term storage. Budget for the purchase of items that do end up in storage when you need them. And you might even consider a two-stage move to keep your storage and temporary home items separated. 

Where to Start

No matter how likely it is that you will have to move twice, planning will make it better. Start by meeting with a local moving company in your area today.