Our Moving Guide

Skogman Realty would like to make your move as smooth as possible. Whether you are relocating from across the country or moving within the Corridor, the logistics of moving day are the same: moving companies to evaluate, packing decisions to make, and a long list of small things that are easy to forget. We have compiled the resources and reminders below to help you remember everything, even the little things.

Hiring a Moving Company

If you plan on hiring a moving company, you might want to do some research first. Please review the sites below for more information about moving and to find a company whose services fit you best.

Movers.com
American Moving & Storage Association
Movers Directory
Van Lines
U-Haul

What Do I Look for When Hiring a Moving Company?

The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) offers a Certified Mover Program for moving companies throughout the United States. This program consists of professional movers that have agreed to follow a code of conduct, responding to customers both ethically and in a timely manner. This group of movers offers the following:

Efficient and reliable transportation of goods
Storage of household goods
Professional service
Prompt customer service
Arbitration

Moving Yourself

Some home buyers choose to move themselves. If you want to save time and money by taking on this endeavor yourself, be sure that you have ample packing supplies. Please review the sites below for informative resources about purchasing boxes, bubble wrap, labels, and tape.

Rent a Crate
Uline
Packaging Price

Day of the Move

Moving day has finally arrived. As excited as you may be about your new home, moving can make everything seem uncertain. It is important to take a deep breath and try not to be stressed. Below is a list of important things to remember on moving day:

Designate specific items that you need, that should not be packed with the rest of your belongings.
If you have children, make sure that they have at least two special items to take with them for the trip.
Make sure you remove all trash from your current residence.
If you are using a moving company or friends and family, specify certain unloading areas.
Make sure there are ample walkways for moving large pieces as well as boxes of your belongings.
If you are using a moving company, reiterate those specific items that need special attention and handled with care.
Remember to meet the needs of those helping in your move by supplying them with food, beverages, and restroom facilities.
If you are using a moving company, remember to read and sign all paperwork, documenting anything that transpired during the moving process.

Settling into the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Area

Once the boxes are unloaded, the work of learning a new area begins. The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Corridor is made up of distinct communities, each with its own feel. Cedar Rapids anchors the north end of the Corridor with employers like Collins Aerospace and Quaker Oats, the NewBo City Market district, Brucemore, and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Iowa City anchors the south end, with the University of Iowa, Kinnick Stadium, Hancher Auditorium, and a walkable downtown. In between and around them, communities like Coralville, North Liberty, Marion, and Hiawatha each have their own grocery options, parks, schools, and daily rhythm. Our community pages cover the specific character of each one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start by deciding whether you will hire movers or move yourself, and build a timeline working backward from your move date. If you are relocating from out of state for a job, also connect early with a real estate agent who can help coordinate timing between selling your current home and buying a new one.

For a local move, two to four weeks is usually enough. For a long-distance move or a move during peak season (May through September), book six to eight weeks in advance. Companies book up quickly in the summer.

That depends on your commute, budget, schools, and lifestyle. Our community pages cover the different cities and towns across the Corridor in detail, and a Skogman Realty agent can talk through the tradeoffs based on what matters most to you.

Yes. Skogman Realty has an active corporate relocation practice and is a member of a large national referral network, and we regularly help families relocating to the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area from across the country.