Moving is considered to be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. And yet every year, over 40 million Americans take the plunge.
If you’re among their ranks this year, good planning can make the difference between a hectic mess and a smooth fresh start. One of the choices you’ll make in your planning is when you want to move.
Depending on what you want and need from your move, different times of the year work best.
Check out these tips for moving at the perfect time in your schedule.
Best Time For An Easy Move: Summer
Summer is the most popular time to move by a long shot, and for many reasons.
First, summer is the easiest time to find that perfect new home. Most people want to move during the summer, so there’s a high rate of homes coming on the market and apartments coming available during this season.
Second, the weather is your friend. Bay area summers may be hot but they tend to have little rain. A rainstorm is one of the fastest ways to make your moving day miserable.
This is why people often choose summer over spring. Springtime may have great temperatures but it tends to have plenty of rain too.
There are other convenient advantages to moving during the summer. If you have kids and you’re moving to a new school district, a summer move will be an easier transition.
As an added bonus, summer is prime garage sale season. If you want to unload items you don’t need before you move, summer makes it simple.
Best Time For A Cheap Move: Winter
Everyone has different priorities when they move. Moving is a big expense, so many people are looking for ways to keep the cost as low as possible.
If that’s your goal, winter is the perfect time to move. Between the weather and the busy time around the holidays, most people steer clear of winter moves. While your moving day may be a chilly one, it could be easier on your budget.
Moving fees are often lower during the winter because so few people want to move during this time. You’re also more likely to find an apartment with a move-in special or a home with a lower price tag for the same reason.
Even More Tips For Moving At The Best Time
As important as it is to choose your moving season wisely, there are other ways to time your move well. Check out these tips for moving for a headache-free experience.
Move During The Week
For anyone who works a 9-5 job, the weekend is an obvious choice for their move. That’s why the demand is so high for movers on Saturdays.
As a result, it’s more difficult to book movers for Saturdays. During the peak moving season, you may need to call movers a month in advance to find someone who is available.
If you have kids, moving during the week offers another advantage. If you move while the kids are at school, it keeps them away from the risks of all the heavy furniture and equipment.
It also leaves you free to focus on the move because you don’t have to keep track of the kids.
Avoid Holidays
Some people look at a three-day holiday weekend as the perfect time for a move. It gives them more time to unpack and settle in before they go back to work.
Unfortunately, everyone else feels the same way. As a result, these long weekends tend to book up in a hurry. If you do find an available moving company, many of them will charge a premium for these high-demand days.
Keep in mind that these holiday weekends also tend to create a surge in traffic. If your movers get stuck in traffic and it takes an extra hour to get to your new home, that’s another hour on your bill.
Rise And Shine
Depending on the size of your move, a moving company may let you choose between a morning or afternoon start time. Unless you’re on an unconventional sleep schedule, the morning is your best choice.
Mornings are cooler during warm months, which means you can move faster. It also gives you flexibility.
You can estimate but you never truly know how long your move will take. There are plenty of factors that come into play, so a morning move ensures that you won’t burn the midnight oil.
Aim For Mid-Month
While this isn’t always the case, the turn of the month is a common time for leases to end. For that reason, there is a moving surge at the end of each month.
If possible, schedule your move for the middle of a month instead. You’ll be more likely to get the date and time of your choice because the moving companies aren’t as busy.
Plan Ahead
When it comes to timing your move, it isn’t just about the calendar and the clock. You also have to time the move well for your own workflow.
Give yourself enough time to prepare. By the time your moving day arrives, you want to be as packed and organized as possible.
This makes the move less stressful and it can make it less expensive too. Movers charge by the hour. The more organized you are, the smoother and faster the process will be.
As an added bonus, booking your move farther in advance gives you more choice. Especially if you’re moving at a popular time, booking early helps you schedule the ideal moving day for your needs.
A True Fresh Start
Every move is an opportunity for a new beginning. You’re starting fresh in a bright new house or apartment that you can turn into a home.
The last thing you want to do is to start that new beginning with a stressful, budget-killing moving day. The tips for moving above can help you find the perfect season, day, and time for your move.
If you’re fired up and ready to book your move today, contact our experienced movers.