The summer months mark the beginning of peak moving season. In fact, May is National Moving Month. More than 80% of moves in the United States occur between the months of April and September (with the majority happening on August 30) - that’s a lot of moving around! When it comes to planning a move, the busyness of the season is only one of several things to take into consideration.
With all the planning and organizing that goes into moving, we know having a centralized resource full of moving tips and tricks will make the process a little bit easier. That’s why we’ve prepared a thorough moving guide to help you navigate some of the toughest situations that may come up during your next move. Whether you are moving within your own city or county or relocating across the country, you’ll find the advice and tips on moving, packing, and renting a self storage unit in this guide helpful.
How to navigate peak moving season
Though there are many challenges accompanied with moving during the busiest time of the year, many people may not always have a choice so it is helpful to be prepared. Additionally, there are numerous reasons why one would even choose to move during the peak season. For example, the weather is usually better during the summer months so people located in northern states would much rather move in that time instead of potentially having to battle extremely cold weather and snow during the winter months. Also, since school is out, this frees up more of everyone’s time so the family can help out without interrupting important school activities and assignments. Here are some ways you can make the most out of peak moving season without sacrificing your peace of mind:
- Plan ahead to take advantage of discounts - moving during this time of the year when the demand is high and supply is low means that companies get to set and stick to their own rates. There is little room for negotiation because so many people are looking for these resources at the same time. Discounts during this period are virtually nonexistent. However, you can get ahead of this by setting your move date in advance. The rule of thumb is to book the company at least two weeks in advance of your moving date. It is common to sign yearly leases so most people have a really solid idea of at least the exact month they will need to move out. If you are able to book and prepare more than two weeks ahead, you are certainly encouraged to do so. If you book your movers and buy moving supplies well in advance of the peak season, then you will end up saving both money and time.
- Book a midweek or mid-month move - no matter the time of year, the weekends are always the busiest time to move. Couple a weekend move with the busiest time of the year and it’s certainly a recipe for disaster. Since most leases expire at the end of the month and many people are usually off work on the weekends, those times are usually the most natural options for a lot of moves. A great way to bypass this is to plan your move for the middle of the week or month.
- Pack and organize as much as possible in advance - if you are hiring professional movers, more than likely you are paying them by the hour. Therefore, the less time they spend organizing your items before they have to pack them up, the more time and money you’ll save in the long run. Consider various time-saving logistic processes such as grouping similar items together and purging old and unnecessary items. If tackling the moving process entirely on your own, you will certainly save money but ensure you enlist enough help from family and friends.
- Rent a self storage unit - depending on the location of your move, you may want to rent a self storage unit to make the moving process even easier. A self storage unit can provide an excellent solution if you are pressed for space during your move. It can even help with avoiding weather damage. If there will be a gap between when you move from your old place and into your new, then a self storage unit is a great, safe, and cost-effective option for storing your items either in a short or long term situation. Convenient storage options can be found almost every city in the U.S. These include:
Is there a best month, day, or time to move?
Since we know that peak season is from April to September, it’s pretty easy to determine that the low season is any time other than those months. The cheapest time of year to move is when the demand is low and that happens to be during the summer months. Rentals costs are also cheapest during this time of year as well. If you live in the southern states, moving during winter months may actually be quite advantageous for you. Since southern states are notorious for hot and humid summers, the winter months provide some much needed escape from that. Lugging around heavy furniture in 90-degree weather is not the most ideal situation! Spring time is also a great time to move. In March, the weather is still not too hot or cold and you still get to beat the peak season.
We already mentioned that mid month or mid week are the cheapest and most ideal times to move. However, there are certain times of the day that work best as well. Moving in the early morning will also almost guarantee cooler conditions. You will also beat the rush hour evening traffic, which could potentially add to the hours and run your bill up with the moving company.
There are also some important personal considerations to take into mind when choosing a time to move. The work and/or school schedule of your family will be the biggest influencer of when you can accommodate the move. Research the weather to ensure that it will be optimal. If you are moving in the winter time, icy roads may pose a big threat so you will want to choose a day when snow is not likely.
Packing and organizing tips
The hallmark of any successful move is organization. A thoroughly organized home makes the moving process a lot easier for everyone involved. Experienced movers will share that one of the most challenging aspects of the job is dealing with homes that are both disorganized and dirty. Moving heavy furniture around is already enough of a tough job. Make things easier on your movers by ensuring everything is organized, and packed if necessary, well in advance of moving day. Here are some more tips on how to get organized:
- Make clear labels - take extra steps to make sure the writing is legible. This is of utmost importance when it comes to having movers take boxes from one place to another. You would not want heavy boxes that belong in upstairs rooms mistakenly placed downstairs due to poor labeling.
- Catalog and take inventory - even if you are not working with external movers, it is still wise to have a clear idea of all the items that you are moving from one home to the next. This way, you can get rid of unnecessary items to lighten the load while moving. Though it may seem like a massive undertaking, this list does not have to be exhaustive. Plus, it will come in handy in case you need to file a claim for lost or damaged items.
- Create a moving checklist - you can easily set up a shareable Google Doc to list all the action items that need to be completed before, during, and after the move. This way, everyone involved in the move can track the process and make steps to complete the items on the checklist.
- Pack important documents separately - sensitive digital and paper documents should be packed and stored specially to ensure they are kept safe. The moving process can get quite chaotic so items like passports, banking documents, and all others that contain sensitive, personally identifiable information should be packed away safely.
- Keep track of all moving-related expenses - invoices and receipts will especially come in handy during tax season. You may be able to write off some expenses. Being organized can save a lot of headache in the future in the event of an audit.
Impact of COVID-19 on moving season
The moving business has not slowed down much due to the pandemic. Since moving is mostly a socially-distanced activity anyway, the good news is that it will not require too big of an adjustment to pull it off during this time. Most moving companies have adjusted services to allow for reduced contact, such as providing online virtual surveys before providing a quote. Here are some important important tips to move safely during this time:
- Determine the company’s COVID-19 policy - you will get most of the answers you need straight from the moving company’s website. This way, you will be more than prepared. More than likely, the company will have a mask mandate and social distancing guidelines in place to ensure the safety of both its employees and customers.
- Get help from family to limit contact - if you will not be using a moving company, then seek assistance from the same people within your household or those you have been interacting with the most. Staying within your “bubble” will reduce the risk of transmission during this time.
- Sanitize thoroughly - to further protect yourself and everyone while moving, clean all surfaces properly. Hiring a professional cleaner would be ideal. However, current COVID-19 restrictions may make this process more difficult than usual. Be sure to use hand sanitizers and other cleaning agents liberally.
- Don’t forget to wash your hands - though sanitizing items is always a good way to go, washing your hands regularly is the best way to go. The CDC recommends washing your hands before and after certain activities. Don’t progress if you are not feeling well - if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or suspect that you may have been exposed in any way, contact your moving company immediately to let them know. If you are moving with only your immediate family, then alert them as well to ensure that everyone gets the proper treatment and attention.
Additional resources to help during your move
Here are some more moving tools that we’ve compiled that can help you get organized during your move for absolutely free:
Labels
Services like House for Six, Martha Stewart, and TidyMom offer free moving templates that come in handy for packing. These simple templates provide color-coded options and you can even add the headings yourself.
Switching your address
While the United States Postal Service offers a change of address service, this solution only lasts a year so it is far from ideal. Companies like Allstate, LifeHacker, and FormBirds offer services that allow you too quickly and easily update your address with various companies.
Checklists and timelines
If we keep mentioning the importance of planning, that’s because it works! Checklists and timeless are a great way for you to get and stay organized during your move. Check our Real Simple, Good Housekeeping and Squawkfox for free tools like customizable week-by-week checklists, which even includes useful reminders about submitting forms and changing subscription services when you move.
Moving announcements
Changing your address for utilities and credit cards is one thing, but what about telling family and friends? If you need to make moving announcements and cards, check out sites like Canva, the Balance, and Homes.com for templates that you can print off and send out. If you want to even further save time and money, they have free e-card templates as well.
