Most moves in the United States take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day, thanks to favorable weather and summer break from school. If you’ve picked this time of year to make your move, you are not alone – but not to worry. Here are some tips to help you have a successful move during peak season.
10 tips for summer moving
We want to make sure you’re prepared for your upcoming summer move. Here are 10 tips to help make your move as stress-free as possible during the busiest time of the year.
1. Make a budget
Moving during peak season will be more expensive than moving during the off-season, yet there are still ways to stay within your budget. Just keep in mind that you might have to set your budget a little higher during the busiest time of the year. By creating a budget, you can keep an eye on all of the costs to make sure you don’t go overboard.
2. Compare costs
Request estimates from multiple different moving services in your area so you can knowledgably compare costs and services.
3. Only hire trustworthy professionals
Rogue movers know that moving services are in high demand during peak season, and they will take advantage of this fact. Stay alert for fake companies that are looking to scam you out of money without offering any real services. Only choose legitimate, top-rated, professional moving companies that you know you can trust.
4. Book early
The best time to book your movers is as soon as you decide on a moving date. The best movers get booked the fastest, so if you wait too long, you run the risk of missing out on the top-quality companies. A bonus you might get from booking early is the fact that some companies offer discounts for doing so!
5. Make a checklist
Moving doesn’t have to be chaotic. To keep everything under control, make a checklist and organize the process as clearly as you want. This will help you manage your time, organize your things, and make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time.
6. Do some sorting
If you move everything you own without sorting it, you’ll slow down the unpacking process substantially. As you go through your things, ask yourself what you really need and what could be donated, sold, or simply thrown away. Make an inventory and list your things in each of these categories, then take the necessary steps (like organizing a moving sale or arranging a donation) to purge your items.
7. Don’t wait to start packing
We find that a lot of people underestimate two things. One, how much stuff they actually have, and two, how long it will take to pack those things. Because of this, we advise people to start packing as soon as you can. Start with the rooms that are the most difficult to pack (like the basement, garage, attic, and other storage spaces), and move onto easier spaces as you go along.
8. Take time off work
As we said above, people underestimate how long a move can take. To be as efficient as possible, you may need to take some time off work to focus on your move and keep from spreading yourself too thin.
9. Get started early in the morning
If you live in an area where the summers get hot, you know that working during peak sunshine hours (11am-4pm) can be unpleasant and, sometimes, dangerous. To avoid hard work during this time of day, move big things early in the morning and speak to your movers about avoiding the hours with the hottest sun.
10. Be flexible
Remember that everything might not go perfectly on your moving day – and that’s okay! Sometimes the unexpected happens, and you just have to roll with the punches, whether it’s a surprise rainstorm, a late start, or bad traffic. Being flexible and letting problems roll off your back will keep the stress from taking a toll on you.
The most important tip for any move is to be proactive and get your moving plan started as soon as possible. These tips will set you on the right path to a successful summer move!