The Best Time to Move is When???

The best time to move is when…..??? Families and individuals move for many reasons – a larger home is needed for an expanding family; the neighborhood changes; a new job means the commute is too long; the house is more than you need, now that the children have grown; retirement is closer and downsizing seems the thing to do. In fact families and individuals move on average 11.4 times in the course of their lifetimes!

People don’t always have the option to select the season or month they want to move, but if they could, what would be the ideal time to plan a move to a new home?

Seasonal Pros and Cons

Let’s first look at the seasons one by one to see the pros and cons:

Autumn

The Fall features great weather conditions for moving, especially here in New England and the peak Summer season is over, so you may have more options for timing and budget.

Winter

In the Winter, your move is most affordable and moving companies usually have more flexible schedules. If you are moving with children, however, this may not be the best season because of conflicts with school and holiday celebrations. Winter weather can also mean delays, difficulties loading the van, and treacherous driving conditions.

Spring

In the Spring, the weather is improving, but it ushers in the rainy season, so you’ll have to plan accordingly. Demand is lighter in March and April, so you may have more choices regarding the mover’s schedule.

Summer

Many people feel that Summer is the ideal time, but this is peak time (Memorial Day through Labor Day) for movers and higher prices prevail as well as tight schedules. This may be your best option if you have children because they won’t be between their old school session and the one that begins in August or September in your new home.

Best Months

For a number of reasons, the best months are between mid-September through April, as you are most likely to save during this window. College students usually move in the early fall and late spring, so if you live in a city with university students, you will want to avoid moving in early September.

Best Week

Plan your move mid-month instead of at the beginning or end of the month. The last weekend of the month is the most requested, so if you have flexibility, your mover will be able to accommodate you better in the second or third week of the month when demand is lower.

Best Day

Weekends are the most frequently requested, as families will want to avoid having to take extra time off work to move. However, it is best to select a weekday. Moving companies suggest moving on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. There are limited number of weekends in each month and movers get booked early and quickly for these days.

What Time of Day?

If you are a morning person, you are in luck! Mornings are the best time to move. Your moving crew will arrive at their location early in the day to get paperwork and instructions. They will typically arrive at your home during the 9 am – 10 am time period to dig right in. Early mornings can mean cooler temperatures and the crew will be full of energy to get started.

If you are moving locally, your movers may greet you at your new location when you still have time to unpack, organize, and relax in your new home.

Plan your move early and get your mover on board so you can get on the schedule on the day that is best for you.

If you have questions about getting organized for a pending move, call a professional moving consultant at Ayer Moving & Storage at 1-800-233-MOVE. They will be happy to discuss how they can help organize your move to be stress-free. Download Ayer Moving’s Timeline for a Successful Move.