The perfect time to move is different for everyone, and it all depends on your current life situation. Are you moving with kids? Are you moving during a busy time at work? Did your house unexpectedly sell? Factors you have no control over can often determine whether your move will go smoothly or not.
As moving is one of the more stressful things you’ll do in life, you want to eliminate or lessen any stress-inducing aspects. One thing you do have some control over is when you move. The sooner you start the scheduling process, the more likely you are to end up with your preferred moving day. To pick a day that’s best for you, you’ll need to consider the times that affect your moving day choice. Here are the 4 different times–and tips and tricks–that will help you choose the best time to move for you.
Time of Day
For larger moves, the morning is the best time of day to start. A professional moving company will want to arrive early in the day, sometime between 8-10 a.m. If you have a smaller move, depending on their schedule, they should be able to accommodate an early afternoon move. But chances are, if you have an afternoon slot, the movers will arrive for your move after completing another smaller move in the morning. This just means you might need to be a little flexible with your arrival window.
Before you start begrudging the idea of waking up early on moving day, there are a few positives to a morning move. You’ll have more energy to get going and moved into your new place. You can unpack that afternoon and settle in after the movers leave. And mornings are generally cooler during the warmer months, making the physical exertion for you and your movers a little easier.
Time of Week
During the busiest moving season (you’re correct if you guessed summer), weekends tend to book up at least 1-2 weeks before. Moving companies have much better availability and flexibility on weekdays. If you cannot avoid moving on a weekend at the beginning or end of the month, schedule your move well in advance to ensure you get your preferred day. If you’ve waited until the last minute to schedule movers, you’ll most likely end up with a weekday move.
But don’t look at this as a bad thing! There are two possible perks to moving on a weekday. 1) You might be able to get a better deal for a weekday move, especially during less-in-demand months. 2) You’ll also have the whole weekend to unpack.
If you have children in school and are moving locally, a weekday move may have a hidden advantage for you. Schedule the movers to arrive after the kids have gone to school. You can pick them up and bring them to their new home after the move is completed. No need to hire a babysitter or worry about keeping them occupied during the move.
Time of Month
The best time of the month to move, without a doubt, is the middle two weeks. Because leases usually end at the beginning or end of the month, moving companies have better availability right the first and last weeks. You’ll have much better luck scheduling a weekend move for the second week of the month than on the last week.
Time of Year
Because the moving demand is much lower from September to April, rates tend to be lower for these months. The real estate market has cooled down. Families with kids are less likely to move during these months as school is in session. You have a much higher probability of scheduling your preferred moving date from October through March.
If you’re moving to a university city, like Philadelphia, keep that in mind when figuring out the best time to move. University cities busiest moving weeks are those closest to the beginning and end of the semester. Many students move into their apartments in late August and early September and then back out in mid to late May, so try to avoid these few weeks.
When it comes down to it, the best time to move is the day you need to move. If you’re not flexible on date or time, schedule with a moving company as soon as you possibly can. There’s never a guarantee you’ll get the date you want, but the earlier you call, the higher the chance.
Start your search for the right moving company for you by giving us a call, text, or email for your free moving quote at 484-301-2442 or info@movingujunku.com. Our friendly, professional movers are licensed, insured, and ready to get you and your belongings safely moved into your new home.
