When you’re planning a move, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of it all — how on earth you’re going to box up all your possessions, keep the kids, your pets, and yourself from freaking out and keep track of all your bills.
But if you have the wherewithal to plan ahead, you can save a lot of money on even the smallest factors of your move.
Like, say, selecting the best time of year to move. Not sure when that is? Keep reading to find out more.
The Best Time of Year to Move
So, what is the best time of year to move? That depends on what your priorities are.
The cost of moving does vary throughout the year, based on busyness and availability. The more people that want to move, the fewer availability movers will have, and the more expensive it is to book a moving service.
If you have the luxury of deciding when to move, one of the first things to consider is what time of year to move. We’ve broken it down by season.
Fall
For most residential movers, fall is the off-season. That’s because most moves occur between April and September.
This is excellent news if you plan on moving between September and December.
Since movers aren’t as busy, you can find excellent services at a reduced rate, making moving in the fall far more cost-effective.
Then, there’s the weather. Autumn falls somewhere between frigid winter and scorching summer if you live in an area with four distinct seasons. It’s relatively temperate, and there’s a higher probability the weather will cooperate.
You might get an unusually cool day, but you won’t have to worry about movers canceling due to extreme cold or heat for the safety of their staff.
Winter
Winter is the least busy moving season. If you live in an area with four distinct seasons, you probably understand why — winter weather conditions. Snow, ice, hail, wind chill, even freezing rain can make a move challenging.
On the one hand, it might be more cost-effective since that timeframe is less desirable.
On the other hand, you should be prepared to be flexible. You have to keep a sharp eye on the weather and be ready to change your moving date if movers have to reschedule because of weather conditions.
You should also prepare both houses for movers. Shovel and salt the driveways and sidewalks in advance so they can move your stuff safely. Make sure the heat and lights are on and ready to go also.
Spring
Springtime is usually temperate. Often it’s the ideal time of year to move.
Since the season is just warming up, many people haven’t started to think about moving, which means moving rates are still low. The trick is to move towards the start of spring rather than the end.
Spring is a more popular time of year to move than fall and winter, so rates won’t be quite as low as those you would see in the cooler months.
Summer
As noted, most people move between April and September. Families with children have school from September until about May or June. It’s generally more convenient for families with school-aged kids to move during the summer because they don’t have to worry about pulling the kids out of school to make the move.
Also, the weather is warm enough that you won’t have to worry about movers canceling for blizzard conditions. You may have to cancel for extreme heat, but most of the time, the weather isn’t a significant problem.
However, since most people want to move in the summer, movers are busier than any other time of year. This means their rates will be higher than in any other year of year and you’ll have to compete for a moving date.
Are You Preparing to Move?
Are you preparing to move? If you have leeway to plan ahead, you can save some money by finding the best time of year to move.
If you’re moving, we can help! We offer comprehensive household moving services that make your whole experience smooth and stress-free.
Ready to find out more? Click here to request a quote.