Most professional movers usually advise their clients to plan their relocation during the off-peak season.
If you know your moving seasons and are well-versed with the most ideal period to move house, you can go ahead and start planning your move.
But if you are like most people, perhaps it would be best to hire the services of a professional moving company or realtor to help you with the move.
People are always moving, whether locally (intrastate moves) or long-distance (aka interstate moving). Whichever the case, planning is critical.
The last thing you want is to underestimate the magnitude of the task at hand. Because moving is anything but, even when heading to the neighborhood down the block.
As far as moving seasons go, the peak moving season in the US usually falls between April and September. These months account for about 70% of all relocations taking place across the country.
The downside to planning your move during this time is that the overall costs associated -with moving house are all above the roof, whether it be the cost of hiring the mover or the rental costs – never mind competition for both.
If you have good wiggle room and can afford to hold off the move, usually the best time to move is between October and March.
Sometimes, though, we’re forced by circumstances to pull up sticks and do not have much choice. In this post, we look at some tips to keep in mind when moving during peak season that should prove practical irrespective of your location and destination.
1. Plan ahead
Every good move starts with a proper plan. As seen, summer is usually peak moving season, so it makes sense to plan in advance if you’re moving during this time as competition for movers is highest then. You can book the movers in advance as well. You can consult movers in charlotte nc, if that is where you reside, and discuss the terms of the contract along with the expenses.
Especially if you are planning to move to fast-growing cities like Houston, you will need to make sure everything is planned ahead of the move. It can help you to find the right mover or other necessary service providers as well as time to do research about the company before hiring them to ensure your belongings are in safe hands. In case you need any additional relocation tips, you can click here to find some!
Planning well in advance also means booking your van or truck ahead of time, and agreeing on the exact moving date.
It’s advisable to book the mover at least 4 weeks in advance – or sooner particularly in the case of interstate moves to avoid any inconveniences. Also, when you are booking a moving company, you may want to look out for reputed ones. Most probably, they would be covered by a commercial van insurance policy and can ensure the safety of your belongings.
2. DIY packing
It never hurts to start your packing early, and if you can, do the packing yourself as professional movers charge extra for packing.
But if money is no object, you might as well opt for a full-service move and have the moving crew do everything for you. That’s super convenient and less hassle on your part.
However, if you want to keep your moving costs down, then DIY packing is the way to go.
Packing early helps eliminate the stress and ensures the move goes according to plan when the movers arrive.
Don’t forget to come up with a labeling system for your boxes. For example, you could label them according to the contents inside or the rooms they’re designated for.
3. Be flexible
Most people prefer and typically tend to move on weekends or at the end or beginning of the month.
If you want to get the best deals from the movers, you need to be a bit flexible with your dates. You could, for instance, opt to move at the middle of the week or month.
This, however, requires a lot of tact and planning, especially when you factor in aspects like utility bills, never mind the lease expiration period.
4. Rent a storage unit
Moving presents one with myriad challenges when it comes to deciding what items to pack and which ones to sell, dispose or donate to charitable organizations.
As a general rule, any item that you haven’t used for some time or don’t plan on using at a later date should either be sold, donated or stored in a rental storage unit.
Storage units are especially important for expensive items or items that we have grown attached to. While we don’t plan to use them frequently, giving them away doesn’t make much sense.
5. Know the laws
It helps to acquaint yourself with the laws of the place you’re moving to, as these differ from state to state.
Know basic legal requirements like car insurance and speed limits expected of you in the destination state.
Some states will issue fines for things like radar detectors or even dark-tinted windows. Smoking in the presence of kids while driving in some jurisdictions is also a misdemeanor enforceable by instant fines.
They say ignorance of the law is no defense, so always be prepared.