When Is the Best Time to Move?

So, you’re planning to move house and wondering how to organize a smooth and successful relocation. You need to come up with a smart strategy that will help you make your move as safe, efficient, cheap, and stress-free as possible.

In order to begin developing your strategy, however, you need to have the answers to several crucial questions – where you’re moving to (which city, neighborhood, house or apartment you’re going to live in), what you’re moving (how many and what kind of household items and personal belongings you’re going to take to your new place), how you’re moving (whether you’re going to hire professional movers or perform a DIY-move), and when you’re moving.

The last question is of greater importance than you may think – when you move can make an enormous difference in the quality, ease, and cost of your relocation. Factors like the weather and the availability of reputable movers can significantly facilitate or hinder your plans, so you need to carefully choose the right time for your move.

When is the best time to move, then? In the spring when the weather is nice and the real estate market is in full bloom? During the summer when days are longer and kids are out of school? In the winter when fewer people move and rates are lower? During the holidays when there is more free time? On a weekday when there is less demand for moving services?

Every scenario has its advantages and disadvantages – and there are a lot of personal considerations to take into account.

Here is everything you need to know in order to be able to choose the best time for your move:

Best time to move based on costs

Moving is quite expensive, so you’ll certainly want to take advantage of every possible way to reduce your moving costs – and one of the most effective ways to save money on your move is to choose a cheaper time to relocate.

So, when is the cheapest time to move? Naturally, it’s when the demand for moving services is the lowest:

• Month – About 70% of all house moves in the country take place in the months from May to September – the so-called “peak moving season”. Since so many people want to move during this period, movers are extremely busy and, therefore, charge higher for their services – so, this is the most expensive time of the year to move. It is much cheaper to relocate in off-peak season (from October to April) when demand is lower and moving companies offer lower rates and various discounts in order to attract more customers and secure more jobs. Statistically, January and February are the cheapest months to move house;
• Week – Most people prefer to move in the beginning or the end of a month (when leases start and end), so the first and the last few days of months tend to be busy for the moving industry – and moving costs tend to be higher. A mid-month move (during the second or third week of a month) is likely to be cheaper as movers have less work during that time and are more willing to offer discounts;
• Day – It is very convenient to move during the weekend (no need to take days off from work and more time to unpack and get settled), so the majority of people choose to do so. This means that the demand for movers is higher on weekends – and so are moving rates. Therefore, moving on a weekday (except for Friday which is extremely busy too) is the more cost-effective option, with Tuesday being the cheapest day to move.

In a word – the cheapest time to move is a mid-week day in the middle of a winter month (such as a Tuesday during the third week of January).

Best time to move in terms of weather

The weather is another essential factor to consider when choosing the time of your move – bad weather can cause a lot of problems on Moving day, significantly delay the delivery of your shipment when moving long distance, or cause damage to your more delicate items, so you will certainly prefer your relocation to take place in favorable weather conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict the weather when scheduling your move – even if you plan your relocation for a summer month, it may still rain on Moving day, for example. Yet, the risk of rain will be much higher during the fall and the spring – and the weather is sure to be cold in the winter.

So, when looking for the best time of the year to move, you need to take into account the benefits and challenges of moving in different seasons:

• The spring is often considered the best time to move house – the weather is nice, the roads are safe (no ice and snow, no heavy traffic), and the demand for moving services is still low. Moving in spring, however, is not a good option for families with school-aged children – changing schools right before the end of the school year is very difficult and may have negative effect on kids’ grades and academic development. (See also: Tips for moving in the spring);
• The summer is the most popular time of the year to move house – the days are long, the weather is great, and school is out. Moving rates, however, are higher than in any other season, the traffic is quite heavy, and the scorching heat may pose a risk to your health and a risk of damage to your belongings. (See also: Moving in the summer – a piece of cake or a piece of hell);
• The fall offers mild temperatures and better deals on moving services, but it rains a lot during this time of the year and kids are back to school, so it’s not the perfect season to move house (See also: What to know about moving in the fall);
• The winter is the cheapest time of the year to move, but the weather conditions pose a lot of risks – the roads may be slippery with ice or blocked by snow, your more sensitive belongings may get damaged by the severe cold, your move may get cancelled because of a snowstorm, etc. Not to mention that it will be very difficult (and very dangerous) to load and unload your items in the harsh weather and you will have to take a lot of extra precautions to prevent accidents, injuries, and property damage (such as clearing the driveway and walkways of ice and snow before the movers arrive, covering the floors with protective materials, etc.) See also: Tips for moving in the winter

All things considered, winter is definitely the worst time to move in terms of weather and spring is, arguably, the best (no freezing cold, no scorching heat, no snow or ice, and smaller risk of rain than during the fall).

Must-read: Pros and cons of moving during different seasons

Bonus tip: Is moving during the holidays a good idea?

When considering the best time of the year to move, you may think about moving during the holidays:

1) Moving on a holiday, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day, may seem like a great idea as it will give you more time to complete your move without taking extra days off work – plus, family and friends will have more free time to help you with your moving preparations.

Keep in mind though that moving rates are much higher on holidays so it will cost you a pretty penny to move on one of these days.

2) Moving during the holiday season (from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day) is definitely not a good idea.

First of all, it’s very difficult to organize and perform a move during the holidays – you will have to balance celebration plans with moving preparations and may need to forfeit parties and family gatherings, moving companies may close for the holidays or work limited hours during the festive season, a lot of people will be traveling for the holidays, so traffic will be extremely heavy and if you’re flying to your new home, airfare will be more expensive and harder to book, etc. (not to mention all the challenges presented by the bad weather during that time of the year).

What’s more, the moving stress and anxiety are very likely to ruin the festive spirit of the holidays.

See also: Tips for moving during the holidays

Best time to move in regard to kids

When moving with school-age children, you will need to take into account the school calendar and consider what will be best for your kids – to move during the school year or during the summer break.

It is generally believed that summer is the best time to change schools as the school year is over and kids have enough time to get used to their new surroundings and new life before classes start again.

On the other hand though, moving during the school year gives children an opportunity to meet new friends and adjust to the new environment more easily.

To choose the best time to move for your kids, your need to consider their age, their specific needs and interests, their academic performance, how much they like their current school, what school events they would like to participate in, and how they feel about the move.

Whenever you decide to move, though, be sure to tell your little ones about the forthcoming relocation well in advance, so they have enough time to process the news, discuss their worries and concerns with you, say their goodbyes, and get excited about their new life. (See also: Tips for moving with children)

Bonus tip: If you’re moving to a new city, avoid moving shortly before your kid’s birthday – it will ruin your child’s special day as they won’t have any friends to celebrate it with (your little one won’t have made new friends in the new city yet and their old friends will be far away).

Must-read: How does moving affect children

Best time to move in order to get the best moving service

As already discussed above, moving during the off-peak season will help you reduce your moving costs. Saving money on your move, however, is not the only benefit of relocating during a slow period – doing so will also allow you to get the best moving service.

The more people are moving, the more booked moving companies are – and the best movers get booked first, of course. So, if you want to move during the peak season, you will have to schedule your relocation really early – several months in advance – in order to secure the services of a reputable moving company. Otherwise, you will have a very limited choice and may easily end up working with incompetent or dishonest movers. (See also: How to protect your move)

And even if you manage to hire a good moving company, you may still get an inexperienced crew – because of the high demand, companies often hire seasonal workers during the busy moving periods. Needless to say, temporary employees don’t have the extensive training and rich experience of veteran movers, so they’re much more likely to make mistakes and cause delays or damages. What’s more, the tight schedules mean that the movers will be in a hurry – and will be exhausted from work – so they won’t have the time and the energy to handle your move with a lot of care.

If you choose to move during a less busy period, on the other hand, availability will be much higher. You will be able to schedule your move for a convenient date and time and hire a top-rated company. Even if you need to move on a short notice, you’ll have no problem finding a good mover at the last minute. And since moving companies only keep their best employees during the slow months, you’re certain to get an experienced moving crew that will do a great job. Besides, the movers will have more slack in their schedules, so they will be less likely to delay and more likely to handle your items with utmost care.

All in all, when moving in off-peak season, you’ll be able to get the best moving services at the best possible price.

Must-read: How to choose a moving company

Special considerations when choosing the best time to move

All the above being said, the best time to move may not necessarily be the cheapest time to move, or the time with the most favorable weather conditions, or the summer break, etc. – the right time to relocate depends on a number of circumstances, specific for each person.

So, in addition to all of the above, when deciding on the best time to move, you also need to consider:

1) Your job:

• There may be certain times of the year when your job is busier – it won’t be a good idea to schedule your move for such a time and take days off during a busy period;
• If you have no choice but to move during a busy time at work, it may be best to schedule your move for a weekend, despite the extra cost;
• If you’re moving for a job, you will need to schedule your move in such a way that you’re in your new city for your first day of work – preferably a bit earlier so you have enough time to unpack, settle in, and put your personal affairs in order before you start your new job.

2) The climate in the area you live in (and in the area you’re moving to, in the event of a cross-country move) – If you live in a cold climate, or if you’re moving to an area with a cold climate, a winter move is not a good option – the risks outweigh the benefits.

3) The real estate market – As many people are moving in the summer, home-selling season peaks in late spring and summer. This means there is a great choice of properties on offer, so you can easily find the perfect new home for you. The increased demand for homes also means that your house is likely to sell quickly and at a profit.

So, if you’re selling your old property and/or buying a new one, it may be best to relocate in the spring or summer.

4) The terms of your lease – If your lease ends at the end of a month, it makes sense to move at the end of the month. Sometimes, however, it may be better (in terms of price or convenience) to move a couple of weeks earlier, even though you’ll have to pay the rent for the whole month.

5) Previously planned events – If there are some important events or special occasions you or any of your family members need/want to attend, you have to organize your move in such a way that it doesn’t clash with these plans. And if you have vacations, trips, or other enjoyable events planned in advance, it’s advisable to schedule your move for well before or after them, so you don’t ruin the happy occasions with moving worries and preparations.

Must-read: Things to consider when deciding on a moving date

To put it all in a nutshell:

When is the best season to move? – While the winter is the cheapest season to move, the spring is the best season to relocate in regard to weather, costs, and quality of moving services. Summer is the ideal time to move for families with school-age children.

When is the best month to move? – Moving during the months from October to March will help you save money on your relocation, while moving during the summer months will allow you to take advantage of the summer break – and you won’t need to worry about bad weather.

When is the best time of the month to move? – A mid-month move is the best option.

When is the best day of the week to move? – Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to move house, but it is most convenient to move on a Friday or Saturday.

When is the best time of the day to move? – It is best to move in the morning (between 8 am and 10 am) as the movers won’t be tired (so they will work more quickly and with greater care) and you’ll have the entire day to complete your move (and even unpack and set up your new home if you’re moving short distance). And if you’re moving in the summer, it will be cooler in the morning hours, so it will be easier to perform your relocation at that time of the day rather than in the hot afternoon.

Whenever you decide to move, good luck!