Whether you’re moving a large or small distance, studio apartment or 4-bedroom house, moving is a hassle. Between sorting through all your belongings, packing countless boxes, and transporting items to your new home, there are many factors that play a role in the moving process which require a great deal of planning and organization. While you’ve likely covered all the moving bases within your home, you may not have considered certain external factors that can impact the ease of your move. Weather, children, and time of day, for example, are all powerful enough to delay plans and complicate a move. As you plan, it is therefore important to determine when the best to move is.
Weather
Come move time, we all hope for sunny skies and dry roads. Loading a truck in the rain or driving cross-country on icy roads is not only unpleasant, it can be dangerous. If you have a bit more freedom with the time frame for your move, always consider weather conditions associated with the time of year. Especially for those living in colder climates, a mid-winter move is probably not a great idea. Similarly, those moving to or from warmer regions may not want to wait until summer for their move, as heavy lifting in hot temperatures can be miserable. Consider the following for your big day:
Children
If you have children, you’re likely well aware of the challenges involved with coordinating a move with their school schedule. Mid-year moves can be particularly disruptive, as kids will have to leave their old school and begin anew at a time when classmates are well into lesson plans. If you have a family, you might consider holding off until summer break to make the transition. This will allow for a more relaxed move without the pressure of trying to get them back in class as soon as possible. Plus, your little ones will appreciate not having to be the mysterious ‘New Kid’ who shows up in the middle of the school year.
Work
One of the biggest challenges when moving is coordinating the transition with your work schedule. Before planning a move, keep in mind the days, months, and times of the year in which your schedule is most demanding. If work is crazy around the holidays, for example, it may not be realistic to move during the winter months. Moving always takes longer than anticipated, so make sure to plan accordingly so as not to neglect work obligations or disrupt your income.
Day of the Week
Yes, the day of the week you move matters, and can have a strong impact on your move. While most people opt for weekend days out of convenience, moving on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday may actually be doing you a disservice. Over the weekend, streets are crowded, the supply of moving vehicles is depleted, and cost for professional movers may be higher due to an increase in demand. Instead, consider taking a vacation day or two to complete your move on days between Monday-Thursday. You’ll enjoy a much calmer and quicker moving process as you settle into your new home.
Time of Day
Believe it or not, the time of day you start you move can have a big impact on how quickly you complete the moving process. Sorry late-risers: early mornings are best when it comes to moving for a few reasons. For one, roads tend to be less busy during the early morning hours, which can be helpful to those who live in highly populated urban areas like New York. If you’re moving during warm summer months, an early move will also relieve some of the heat, allowing for a more comfortable temperature as you haul your items. Another benefit to an early move is that if you’re moving locally, you’ll have more time at the end of the day to unpack your belongings in your new home. Moving cross-country? Early starts while you’re on the road will help you avoid nighttime driving and ultimately reach your destination quicker.
Time of Month
If you really want to hack the moving process, consider a mid-month move. Most people going through a move will do so at the beginning or end of the month. If you choose these times of the month for your move, you too will be thrown in the mix of the many making the transition into new homes. While most apartment leases begin on the first of the month, in most cases you can simply negotiate a mid-month lease start date with your new landlord.
With an added bit of effort in determining just the right time of day and year for your move can have an incredible positive impact on the entire process once the big day arrives. By planning ahead, you will save yourself time, money, and of course, a great deal of stress.
