Sometimes, moving is a choice—other times, it’s necessary. No matter the reason, let’s face it: moving is stressful. It can be nerve-wracking trying to keep track of everything. A move is like putting on a massive stage production, with many integral parts working together to make it successful.
When you think of it that way, it’s hard to believe that 31 million Americans move yearly. While that might seem like a crazy number, the next one is even crazier. Did you know that people living in the United States move an average of 11 times during their lifetime?
It isn’t surprising that the idea of moving can fill many people with dread. It’s not easy. But the good news is that while it’s not easy, it’s not impossible.
When moving, there are many things to consider, and trying to remember it all is a lot to take on. We’ve developed a few tips to hopefully make things a bit easier.
- Plan the move
- Choose the right time of year to move
- Decide whether to hire movers or to move yourself
Planning Your Move
A well-thought-out plan can reduce stress and make things go smoothly. It helps to make sure things stay organized and nothing is forgotten. A plan can divide responsibilities between family members so everyone knows what’s expected of them during the move.
It also helps develop a timeline so things stay on schedule. A plan improves the move’s overall efficiency, lowering stress and anxiety levels for everyone involved.
One of the plan’s most important parts is often the most frequently overlooked. What is it? Simple. Choosing what time of year to move.
When To Move
What time of year is the best to move? If asked, most people would likely say the summer. Without question, summer is the busiest time of year for moving companies, but is it the best time to move?
Pros of Moving in the Winter
Would you consider a winter move? You might be thinking about how cold it will be and how miserable that sounds. But, if you look beyond the weather, it makes good sense. Dollars and cents, that is.
While hiring a moving company can be expensive, winter rates are the cheapest of the year. It’s not hard to figure out why. Fewer people tend to move in the winter months for various reasons. Anyone with school-aged children might find moving during the school year too difficult. Also, the move might be more complicated if the weather is poor.
Another positive of moving in the winter is the ease of scheduling. Because there is less demand for moving companies, you won’t have to fight over time slots and deal with scheduling conflicts. You can choose when it’s best for you and your family to move. More options mean less stress.
Pros of Moving in the Spring
Some people like to wait until the first months of spring for warmer temperatures. This is especially true for those with school-aged children. They try to schedule the move on their spring break. That way, there will be less disruption for the children and their schooling.
It’s essential to not wait until the latter part of May because that’s when the moving season starts. Hiring movers and making it work with your schedule will be more challenging.
Pros of Moving During the Holidays
Your opinion of moving during the holidays will depend on your outlook on the holidays and spending time with family and friends. For some, moving during the holidays is appealing because it will mean they have a perfect excuse for not attending family get-togethers.
Something else to consider is that moving during the holidays will be cheaper because with fewer people moving then, moving companies will charge less. Another plus of moving during the holidays is you could recruit family and friends to lend a hand.
For many schools, the holidays are at the end of the semester, making it a smooth transition for those families with school-aged children starting a new term.
Cons of Moving in the Winter
I’m sure you can guess the first one, right? The weather. If the weather is miserable, then the move likely will be too. Also, driving in poor weather could be dangerous. Many people don’t want to deal with the added stress of moving during the winter, even given the savings.
Cons of Moving in the Spring
The biggest is the higher cost and difficulty of scheduling the move with a moving company. They won’t have as many openings and can charge a higher rate because of a greater demand for their services. It might also be more disruptive to your children’s school year if your move is planned during their final exams.
Cons of Moving During the Holidays
Without question, the biggest would be the extra stress. Trying to plan a move around holiday traditions and visiting family and friends could prove difficult. It also might cause stress between you and your loved ones.
Moving Yourself Versus Hiring Movers
The question to ask is: Do you have the time and energy to manage the move yourself? Moving is hard work and stressful. Packing up your belongings is hard enough, and that’s only a small part of moving. Hiring professional movers removes the stress and hard work necessary to move an entire household.
On the other hand, hiring movers can be costly. You must weigh the pros and cons and decide which is best for your situation.
As you begin to plan your move and are looking for professional movers, look no further than Smooth Move.