Thinking about moving, but don’t know when is the best time to move for you? While there’s no one clear-cut answer, there are plenty of factors that can help you determine when is the best time to move for you and your family. From the best time of year to the best day of the week and time of day, read on to determine exactly when you should plan your next move.
When is the best time of year to move?
When determining when is the best time to move, factors to consider include the season, weather, housing availability, and whether you have school-age children. Each of those factors is typically influenced by the time of year. Read on to learn the pros and cons of moving in fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Moving in Fall
Depending on your situation and climate, fall may be an excellent time to move. Read on to learn more about what makes autumn a popular month to move.
Weather
Fall weather conditions are usually ideal for moving in most places across the country. It’s not too hot in warmer areas, and the snow and ice haven’t started in the cooler regions.
Housing Availability
Fall is typically off-season for the housing market. This means you might be able to get a better deal on the house you buy, but also means there may be fewer houses to choose from.
Cost
Moving in the fall may be more expensive than if you waited until the winter when moving is the cheapest. However, you may find that you have plenty of options in terms of moving help.
School-Age Children
If you have kids in school, fall might not be the best season for you to move. Your child or children may have to change schools, which is difficult with the school year starting up.
Moving in Winter
Weather
The winter months can make moving difficult in the colder parts of the country. Ice and snow could unexpectedly delay or even prevent your move. On the other hand, if you live in a warmer region, winter might actually be a pleasant time to move.
Housing Availability
You can likely find a great deal on a home in the winter since demand is lower, but inventory is low as many would-be sellers wait until the summer to list their homes.
Cost
The upside of low housing demand in the winter is that movers are less busy, and will likely charge less for their services. This means that moving during winter may be your best option in terms of cost.
School-Age Children
With kids in school, moving in the winter can be difficult. So many holidays mean missing lots of school events, and end-of-semester exams can cause added stress to both parents and children.
Moving in Spring
Weather
Like the fall, spring is a great time to move weather-wise, with most parts of the country enjoying mild temperatures that might even make moving pleasant. However, you may be more likely to encounter a rainshower (or two) depending upon where you live.
Housing Availability
If you’re looking for a place to pay rent, spring is a great time to move. Since fewer families are moving, many apartment complexes offer move-in specials. On the other hand, the number of houses for sale tends to increase in the spring months, but peaks in the summer.
Cost
Peak moving season starts in May, but if you choose to move in March, April or early May, moving companies have lower demand. That means a lower price and better availability to work with your schedule.
School-Age Children
Again, spring can be a hard time to move for families with kids. Starting at a new school right as the school year is ending can make it difficult for children to integrate into their new academic and social environment.
Moving in Summer
Weather
Summer months can get hot—really hot—in many parts of the country, making this season less desirable from a moving perspective.
Housing Availability
While the heat may be a deterrent, the amount of available housing is highest in summer, as many families decide to move between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.
Cost
Summer is the most expensive time to move due to higher demand. This means moving companies can charge higher prices, and have less availability. If you’re using a professional moving company, having your possessions stored away and organized can help reduce the time (and cost) it takes to move.
School-Age Children
Summer is the preferred season to move for many families because the kids aren’t in school, and a summer move causes the most minimal amount of disruptions in their academic and social lives.
What’s the best day to move?
Generally, the best days of the week to move are weekdays—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to be exact. This is because most people try to plan their moves for the weekend so as not to disrupt work or school obligations, but that means moving companies are often booked up for weekends months in advance. Not only is availability a problem, but the cost of moving on a Saturday or Sunday is also usually higher than if you chose, say, a Monday.
What’s the best time of day to move?
Whether you’re moving on your own or hiring a company to move your things for you, the morning is the best time of day to get going. Professional companies will usually arrive between 8 AM and 10 AM, which means cooler conditions for the warmer months. It also means you’ll have more time to unpack and organize and get a start on decorating your new place during the day before that moving exhaustion sets in.
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Ready to make your move? Avoid shipping delays and find quality new and gently used furniture online or in-store today at your local CORT Furniture Outlet. If you don’t want to fuss with moving your items, we have a delivery option available. Not ready to commit to furniture for the long term? Consider furniture rental with CORT. We have furniture, decor, and houseware packages available to suit your space for as short — or as long — as you need.
