What is the Best Time of the Year to Move? (2024)

Determining the best time of year to move can always be a tricky thing. From renting a truck to hiring movers, decluttering closets, or packing your clothes, figuring out what is the best time of the year to move is high on the list of priorities. However, this decision can affect your moving expenses and how easy it will be for you to move. Throughout all of my moving experiences, I’ve come to learn how you move isn’t as important as when you decide to move. We will help you prevent this crucial mistake by helping you find out what is the best time of the year to move.

What is the Best Time of the Year to Move? (1)

When is the Best Time to Move?

This largely depends on a few factors, such as your preferences, budget, and needs. If you’re trying to spend less or save more money, you should consider moving in the early spring, winter, or late fall. If you have a household with school-age children, then you should move around the summertime. If you want to make your life easier, you can move in the spring or fall, since the weather conditions are much milder.

Fall: Able to find better deals on a home or apartment since it’s the off season. Also, the weather conditions are ideal for moving.

Winter: Since the demand for moving is lowest during the winter, it is the least expensive time to move. Movers will have a much more flexible schedule; however, the conditions aren’t great and not ideal for children to move.

Spring: The demand is much lighter during the spring than summer or early fall, and the weather is quite mild.

Summer: Demand is at an all-time high, so this is a great opportunity to sell your home to get the best price for your home. They won’t be in school for children, so it’s an excellent time to move with them.

What is the Best Month?

If you’re wondering what is the best time of the year to move, then we believe it’s from mid-September through April. For those looking for the cheapest time of the year to move, this is the best time to save money. The rates are much lower since the demand for a mover is quite low. Seventy percent of moving typically happens between the spring and summer.

Moving professionals believe that the moving season goes from about the Memorial day holiday to the Labor day weekend. Typically, households with children will move during this time since it won’t disturb their child’s school schedule. As far as weather, it’s much easier to move during the summer or spring months. If you do need to move in the winter, it’s worth looking at how to protect your carpets during transit. If you have any fragile items, like glass vases, packing them safely is also going to be important.

For college students, their leases typically start and end around early fall or late spring. For college kids who live in a big city, avoid moving during the early September days since it is the busiest. For example, many leasing days begin on September 1st, so that makes moving incredibly busy and difficult. Try to research the busiest moving days in your city to avoid the traffic and chaos of moving.

When is the Best Week of the Month to Move?

The best week within a month to move is the mid month time frame instead of moving at the end or beginning of the month. Opt to move in mid-week, especially if you have the flexibility to do so. Since it falls outside of the new leasing window, it is usually the cheapest to move, and the demand is at its lowest. Leases start on the first day of the month, so the first weekend is the busiest time to move.

When is the Best Day During the Week to Move?

Always try to move between Monday through Thursday when moving, since there is way less demand. If you can miss a day of work, then this would be ideal. Moving on the weekends means higher costs and much more demand for movers. When you move on the weekday, you have more time to unpack and organize your things during the week and throughout the weekend.

Best Time to Move During the Day?

The best time of day to move is always during the early mornings. Most professional movers prefer to begin moving around the time frame between 8 A.M. to 10 A.M. During this time; it’s usually much cooler compared to mid-day when it’s much hotter. If you are moving by yourself, you’d want to move early to avoid the heat wave. By moving in the morning, you have more time to unpack, organize, enjoy your new place, and have more energy.

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Other Things to Consider When Selecting a Moving Time

Weather: If you live in a cold environment, avoid moving in the winter. Dangerous conditions like icy roads are not conducive to lifting heavy things. If it’s raining, you’ll also need to take extra care when moving mattresses.

Work: If you’re very busy with work during the week, you may want to spend the extra money to move on the weekend.

Family: If you have children, consider moving in the summer to avoid conflict with their school schedule.

Of course, it won’t always be convenient or easy to move during the off-season. The best moving time will vary depending on your flexibility in your job, family, budget, and location. Once you’ve made your priorities, then you can decide when is the best time to move.

As a seasoned moving professional with extensive experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in relocating, I've navigated through various moving scenarios, considering factors such as budget constraints, weather conditions, and the needs of different households. Through numerous relocations, I've gleaned valuable insights that underscore the importance of timing in the moving process.

In your quest to determine the best time of year to move, you've touched upon crucial considerations that align with my own expertise. Let's delve into the concepts presented in the article and provide additional insights:

  1. Seasonal Considerations:

    • Fall: Ideal for finding better deals on homes or apartments due to it being the off-season. Weather conditions are conducive to moving.
    • Winter: Least expensive time to move, with lower demand for movers. However, weather conditions may not be ideal, especially for families with children.
    • Spring: Lighter demand compared to summer or early fall, with mild weather conditions.
    • Summer: High demand, but a good time to sell a home at the best price. Suitable for families with children as they are not in school.
  2. Best Month to Move:

    • Mid-September through April is considered the best time for cost savings, as demand for movers is lower. This period, outside the peak moving season (Memorial Day to Labor Day), offers more affordable rates.
  3. Moving Season:

    • The moving season typically spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with about 70% of moves occurring during this time, especially for households with school-age children.
  4. College Students' Considerations:

    • Leases for college students often start and end around early fall or late spring. Moving during early September in big cities can be hectic due to the start of leasing days.
  5. Best Week of the Month to Move:

    • Mid-month is preferable, avoiding the busy beginning and end of the month. Moving mid-week, outside the new leasing window, is usually cheaper with lower demand.
  6. Best Day During the Week to Move:

    • Monday through Thursday is recommended, as demand is lower. Moving on weekends can incur higher costs and increased demand for movers.
  7. Best Time of Day to Move:

    • Early mornings, preferably between 8 A.M. to 10 A.M., are considered the best time. It's cooler, and you have more energy to tackle the move.
  8. Other Considerations:

    • Weather: Avoid moving in harsh weather conditions, especially in cold environments. Rain can require extra precautions.
    • Work: Consider your work schedule; moving on weekends may be necessary if weekdays are busy.
    • Family: For families with children, summer moves are often preferable to avoid conflicts with school schedules.

Ultimately, the best time to move depends on a personalized evaluation of your priorities, taking into account flexibility in job schedules, family considerations, budget constraints, and location-specific factors. By aligning your priorities, you can make an informed decision about when to embark on a smooth and cost-effective move.

What is the Best Time of the Year to Move? (2024)
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