Don't Sweat Your Move this Summer Moving Season - Learn How!

For many, summer is a great time to move. Nice(r) weather, kids out of school - it makes sense! In fact, more than 70% of all house moves take place in the months between May and September. But just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean that your summer move is guaranteed to be smooth and simple. That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting (pun intended!) to help you plan your summer move. 

Preparing for Summer Moving Season

The first step to planning your move is to create a moving budget. This way you can monitor and control your summer moving expenses. Since summer is the most popular season to move, moving company rates and other supplies may be higher than an “off-season” move. 

After you nail down a budget, it’s time to take inventory of your belongings. Go through your entire home and get rid of whatever you can that’s already stopped being of any real use to you. Experts advise that if you haven’t used something in over a year, then it is not worth keeping during a move. While it may feel hard to part with things, keep in mind that the more things you take with you, the more money you’ll pay for their transportation. No need to pay to transport items you’ll eventually throw away anyway! 

Once you have a good idea of what furniture and belongings you’ll be moving, it’s time to find a moving company. 

How to Hire a Moving Company

We understand that many homeowners love the idea of a good DIY challenge. But you need to understand that not all moves are created equal. While in general, going DIY is often a smart and frugal decision, summer moves sometimes call for a little more support. The heat can drain you in just a few hours of moving boxes, appliances, and other heavy items. Getting reliable help is easy when you use a trusted professional moving service. 

Contact one of TrustDALE’s reputable summer movers in your area for cost estimates. At TrustDALE, we believe in building a community of trust, where consumers get great products at fair prices. We support our community by investigating companies to see if they meet our transparent seven-point standard. We then certify a select number of top-performing companies, and back your purchase with the best guarantee in the marketplace. 

Since you’ve already prepared a comprehensive list of your moving needs and belongings, you should be able to get some accurate estimates. Compare the cost estimates and company availability to select your moving company. 

While it’s always smart to do some comparison shopping, don’t dilly-dally. You want to book a good moving company as early as you can. Top-rated movers get booked far in advance, especially during the busy summer months. 

Tips to Make Your Summer Moving Plans Go Smoothly

Now that you’re ready to book your moving company, we recommend you schedule your summer move for a weekday somewhere in the middle of the month. If you have that kind of flexibility, it can pay off in terms of moving costs! The majority of people reserve moving companies for weekends and at the start and end of each month, so you may be able to negotiate a better price if you are willing to choose a less popular time to move. 

Whichever day you do book your movers for, aim for an early start time to beat the intense summer heat. Early morning is best, while midday is least desirable, as that’s when the sun’s intensity is the strongest. 

Just like you took the time to create a moving budget and an inventory list, you should also create a moving checklist. This gives order and structure to a potentially chaotic summer move. Strategic planning will make your summer move as problem-free as possible.

Since you already know which items won’t make the cut, you can organize a profitable summer move sale. You can sell the household items you’re leaving behind, like some of your furniture pieces, and make a little extra cash to offset moving costs. When moving in the summer, every extra dollar toward your moving budget will make a difference. 

Check with your moving company to see if they provide any moving supplies. If not, be sure to gather all the packing supplies you need in addition to cardboard boxes. Major packing materials such as packing paper, bubble wrap, stretch wrap, etc. are in high demand during moving season, so you may have to go to a couple of stores to get everything you need. 

As you start packing, take extra care when you’re packing heat-sensitive items. The heat in the back of the moving truck can become extreme and may damage some of your more delicate possessions, such as expensive electronic equipment.

Common Summer Moving Mistakes to Avoid

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what to do to ensure a smooth summer move, there are some pitfalls you need to be careful to avoid. Mistakes can easily become big, expensive, and time-consuming problems. Here’s what you need to do to avoid those headaches! 

Don’t spend too much time and energy looking for a super cheap moving company. TrustDale vets companies for quality and pricing. TrustDALE then requires those companies to sign an agreement that places Dale in charge of making it right in the event you feel you didn’t receive what you were promised in writing. 

Although you’ve taken time to take inventory and make plans, don’t underestimate the extraordinary amount of time you’re going to need to actually pack all your things. Remember that packing for a move is the most time-consuming task of them all. That being said, don’t assume that labeling your packed boxes is a waste of time. One minute spent labeling a moving box properly translates to many minutes saved searching for the boxes you need in a mountain of freshly-delivered boxes in your new home. 

As you pack up your belongings, consider delicate items. Don’t just pack them, protect them! We rely on our electronics more than ever, and TVs, laptops, and monitors can cost you thousands of dollars. Therefore it’s important you properly pack these items to avoid the heat, dust, and lesser-known dangers like electric shocks. Don’t skimp on protection only to regret it later.

When moving day arrives, don’t forget about your well-being. Don’t underestimate the importance of staying properly hydrated throughout the summer move. Drink enough water or other hydrating liquids to replenish the fluids your body expels by sweating in the summer heat.

And most important of all, don’t become a victim to a dishonest moving company.  And remember, when you use a TrustDALE certified professional, you're always protected by Dale's trademark $10,000 Make-It-Right™ Guarantee. 

Takeaways

Moving to a new home is a special and exciting time. But it also comes with a mile-long “to do” list. With these hand-picked tips for moving in the summer, you’ll be set to have the smooth summer moving experience you’ve been hoping for.