Spring officially commenced on March 20th and people across the country are excited as summer is around the corner. Not only does it mean warmer temperatures and longer days, but it also means the peak moving season is almost here. Families plan moves around their kids’ school schedules, college students graduate and move for new jobs, the real estate market is at its highest, and it’s simply more convenient than moving in the cold winter months. This all makes for a very busy moving season! So, what do you need to know to ensure that your summer move is low stress?
Plan Your Move Early
Peak moving season is between May 15 and September 15 every year. The top moving companies perform two-thirds of their annual work during this time frame, and are guaranteed to use every one of their trucks and crews. These moving companies will even hire seasonal employees in the summer to ensure that they can fulfill the high demand, but that doesn’t mean they can accommodate everyone!
Due to this demand during peak moving season, you should plan your move as early as possible. If you know that you will be moving in the summer, then call the top moving companies immediately! You cannot count on a top-referred moving company to have last-minute availability. If you find a mover with short-notice availability, you should do more research on this company. Why do they have availability, when all other top moving companies are booked up? Beware of moving companies that might take advantage of the high demand for movers by using fraudulent tactics such as low-ball estimates, large deposits or suspicious paperwork. Your moving agreement should be written in clear language that doesn’t cause any confusion – never sign an agreement until all your questions are answered in writing!
Budget for a Summer Move
Because summertime is the highest demand moving season, good moving companies will book early and often, which also means that your cost or the minimum weight might be higher than if you were planning a winter move. As soon as you know you are moving and can plan a moving date, you should call to get quotes from reputable moving companies. Once you have several moving company quotes, you can compare not only the cost, but also the ease of working with the company. For example, MiniMoves does not have a minimum weight at any time for state to state moves, whereas a larger van line will increase its weight limit in the summer, which can be inconvenient for those with smaller moves! If you book with MiniMoves, you’ll also receive a detailed list of items to be shipped, the moving services to be provided, the insurance coverage on your shipment, and a guaranteed total moving price quote to help you make your decision with confidence.
Protect Your Personal Belongings From the Heat
While moving during the summer can have a lot of benefits, such as better weather for driving and no snow or ice in the forecast, you’ll still have to pack strategically for warmer temperatures. Some of your personal belongings are heat-sensitive including your small electronics, candles, perishable food or plants. It’s best to pack some of these items in your own vehicle where you can have more control over the temperature. Some of these items may include stereos, laptops, tablets, smartphones, compact TVs, or other small electronics. Your Blu-ray disks, DVDs and CDs should also be kept in their original plastic cases or travel CD cases that come with individual vinyl sleeves for extra protection. To be safe, you should even back up as much information as you can to an external hard drive or an internet cloud service before packing these items. This will help reduce the possibility of extreme heat from damaging your items. Some moving companies, like MiniMoves, also offer packing services to ensure that your belongings make it to your destination safely, and intact.
If you have questions about summer moving tips, how to pack your belongings for a summer move, or would like to get a quote for a summer move now, contact MiniMoves today. Our personal moving planners are ready to answer your questions and get started on your free quote to book your summer move now!
