When is the Best Time to Move?
Moving is one of the biggest decisions you can make. You’ll need to get your home ready to sell, pack your belongings and move to a new home. That’s a lot to take in. On top of the moving process, you’ll also need to look at when to move.
Most people think about when they should move in relation to the price they can get for their home. Although this should get taken into consideration, you also need to take the time to work out other factors like weather and competition.
Read on to learn the pros and cons of moving for each season.
Is There a “One Size Fits All” Time?
We wish we could tell you down to the day when the best time to move is. Sadly, we really can’t. There’s no one-size fits all formula for moving dates. Each season has its advantages and disadvantages, and you need to take all of them into consideration before deciding on your move-in date.
Fall
Fall is a magical time of year. Students are starting school; the weather is beginning to cool down; the leaves are starting to change. The pros and cons include:
Pros
Great weather: Let’s be honest, there’s nothing better than fall weather. It’s brisk and cool which means lugging that 400-pound dining room set doesn’t feel like as much of a burden. It’s also (usually) before the snow hits the ground, meaning you don’t need to worry about weather hazards.
Settled before the holidays: One of the best things about the holidays is meeting with family and friends to make great memories. This can be impossible to achieve if you’re in the middle of a move. By moving in the fall, you’ll be settled before the holiday season begins.
Cheaper buying: One of the prime reasons people hate buying during the fall is the need to move during the school year. Because of this, homes are usually cheaper than they are during the peak summer months.
Cons
School starts: If you have school-age children, you’re likely not going to want to move during the fall months if transferring to a different school district. This can make the moving experience especially hard on children. With having just started school and making friends, it’ll be extremely hard to then move them to a new school to start all over again.
Less weekend moves: Because a lot of people do choose to move in the fall, in addition to the holidays, there are not a whole lot of weekend moving dates. If you choose to move during this time, you may need to schedule your movers for the middle of the week.
Winter
Christmas time in the city might appeal enough to you to move during that time. This is an excellent time to move if you’re single and willing to put in a little elbow grease but can be quite difficult for families.
Pros
Cheaper: Because there aren’t a whole lot of people willing to move during the winter months, you’re not going to find a lot of competition. This means that moving companies will offer some of the lowest rates for the year. Combined with specials, you may find your move costs next to nothing.
Flexible: Again, because there’s limited competition, you will have greater flexibility for your dates and times. This will be the best time for weekend moves.
Cons
Poor weather: Snow, sleet ice and generally cold weather can make moving impossible. You will need to take the time to find the best weather conditions for your move to make it work.
Lots of prepping: Your items will need weather protection. From salting walkways to waterproofing your furniture and boxes, winter moves require much more additional prep than moving during the other three seasons.
Spring
Spring brings a certain amount of freshness and calmness, and that can be transferred to your move if you plan to switch homes during this season (for clarity, we’re discussing March-early May).
Pros
Less busy: Because school children are still in school, you’re not likely to get a whole lot of competition for these days. This can allow you to get greater flexibility on your moving dates and pay less.
Nice weather: This depends on the area you live in, but for the most part, spring is going to welcome nice weather. This makes it perfect for moving.
Cons
Kids still in school: That more enjoyable flexibility comes at a cost if you have kids; they’re finishing up their school year. This can lead to issues for families looking to move while keeping their same routine.
Limited availability: During the latter spring months, you’re going to see a lot of people who begin to list their homes and move. This leads to a decrease in the number of available movers meaning less flexibility and higher moving rates.
Summer
Summer is the quintessential moving season. It provides kids the ability to settle in without worries about interrupting their education and lets you get settled in before fall responsibilities start.
Pros
Best selling price: Because more people are moving during these months, the housing market will become highly competitive. This means you can almost always expect to get at least close to the asking price on your home.
Kids on break: Kids’ schedules won’t be disrupted like they are during the other moving months. This allows them to settle in much more quickly as well.
Longer days: Summer sunshine shines brighter and longer meaning you can move your belongings well into the night.
Cons
Highly competitive: An estimated 70% of people move during the summer months. Because of this, moving rates are at the highest they’ll be all year.
Hot weather: No matter where you are, your summers are likely quite warm. This can make moving an uncomfortable experience and may force you to only move during the morning and evening hours.
Longer moves: If you’re moving across the country, you’re likely going to need to wait longer for that moving truck. Moves during the summer require moving trucks to take multiple loads. This leads to you needing to wait for each of those deliveries before yours gets dropped off.
Conclusion
Although there’s no exact best time to move, the ideal moving time is between mid-September to early-April. Rates will be cheaper, and people can get into their homes relatively pain-free.
No matter when you plan to move, Midwestern Realty will help you find the home of your dreams. Reach out to us today to discuss your housing options.