When is the Best Time to Move?

Moving is seldom convenient, mostly because it requires time, energy and money, all of which are probably already in high demand in your busy life. And yet, because moving is often unavoidable, it's important to find the best time to move so that you'll be able to reduce the stress associated with this demanding process. Even if you have a specific deadline of when you need to arrive in your new town, you'll probably have some flexibility regarding the time and day of the move. If you're lucky, you'll be able to negotiate the best time to move, either by signing a lease for a certain time or agreeing to a specific start date for your new job. But even if you have this flexibility, you still may not be sure when it's the best time to move. Answer the questions below honestly to determine when it's best for your family to move.

1. Do you have children? The answer to this question is obvious, but the ramifications are not. Popular thought dictates that it's best to move with children in the summertime so that they can adjust to their new home and town before the school year begins. There are some people, however, who have a different (and, perhaps, equally valid) belief that moving in the middle of the school year may be easier, as the teacher will be able to meet the needs of the new student without worrying about the demands associated with the start of the school year. There is no correct answer to this question, but it's a good idea to speak to your children about how they feel and to make decisions with this information in mind.
2. Are you looking to save money? If finances are a key concern during your move, there are several ways you can time your move to save money. Firstly, you can consider moving in an off-peak season such as November through New Years. Because school is already in session and people generally prefer to be settled down during the holiday season, the demand for moving services is low, causing many moving companies to reduce their rates during that period. Secondly, moving in the middle of the month is known to be cheaper than moving towards the end or beginning of a month, since those are the times when most rents are due. If your housing plans are flexible request a move mid-month to receive a lower moving quote. Thirdly, consider moving mid-week when prices are also slightly lower. Most people prefer to move on the weekend so that they can unpack in time for the week ahead. If you have stored vacation days, why not use some to move mid-week and save yourself some money on the moving expenses?
3. Does your area have periods of inclement weather? If you're moving to Miami, you probably know that hurricane season runs from June through November. If you're moving to Phoenix, you likely know that the average summer temperature is over 100 degrees. As you can see, while summer is generally a popular time to move, it may not be the best time to move to your specific city. You surely won't want to take the chance that your furniture could get warped or damaged in inclement weather or that boxes left outside could get damaged.
4. Are you concerned about traffic? It may sound ideal to plan your move during a long holiday weekend such as July 4th weekend or Memorial Day weekend. What you may not have considered is that traffic during those times is particularly unpleasant, and it may end up ruining your entire move. Think about traffic patterns along your route to determine if you can or should time your move around times when traffic is flowing freely.
5. Do you have emotional allegiances to attend to? Is there a family event that you'll miss if you move at a certain time? Are you comfortable being along for the holidays if you've just moved? While it stands to reason that you will survive even if you eat a TV dinner for Thanksgiving, it's important to consider the emotional ramifications this may have on your new life. If there is an emotional obligation that can postpone your move, it's worth evaluating its merit. After all, the worst way to adapt to a new home is to resent it from the very beginning.

There may be no universal guidelines about when to move, but there are personal gauges that you can implement to determine when is the best time for you to move. Don't take these considerations lightly – they can mean the difference between a successful move and an unpleasant one.