Planning for a move seriously challenges you in the best and worst of ways. From having to figure out a way to pack everything you own in boxes to planning everything down to the last dot, calling moving stressful is a bit of an understatement. But nothing leaves one breaking out in a sweat quite like the difficult decision of picking a moving date.
Of course, finalizing when to move is not something that can be based on a whim; this is why everyone wants to know what comes into play in the making of such a monumental decision. If you’re awfully confused about what factors you need to consider when picking a moving date, then you’re in the right place at the right time. Read on to narrow down a list of variables you should check before giving the green light to your moving service.
The day and month matter.
It just so happens that some seasons are more popular for moves. Owing to many things, including the weather, springs, and summers are preferred times for people to schedule their moving dates. This tendency makes it so that the months encompassed in them are peak times for movers and moving services to operate. This only naturally means that their charges are at their peak, and nailed-down dates and times come down to availability.
Don’t fall for the age-old trick that makes following the herd look appealing. Instead, if possible, take your time and make sure your moving date falls during months that are less frequented in terms of moves. Not only will you be able to flexibly pick out a date and time that works best for you, but you’ll also be doing so at the best possible price. Most people compromise on good moving services because of affordability, but if you wait it out and pick a good time, you’ll be getting the best of both worlds.
Work and school schedules are important.
Having your kids miss out on school because of a move is not a smart move. Similarly, if you’re missing work for a move and having your wage reduced for that day as a result, then that’s a telltale sign of a bad moving date. Make sure to plan around commitments and schedules, so nobody has to undergo making up for missing any professional or educational day.
Weekends are a safe bet, but since traffic is very heavy when that time of the week rolls around, you can always wait for a scheduled holiday when people mostly stay indoors. Another option is to opt for a paid leave or schedule a moving day when your kids have a light school day that can be missed without consequence. Have a talk with your employer and their teachers to make sure everything is in place before picking out an ideal time for your move.
The availability of help.
A lot of people are dependent on help from friends and family during their moves. This owes to having little children or commitments that make it hard for them to manage the entire moving process on their own. Of course, expecting people who are volunteering to adapt to your availability and convenience is entitled at best. This is why confirming how well a potential moving date sits with everyone who is going to be involved with the move is important.
While your loved ones will be up to help you out for the move whenever you need it, it’s just common courtesy to make things a little easier for people who are making things a lot easier for you. Remember to hit up volunteers for the move before finalizing a date; this is one of the most practical things to consider when picking a moving date.
A reasonable time frame.
Picking a moving date also very much depends on how farther along you are in the prepping process for the move. If you’ve just planned everything out on paper and haven’t gotten around to doing much else yet, you have to be reasonable when deciding a timeframe in which you’ll be able to have everything up and ready.
Moving isn’t just randomly packing things into boxes. It’s a lot of planning and sorting before eventually coming to the decision of what goes where. Deciding this timeframe is also dependent on whether you have help, are hiring movers and packers, or are going to be doing everything on your own. Since you’re the one who knows all the factors that are going to determine your speed in the matter, take your time and pick a moving date that’s reasonable.
When services and subscriptions end.
A lot of people make the mistep of choosing a moving date at random. This date often falls right after they’ve paid bills for various utilities and services for an entire month. This is a waste of money if there ever was one. Try to make sure your moving date coincides with when your various services are scheduled to end and remember to pull the plug on them right on moving day.
If you’re not careful with that, you’ll either end up having to pay bills for an entire month for a place you’re no longer frequenting or you’ll have to spend a couple of days without any utilities at all. Make sure services are up and going at the new house, too, before you move in. You need to make sure you pick the right time that aligns on both fronts for your moving date.
Here’s the takeaway:
Picking a good moving date can make all the difference between a seamless move and a disastrous one. Moreover, choosing the right moving day can ultimately save you a lot of money too, both in terms of the services you hire for the move as well as the utilities in the home you’re leaving behind. Remember to factor in all of the above-mentioned aspects before picking a moving date, and you’re good to go!
Also Read: Ways To Save Money When Moving