{"id":24733,"date":"2021-06-02T07:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T14:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=24733"},"modified":"2024-05-29T10:39:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T17:39:25","slug":"summer-moving-dos-and-donts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/summer-moving-dos-and-donts\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Summer Moving Dos and Don’ts in the Summer, the Busiest Time to Relocate!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer marks the peak season for many big events, including vacations, weddings, and yes \u2014 the dreaded task of moving. According to an analysis by Movers Development, summer moving schedules have gotten so crazy that in recent years, more people have started targeting spring<\/a> to avoid the rush. However, the flexibility summer offers to book a move around your kid\u2019s vacation schedule or during a slower work period (not to mention the odds of securing a dry and sunny day to move) will make the season endure as an ever-popular time for moving.<\/p>\n

As the pandemic eases up and Americans decide where they want to live the best version of their post-vaccine lives, summer 2021 is likely to drive more relocations, especially to places with nicer weather, better affordability, and less congestion<\/a>. Meanwhile, returns to the office will bring some employees back closer to city centers, requiring them to find a residence without too long of a commute.<\/p>\n

The toughest challenges for a summer move are hauling heavy items in the brutal heat, the speed at which mover calendars will book up, and the price surges that can result from such high demand. If you\u2019re looking to change residences during the summer and plotting your warm-weather move, review our list of summer moving do\u2019s and don\u2019ts so you can plan the smoothest transition possible.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Ryu Orn \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DO: Contact a moving company right away, even if you\u2019re still firming up plans.<\/h2>\n

For the inside track on summer moving, we reached out to Gloria M. Pugh, CEO<\/a> of AMWAT Moving Warehousing Storage<\/a> in Tallahassee, Florida, and president of the Professional Movers Association of Florida<\/a>. In her experience, it\u2019s better to book a move sooner than later in the summer, even if your date is somewhat tentative when you make the call.<\/p>\n

Many moving companies will allow you to put down a deposit to secure the date, time, and resources necessary to reserve your move. If your plans change, the company should be able to accommodate a shift. According to Pugh, \u201cyou won\u2019t lose your deposit,\u201d but you should check with each moving company\u2019s individual policy to be sure.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re trying to time a move around the closing date of your home sale, you should scope out a moving company as soon as you have a pending or accepted offer, advises Eric Forney<\/a>, a real estate agent in Indianapolis where summer moves are highly popular considering the region\u2019s harsh winters. This brings the movers onboard without it coming down to the wire, even if you need to firm up your details later in the process.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that a moving company in the summer might be booked at least a month in advance. When Pugh spoke to HomeLight in June, AMWAT\u2019s earliest availability was mid-July.<\/p>\n

In short, it\u2019s never too early to start the conversation with your potential movers. \u201cThere are a lot of logistics to consider,\u201d Pugh says. \u201cWe don\u2019t just have crews waiting around for people who need to move that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T: Get taken to the cleaners by a bad moving broker.<\/h2>\n

Waiting too long to book a reputable mover adds pressure and increases the risk that you\u2019ll pay more. It also opens the door for opportunists or what Pugh calls \u201crogue operators\u201d looking to capitalize on the summer\u2019s high consumer demand.<\/p>\n

Some of these operators build an impressive website but don\u2019t disclose to the consumer that they\u2019re a broker who has no equipment or staff. Then, they sell your move to whichever company agrees to show up on your preferred moving day. The actual moving company may tack on more costs<\/a> once they have your belongings loaded. In worst-case scenarios, the movers you end up with could also be unlicensed or uninsured<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To avoid pairing up with a bad mover in the heat of a summer moving craze, you need to know who you\u2019re working with and perform some basic checks before you make a hire. Here\u2019s a quick checklist to follow:<\/p>\n