Moving truck? Nope. This is the truck you want to see on a summer moving day.
Many people plan their household move in the summer. The kids are out of school, the weather is better, your friends and family are more likely to join in, and the overall mood is more conducive to a successful relocation campaign. For all the positives that accompany a summertime move, there are a few unique challenges you need to be aware of.
In this article, we address these challenges and provide you tips for moving during the summer:
1. Make Reservations
Make a reservation with your local moving company in advance – far in advance. Since summer is the season of moving, professional moving companies are often booked months ahead. While there is usually room to fit in last minute reservations, you don’t want to work around other’s schedules. By booking a professional moving company well before your move, they will work around YOUR schedule.
2. Beat the Heat
Stay hydrated. While some cities have milder climates than others, shuffling in and out of your home with heavy boxes in hand will heat things up pretty quick. Make sure you have plenty of bottled water on hand and even a chilled fruit plate or two. Keep a large cooler by the door filled with these items so that you, friends, and family can dig in when they start feeling a little run down. At the end of the move, forgo the pizza and treat everyone to ice cream instead.
3. Dress the Part
You want to dress light so you can stay relatively cool but don’t neglect safety in doing so. Flip Flops are great for walks on the beach, but during a move they’re a big mistake. You don’t need to go out and buy steel toe boots for the move, but you also don’t want to expose your “little piggies” to the elements and make them susceptible to injury via a dropped box or stubbing against any hard surface. These happen many times during a move. Also, avoid loose fitting clothes, they tend to get snagged on corners and other protrusions. A slim fitting t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers are always a safe bet.
4. Perishables
The food in your fridge or freezer has a shorter life span outside of its frosty home in the summertime. Plan your shopping and food consumption well ahead of time so when moving day arrives, there is nothing left to spoil. If you find you still have a fridge packed full of steaks, seafood, and vegetables one week before you move, throw a big neighborhood BBQ. You’ll find friends and family are far more accepting of your requests to help you move when they have a full belly courtesy of your pantry.
5. Traffic
Summertime means more traffic. The sun is out later, bringing people out at all hours and tourists are in town clogging up the freeways with their SUVs and car rentals. Plan your move during early sunrise hours or later in the evening if possible.
Conclusion
Moving in the summer doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, it can be downright fun if planned well in advance. Of course, the best way to have a really good time during a relocation is to leave all the hard work to a professional moving company and head to the beach instead.
We hope you enjoyed these tips for moving during summer.
