What to Know About Moving During the Holidays

So, if you’re wondering, “Should I move during the holidays?” here are a few things you should know. Since the season comes with its expenses, it might be difficult to figure out the budget you need for the move. But if you know the right time to book your company, and if you plan every detail in advance, you will be able not only to save up on costs but also have a smooth trip to your new residence.

Why Moving During the Holidays May or May Not Be the Best Option for You

Relocating during the festive period can be challenging, but it does have some benefits. You surely have some days free from work that can be a huge help when organizing everything. Also, a major benefit of relocating during this period is that you will generally be offered lower prices because it’s the off-season for relocation companies. But keep in mind that depending on different circumstances, this might not always be the case.

While there are some benefits to relocating during the festive period, there are also a lot of difficulties you should know about. But there’s no reason to think it’s impossible or that you won’t be able to do it. Starting on time and organizing your move well will usually do the trick and make your relocation more efficient. Also, booking long-distance moving services can help, ensuring everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Working With Unpredictable Weather Conditions Can Be Difficult

The festive season is known for having a warm, gift-giving, and family-bonding atmosphere. However, the opposite happens with the weather conditions, and everyone adjusts to lower temperatures in their own way. The colder weather and everything that comes with it can be challenging or even dangerous to deal with during your move.

Relocating in winter means being cautious of snowstorms and icy highways, so the weather forecast will be your best friend during this time. The weather is only one aspect that you should think of when planning your move during this time, but it is very important because there’s just no compromise with the grueling snow blizzard. Aside from possible snowstorms and icy highways, the days are getting shorter, and you’ll have fewer daylight hours to work with.

Preparing the Budget Can Be Difficult When You Need to Think About All Kinds of Expenses

The holiday period comes with its own expenses, so introducing additional costs to the whole ordeal might not be the best option if you want to save on relocation costs. That’s why it’s important to create a comprehensive relocation budget and figure out how much you are willing to spend on packing materials and hiring long-distance movers.

There are a lot of ways to save a couple of extra bucks while doing so. You can try to find the materials you need during a Black Friday sale or sell stuff you no longer need. But the most effective way of lowering your expenses for the relocation is knowing when it’s the right time to move during the holiday period. When you’re figuring that out, it’s also important to take into account spending as much time with your loved ones as you can – you surely don’t want to miss all of the festivities.

You Might Miss Out on Spending Precious Time With Family and Friends When Moving During the Holidays

One of the downsides to moving during Christmas or around this holiday is that you’ll possibly skip the festivities and not be able to spend quality time with your family and friends. If you take this into account and plan accordingly, it doesn’t have to be the case. It’ll just be a bit more difficult to organize the whole ordeal. Also, if you’re relocating to a new city alone, your closest people might be too busy to help you properly. That’s when professional help like the white glove moving services come into the picture.

If you like to host family gatherings, you may find that skipping it this year might be the best solution. Another good idea is to plan the festivities but on a smaller scale. Invite only the immediate family and closest friends, as they will surely understand if your home is still full of boxes. Check out this helpful video to learn how to plan out your festivity preparations in the best way possible:

Booking Your Company During the Holiday Season Might Turn Out to Be the Cheaper Option

The busiest period of the year to plan out your move is during the summer. Besides being convenient for most people, and if you are relocating with kids, you won’t have to move in the middle of a school year. However, even though it’s the most popular period for a move, it’s also the most expensive one because the relocation company will be very busy. The holiday season can get extremely busy as well, but it’s generally considered to be the off-season for relocating.

Stay Away From the Weekend Before Major Festivities Such as Christmas and New Year

The good news is that companies generally offer lower prices because it’s the off-season, but you should keep in mind that there can be additional expenses if you schedule your move on the more busy days. That’s why you should plan ahead and book a professional white glove moving service in advance.

The streets fill up with travelers and shoppers quickly, especially on the weekends before major festivities. The companies that are available during these times can charge more because they will be in high demand and short-staffed. The heavy traffic that can happen on days like “Super Saturday” (the weekend before Christmas) can only make their job more difficult, and finding storage space can also be a nightmare. The same goes for other busy days, such as the week around New Year’s Day.

Go for the Mid-Week Relocation to Make the Whole Ordeal Less Hectic

Now that you know to stay away from the super busy days that can have horrible traffic jams, let’s talk about the best moment to schedule your move. If possible, you should book your services on days such as Tuesday and Wednesday. The mid-week period will surely be less busy, and consequently, you can end up with a better deal because your chosen professional help won’t be on such a tight schedule.

This also applies to finding cheaper tickets if your move includes getting on a plane or getting a more affordable deal for renting a truck. So, schedule your services and other necessities during the workweek to save yourself the trouble, and you might even stumble upon a holiday discount.

Planning Ahead Is the Key to a Successful and Stress-Free Move

Whether you are relocating to another state alone or perhaps doing it for love, the rules are more or less the same. There might be a lot of reasons to move, but the number one relocation hack is always the same, and that is planning everything in advance. So, as soon as your decision to move is certain, start thinking about what kind of moving services you may require. Check out our ultimate relocation guide to ensure that everything’s taken care of.

The Holiday Period Is Perfect for Helping the Ones Who Need It the Most

Before you start putting everything you own into boxes, it’s a good idea to declutter your home. When you’re deciding what to get rid of, it’s best to think about whether you’ve used it in the past year. So, go through your home and decide what you want to keep when you relocate to a new home and what you no longer need. Decluttering can be especially helpful if you’re thinking about booking storage services.

It’s the perfect moment to show your charitable side and donate the things that are of no use to you anymore. During the winter months, warm clothes and toys for kids are especially in demand, so keep that in mind. Contact your local Salvation Army to brighten up someone’s day! By doing so, you can also look forward to lower relocation costs because they depend on the weight of your belongings.

Packing Is Less Stressful if You Divide It Into Smaller Tasks

It goes without saying, but the most important thing is to avoid organizing your move at the last minute during the festive period. So, if you create your to-do list early, organizing the whole process and finding the right storage will be easier. Give yourself three to four weeks to take care of your belongings. You will be able to pack everything bit by bit and not make it a dreadful and exhausting experience. To avoid unnecessary stress, think about hiring white glove movers and booking their packing services to ensure no relocation mistakes happen.

Here are a few useful tips to make boxing up as easy as possible:

• Organize everything by type, by room, or by order of unpacking – find what works best for you, but keep in mind that going by the order is probably the best way because it will ensure an easy process of unpacking when you arrive at your brand-new home,
• Buy or find the necessary material – no move can go without the essential materials such as bubble wrap and paper,
• Create a packing station and a storage place – pick a space in your home that can act as a boxing-up station and storage, so you’re not neck-deep in boxes,
• Label absolutely everything – for easier unpacking, put labels with contents and designated rooms, and ensure that the fragile items are properly noted,
• Pack the things you won’t need for a while first – that would be summer clothes, beach accessories, or other things you don’t need in the colder months,
• Leave some decorations, but don’t overdo it – to keep up the festive spirit, you can leave out a few decorations to pack last and unpack them as soon as you get to your next place.

Take Special Care of Important Documents and Transfer Your Utilities

If you wish to prepare everything without any last-minute hiccups, organize your important documents, such as school and medical records. You should put them in a binder and keep them with you throughout the move. Don’t forget to transfer your utilities and schedule them to be turned on upon your arrival – the last thing you need is an unheated home in the winter months. Inform your banks and other services about the address change. For friends and family, a creative relocation announcement idea is to put it into Christmas cards.

Once You’ve Booked Your Services, You Are Ready to Start the New Year Right

When you’ve planned out your schedule and the most convenient and cost-effective moment to move, it’s time to get in contact with the white glove moving company. Booking the professional services you need will surely soothe any relocation anxiety and ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. So, rest easy knowing your move is in the capable hands of reputable movers, and get ready for the festivities to begin. It’s the perfect way to start the New Year right!