Moving from one home to another may be exciting, but it can also be stressful. Are you moving during the heat of the summer? That adds a layer of strain to the situation. Anything you can do to prepare ahead of time will help.
When you make a summer move, whether you’re leaving behind your Southern California real estate for a new home in Phoenix at a Taylor Morrison community, or are just relocating across town, you join a lot of other folks on the move. In fact, moving companies will tell you that their busiest time of the year is between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
So, what can you expect and where do you start? Here are some tips for moving during the summer.
1. Plan Your Move Early
As soon as you know you’re going to move, start planning. Come up with a budget, research moving companies, check out which schools the kids will go to. Figure out who you’ll need to contact to hook up utilities and when to shut down utilities where you are living currently. Plan your change of address details. Start donating and tossing things you know you don’t want to bring with you. Consider this an administrative period.
2. Find the Right Moving Company
This is one of those things you need to get started on as soon as possible. Because movers are busiest during the summer months prices are usually higher. Take a thorough inventory of what needs to be moved and get estimates in writing from at least three companies, including their insurance protection so you can consider paying extra for full value coverage.
Find out how much it would cost to have movers provide a full service, partial service or self-service move, depending on what you want.
- Full moving service – This is a start-to-finish arrangement. Movers pack using materials they provide, load up and unload the truck after transporting your goods. They a can also unpack, install and assemble if you want.
- Partial moving service – A company can give you a menu of services you can pick and choose from. They can come to your home and pack your belongings and you do the rest. They can help you load up and unload a truck you’ve rented. If you prefer, you can pack everything yourself with materials you have purchased, and the movers will load, transport and unload your items using their own moving van.
- Self-service – You have the option of renting a truck from a rental service that provides the basic equipment you need to move. You have to take care of everything else with no professional assistance.
3. Pick the Right Moving Day
Plan to move on a less busy day rather than a weekend and the beginning or end of the month. This will probably save you money because movers are not as swamped on weekdays and mid-month, so they might give you a better price. And don’t schedule with a mover at the last minute, because you’ll probably pay more.
4. Plan for Packing Particulars
Assuming you’re going to have partial or full moving service, you’ll still need to think ahead. If you have items that won’t stand up well in the heat, plan to transport them yourself, in a cooler if need be. It’s helpful to take photos of how your electronics are hooked up before you unplug and unwire. When packing, tape small pieces together and attach to the larger item or put them in a baggie that is clearly labeled with the item they go with. This will help you keep track of things like, loose wires and such. Also, be sure to use a marker to clearly label each box as you pack, indicating which room you want them to go into at your new house.
5. Be Prepared for the Heat
Take the heat into serious consideration.
- Schedule your move to get started as early in the day as you can and avoid moving in the afternoon if at all possible.
- Have plenty of water in a cooler with ice on hand for the day of the move. Whoever is doing heavy lifting is going to need to stay hydrated. The crew will appreciate having cold water, and so will you.
- Be sure to give everyone the chance to take a break periodically.
- Bring portable hand-held fans with you if you can.
- It may seem like a no-brainer but see that you and your family are wearing light-colored, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing on the day of the move.
- Keep a look out for symptoms of overheating, like fever-level temperatures, headaches, dizziness, faintness, nausea, muscle cramps and confusion. If you or someone else displays these signs, it’s best to lie down—in an air-conditioned space if it’s available, hydrate and use a cool, wet towel or to refresh hot skin.
6. Keep Kids and Pets Safe and Out of the Way
Consider putting your pets in animal daycare so they won’t have to deal with the stress of so many people moving about in a new home they’re not used to yet. If you have children, but don’t know anyone who can watch them for you during the move, give them a project that will keep them from getting underfoot. And make sure everyone drinks a lot of water.
The Taylor Morrison Difference
If you’re just thinking about moving at this time, Taylor Morrison will demystify the process with our easy to understand guide, Homebuying 101. We can also help you get a good sense of what the Taylor Morrison experience is like. Learn about Taylor Morrison difference, our history timeline, the warranty we provide, maintenance tips and schedules and more.
Additional Helpful Information
Moving is a big endeavor but can be stress-free if you prepare. We’ve covered a few key musts for moving, but we have plenty more information available to you. To find out more about different aspects of moving, check out these helpful articles.
