Moving House? Here are the best days of the week to do it:
Moving house is stressful. In fact, it might just be one of the most stressful things you need to do as an adult. Between packing up the boxes, organising everything, and then actually taking them from one place to another, it can be a long, tedious process.
And if you’re moving house, you’ll want to minimise the stress as best as possible. So, picking the right day of the week to do that is crucial.
We’ve got insider information on the best day to move house, what day you should not move house, and even the pros and cons for moving house during each season. In the meantime, you can safely store your belongings with us for some peace of mind, while you get on with the rest of it!
What’s the best day to move house traditionally?
Traditionally, the best day to move house is on Friday. That’s because it keeps you from disrupting your work week, and you’ll have the weekend to spend unpacking your boxes and setting everything up in your new home.
While it is traditionally the best day to move, you do run the risk of being in some pretty sticky situations over the weekend. For example, if something were to happen utility wise in your old home or in your new home, you might be stuck until Monday when someone can come out and take a look.
And, something to keep in mind — since it’s traditionally the best day to move house, it’s also the busiest. Which means you might run into moving and removal companies booked up if you don’t get there first.
The best alternative days to move house
If Friday doesn’t fit your schedule, or you’re looking to save a quick buck, here are some good alternatives:
Mondays:
If you plan to move house on a Monday, you can pack and organise the weekend leading up to your moving day. And you’ll have the time to double (and triple) check to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything before you leave the old place behind (and isn’t that half the battle when it comes to moving).
Mid-Week:
This is usually the least popular time throughout the week to move since it’s difficult to work around the typical work schedule. But, if you choose any day between Tuesday and Thursday, you can more easily book moving companies or removal companies since everyone else will be waiting until Friday. Plus, if something does go wrong, you’ll be able to get in touch with someone quickly to have it fixed (unlike on the weekends).
Sunday (save money!):
If saving money is your biggest priority, plan on moving house on Sunday. It’s the day people like moving the least. People steer clear of it since it’s so close to the upcoming work week. And there’s just something about Sundays, right? But it’s statistically the cheapest day to move for removal and moving companies.
What’s the best time of day to move house?
Trust us. The earlier you can start moving, the better. It’s usually an all-day affair, so plan to devote as much time as you possibly can on the day you’re moving.
Everyone will be less tired and fresher at the start of the day than they are towards the end.
Plus, if you’re hiring a moving company, the earlier in the day you book, the less likely your moving company will delay or cancel altogether.
How about the best time of the month to move house?
Since most rental leases run out at the end of the month, everyone will be planning to move around the end of the month and the beginning of the next one.
So, if you need to save some money and make sure you’re able to book your moving companies, plan to move in the middle of the month when it’s less busy.
The best time of year to move house
Every season has its own pros and cons when it comes to packing everything up and moving to a new home.
Spring Pros:
- Better weather: You’ll run into better weather without those frigid cold temperatures or the heat of the summer if you choose to move in the spring.
- Best time to sell your house: Most people will wait to move in the summer, which means they’ll want to start buying a house in the spring. Take advantage of that by putting your home on the market in the spring!
- Good moving deals: Again, summer is the most popular time to move, so take advantage of good moving deals from moving and removal companies.
Spring Cons:
- Seasonal allergies: If you suffer from seasonal allergies (thanks, pollen), you’ll need to keep that in mind if you decide to move in the spring. Be sure to seal up your boxes as best as you can to keep pollen from getting tracked in your new home.
- Unpredictable rain: While we’re moving away from the frigid temps, we’re running into more rain in the springtime. Keep that in mind!
- School: School will still be in session in the spring, which means kids will not only have to transition to a new home and new environment, but possibly a new school, too. And that can be incredibly difficult for some children.
Summer Pros:
- School is on break! If you’re moving to a new school district for your kids, it’s a great idea to wait until summer. Give them time to adjust to a new home and a new environment, and then they can be introduced to a new school in autumn.
- Warm weather: Summer weather means you won’t be quite as miserable (if you don’t mind heat, that is!) as you would be in the winter. And you won’t have to worry about horrible road conditions, either.
- Longer days: That means more time to move things if you have a lot of stuff to take from one house to the next.
Summer Cons:
- Busiest time to move: Expect to pay a greater fee if you decide to move during the summer.
- Movers may cancel: Since it is busier in the summertime, movers may be delayed, or they may cancel altogether. Be prepared for this, and book your moving companies well in advance (and as early as possible!).
- Lower quality movers: Again, since it’s busier in the summer, moving companies will need all hands on deck. And that means you might end up with some less than stellar movers.
- It’s gonna be hot! We think that says it all.
- Moving with pets: Please. Do not put your pets in a moving truck, especially during the summer. Moving trucks aren’t ventilated at all, and your pets can easily suffocate from the stifling heat.
Autumn Pros:
- Arguably the best time of year: It’s cooler, there’s less rain, and it hasn’t dipped to those frigid cold temperatures.
- Less demand: The busy rush of the summer means most people have already moved. There’ll be less demand if you plan to move during the autumn months.
- Road conditions: Roads should still be just fine during autumn!
Autumn Cons:
- School starts back: If you’re moving to a new school district, ideally you want to avoid moving this time of year.
Winter Pros:
- Better deals: Moving in the winter can get you a better deal with moving, removal, and sometimes storage companies. Winter is technically the off-season for the moving industry, which means you can score better prices.
- Better movers: Since it’s the off-season, many moving companies will only keep their bare-bones staff. And that usually means the veteran crews will stay onboard during these slower months, so you’ll wind up with better movers.
- Fewer delays and cancellations: Companies won’t be in as high of demand, so you won’t have to worry about delays or cancellations as much.
- Best time to buy a new house: The winter months are the off season for the real estate industry, too, so take advantage of better real estate deals.
Winter Cons:
- Bad weather: You’ll run into ice and snow, which can cause a huge problem when you’re trying to move house. The shorter days can also make moving difficult.
- School’s in session: School age children will still be in the middle of their school year. Just like in the spring, moving when school is already in session can be difficult for some children.
- Holidays: Holidays are already stressful (and expensive) in and of themselves. It might be better to avoid moving until after the holidays have passed.
We know it can be stressful, but planning ahead for the best time to move house can save you such a headache later down the road. Hopefully these tips will help you with your big task ahead!
And if you need to use moving house storage for your belongings as you move, we’ve got you covered!
