Is moving in winter a good idea?
Every now and then, we try to save money when moving. Everyone knows that this is a big, and sometimes expensive process, so trying to reduce the costs is probably always on your mind. There are many things in which you can achieve this. Finding good and reliable movers is one of them. Getting cheap packing supplies and boxes is another. However, finding the perfect time of the year for you to move is the one many people don't consider. Moving over summers differs greatly than moving over winter. But, what are the perks and difficulties of both seasons? Will the money you save on one compensate for the work you put in? In this article, find out when you should consider moving in winter. You will also discover what the advantages of this season are, and how to prepare for it the best.
The advantages of moving in winter
So, what exactly moving in winter consists of? When do you start, and when do you end your move? First, all experts will recommend you start planning for your move a couple of months in advance. What this means is that, if your move is in January, you should start preparing for it in November. Create a moving timeline and contact the moving company NYC early to get everything in order. Consider this:
- The accommodations are easier to find when you are moving in winter.
- The moving companies are more flexible in the winter months.
- Safety of the roads and the trip does not diminish in winter.
Moving in winter means finding affordable housing
One of the first perks of moving in winter is the cheaper housing you will find. If you still have nowhere to move, and your lease is ending in the winter or spring, then you should consider finding a rental during the winter. Usually, the most options for finding a nice apartment across the country are during August and September. It is during these months that students flock to their universities and try to find suitable accommodations. Because of this, however, the prices tend to rise up and become quite steep.
After they all settle in is when the fun starts. This is when you can go apartment hunting. When there are no students, the landlords will become anxious if they have a vacancy. Keeping it open will mean they are losing money - so they will be prone to agreeing to a lower rent. Use this to negotiate it for yourself.
If you cannot really get a lower rent, try working out some perks instead. Maybe you can get a free Wi-Fi service, or make a deal with the landlord. You might be able to help make new kitchen counters, for example, for one month's rent off, or similar. Use the time wisely and you can be saving a lot of money when moving in winter.
The moving companies get more flexible when moving in winter
Similar to landlords, the moving companies will also be open to negotiation when you are moving in winter. Just like the apartments get rented out during August and September, the peak moving season is over summer. This is usually because people enjoy the weather- there is no ice on the roads, and they can dress more comfortably. The downside of the summer is that the majority of people want to move during this time each year - more than a million Americans, as some studies show.
And even though moving in winter means dealing with some ice and warm clothes, it also gives you a lot more leverage. The moving companies won't have a lot of clients, so they will be very willing to work with you. Try to negotiate a lower cost of the move or some perks - like cheaper packing services.
Another benefit of moving in winter is that your company will have a more flexible schedule. The moving companies can get notorious about their busy workdays. When moving during the summer months, sometimes you will not even be able to pick the exact day for the move. You will simply need to work it out with the company. During winter, this changes. Because there are fewer clients, the moves will have their calendars open to you if give them ample time to arrange the move. Use this opportunity well!
Your items will be safe when moving in winter
One of the biggest disadvantages of moving in winter people will mention is the safety - or the lack of it. They say that the roads get icy, the weather is nasty and you need to drive so very carefully. Then, it might be dangerous to just load and unload the truck. You might hurt yourself when carrying heavy boxes, or you can slip and fall.
However, most of these are either untrue or they are easy to fix. First, when you are moving in winter, there will be less traffic on the roads. This is because, as we already discussed, there are fewer people moving around. The summer is the time of the year where you find most trucks on the road - during winter, there are significantly fewer. Then, the roads get cleaned quite often, in most parts of the country. And, together with carefully driving, all of this lowers the risk of an accident on the road.
As far as carrying boxes across the slippery surfaces, there are ways to fix that as well. Simply clean up the snow and ice in front of your house on the day of the move. You can do this within an hour, and it will help both you and the movers. You can also do that in your new home before the truck arrives. This way, when you are moving in winter,you will save money and you will be safe!

Tie trash bags to all of your door handles and let the movers know they’re there for their use. When movers are moving they use a large amount of paper, labels, and packing tape. Even though they’re contracted to clean up after themselves, making it easy for them to dispose of trash and waste will make things better and cleaner for everyone.
Save the packing of your pillows, pillow cases, and bed linens until the morning of your move. When you wake up, put all of these items in a large box or plastic crate and clearly mark it “bed linens”. When you arrive at your new home, it will be important to know where this is so that you can get a good first night’s sleep.
Take an inventory of all your highly valuable items, put them all in one place, and snap a photo of them with your phone. Have the movers pack all of these items together in one or several boxes marked “HIGH VALUE”. Personally observe the movers sealing the box or boxes so that you will be at ease, knowing that your valuables are packed securely. Even if the items packed together don’t really match or “go together”, it’s good to have these kinds of items packed in as few boxes as possible.
Go over the entire list of your inventory with the head mover. You’re more than welcome to follow them around the house while the movers are moving, but it’s highly likely they’ll have things under control. If anything is lost or damaged, you will be able to file a claim, so relax. As long as a detailed list exists and the movers have signed off, including packing everything on your list, you should be good to go. Just be sure all of your documentation is signed properly and all boxes and crates are sealed before being loaded. A good mover should have this covered without you telling them, but keep an eye out nonetheless.
Get enough sleep and eat well. With so many things to plan and consider, moving takes a lot of energy, focus, and dedication. We can often forget to take care of ourselves and make sure that we’re getting some of our most basic needs. Compromising our health to get through the moving process as quickly as possible can actually make the journey that much harder.
Don’t skip meals and listen to your body when it’s telling you it needs rest. The more alert and refreshed you are each day of your move, the more you can expect it to go smoothly resulting in a stress-free NYC moving experience.
Treat yourself. To reiterate, your health and wellbeing is a key component to a successful move. Aside from giving your body what it needs, you need to provide yourself with something for your soul. If you need to take time to get your favorite comfort food, make the trip. If you need to take a couple of hours to see a movie, or get a spa treatment done, delegate that time for yourself.
Even simple things as maintaining some of your regular or routine activities each day will give you a sense of normalcy that you need when you are changing one of the largest parts of your life. If you can conjure up the energy for your morning jog or gym session, or read a book for an hour each morning, take that time to clear your mind and focus on something you enjoy doing. After all, you are the most important moving tool for a stress-free NYC moving experience.
Turn to support when you need it. We often find ourselves having trouble asking for help; however, in stressful periods of time, it’s important to seek support from friends and loved ones. Even if you have a moving company hired, sometimes its best to ask a friend or family member to help you out as well, for moral support.
Don’t be afraid to call a parent, or a friend, if things don’t go as planned and you need to vent. Your circle is there to support you and get you through troublesome situations. Especially if you are
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