7 Tips for Moving in the Summer
Fun fact – approximately 70% of all moves take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, meaning “peak moving season” happens between the end of May and the beginning of September. Naturally speaking, this period of time is usually “peak warm weather season” as well.
While this warm weather is great news for beach goers, outdoor enthusiasts and fans of Vitamin D, the summer heat and humidity can present numerous challenges for people looking to move into new homes. Moving costs during the warmer months usually skyrocket, lifting heavy furniture can be even less fun in the heat and not all items are going to do well sitting in boxes on a moving truck that’s like an oven on the inside.
To combat these issues and help you have the best possible moving experience in the summer months, we’ve put together 7 tips for moving in the summer:
#1 – Hire a Moving Company or Service
#2 – If You Are Going to Move Yourself, Beat the Heat
Whether you’re a morning person or not, getting a head start on moving will be a game changer. We recommend starting early in the morning, in fact, the earlier the better. Morning temperatures are usually as cool as they come in the summer months, which means a more comfortable move for everyone involved. You can thank us later.
#3 – Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
You should always drink enough water, even in the winter months, but if you’re going to be moving in the summer months, being properly hydrated is even more important. If you don’t hydrate properly, this can be dangerous to your health, especially if you’re moving items around for hours.
#4 – Load Heat Sensitive Items Last
Unless you’re planning on renting a refrigerated truck to move your personal belongings, the storage portion of the truck is going to be as hot and humid as it gets. While you may be able to tolerate moving in and out of the space, most of the objects you place in the truck are going to be sitting in it for hours on end and some of those items are not meant to withstand those conditions.
Items such as electronics, antiques, instruments, art and photographs are just a few examples of things you may want to wait to load until you are very close to leaving. If they’re the last items placed on the truck, they should be the first ones off and this will keep them safe.
#5 – Turn AC On at Your New Place (If You Can)
Imagine this, you’ve spent all day moving boxes and heavy furniture in the heat, only to arrive at your new place which is nearly just as hot on the inside. You don’t want this and we don’t want this for you.
If you can cool down your new home beforehand, it will make moving items inside much more comfortable. Make sure your utilities are turned on prior to moving and if you are traveling a good distance and can’t turn the AC on a day early, just make sure you turn it on as soon as you arrive.
#6 – Sunscreen – Don’t Forget It
You may not think being out in the sun for minutes at a time is all that bad, but when you’re moving for hours on end, your total exposure to the sun will add up.
That being said, make sure you have quality sunscreen on hand. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing sunscreen that SPF 30 or higher is ideal. Be sure to apply at least 15 minutes before going outside to ensure you’re protected.
#7 – Save Trips Whenever Possible
Depending on the size of the moving truck, you may have to make multiple trips back and forth, in fact, this is actually common. While this gets the job done, it can add a lot of extra time to the equation, meaning you’ll have to wait even longer to relax in your new home.
One solution to this problem is considering alternative options, such as moving containers. Most moving containers can hold everything from a 2-3 bedroom house, meaning most households would only need one trip to complete the move.
If you live in the Pacific Northwest or Arizona, we may be able to help provide you with a moving container to fit your needs. With this approach, the containers will be delivered and moved for you so you can take your time with packing and unpacking your belongings, eliminating the stress and strain of moving everything in one day.
For more information, visit https://getsimplebox.com/moving-containers/ and learn more about our moving services.