Helpful Tips for a Simple Summer Move!

The summer is the most desirable time to move--the kids are home from school, the weather is warm, and leases are often ending. This spike in moving demand also causes movers to raise rates--making the period from May to September the most popular and expensive season for moving. However, if you are planning to relocate this summer, these tips will help you save money and stay comfortable during the heat.

Move during the week

Even though summer is a busy moving season, relocating on a weekday is less popular than the weekend. If you can move during the week, you may receive a lower rate. If you must move on a weekend, never schedule your move on Memorial Day weekend or the last weekend in July--these are often the busiest days of the year for movers.

Keep cold drinks available
Not only for yourself, but the movers as well! Lugging heavy furniture in and out of your home and loading it onto a moving truck is hard, sweaty labour in sweltering summer heat. Keep a cooler of ice-cold waters and sports drinks on hand to keep you and your moving help hydrated, healthy and happy.

Pack your belongings properly
Summer conditions can wreak havoc on your belongings in transit. Don’t pack anything that can melt in extreme temperatures in your moving truck--no candles, photographs, or anything of extreme value that could be ruined. DVDs and CDs can also warp in especially hot and humid conditions. Consider transporting these items in your own vehicle so they are not exposed to heat and humidity for extended periods of time. Remember to never wrap leather or wood furniture in plastic shrink wrap--it can melt in the heat and ruin your furniture. It may also trap condensation in conditions of high humidity and cause mildew and moisture damage. Always wrap furniture in fabric pads, and then follow with plastic shrink wrap or bubble wrap if you wish.

Conserve energy
While it might be tempting to leave the air-conditioning running inside your home in the middle of a 90-degree summer day, the doors to your new and old homes will be open for hours as the movers haul your belongings back and forth. This can result in high energy bills if that ice-cold AC air is just blowing outside instead of keeping your home’s temperature at a comfortable level. Additionally, make sure your electric is already connected before you move into your new home, so you won’t have to wait to start using your air-conditioning once you are ready to unpack and settle in.