Happy holidays! While other families will be eagerly unpacking their last year’s ornaments, you’ll be in the middle of a less than holly jolly task of moving during holidays! Whether moving from Florida to South Carolina or next door, moving during the holidays is not an easy task. Besides all of the festive distractions, you have to deal with all the details of planning a relocation as well.
However, on a more positive note, moving during holidays doesn’t mean you have to turn into a Grinch this holiday season. Well, you will have to be well-prepared in order not to experience that sort of stress. Or just hire our reliable Florida movers and your upcoming relocation will be as merry and bright as possible!
The timing could be the best or the worst possible!
While winter doesn’t actually count as “peak moving season,” the holidays can be an extremely busy time for movers. So if you’re planning to hire a moving company during this season, it’s important to book their services as soon as possible.
Also, keep in mind that moving during holidays, especially on a holiday weekend costs more than moving on a non-holiday. If you’re conducting your move yourself, holiday traffic is something to think about, as roads always fill up with holiday shoppers and travelers. Some of the busiest shopping days include Black Friday and, for last-minute shoppers, the week just before Christmas.
Additionally, Thanksgiving Day happens to be one of the heaviest long-distance commute days for vehicles. Knowing this information, it’s probably best to avoid moving on these particular days, if possible.
Plan your moving budget!
With all of the presents and expenses incurred during the holiday months, it’s especially hard to stay on the budget this time of year. Add in moving during holidays – and expenses such as getting boxes or hiring movers – and you’re probably going to start looking for additional ways to tighten your belt this season. However, if you’re hiring movers, keep in mind that you may be able to save a few bucks by booking a mid-week move!
- You can opt for cost-efficient alternatives such as rental trucks or portable moving containers. These containers will serve you perfectly as storage as well in case you’re planning to unpack after the holidays have ended.
- You should also avoid paying for moving boxes. You can scour local stores, offices, Craigslist, or U-Haul Box Exchange for free cardboard boxes.
- Reuse packing supplies such as old newspapers, magazines, blankets, and towels you have laying around the house. Use them to cushion your belongings, instead of purchasing bubble wrapping.
Packing tips for moving during holidays
To avoid feeling down while you’re moving during holidays, you should try to put up practical decorations that can survive your moving during the holiday process! Setting up your home with traditional holiday decorations is difficult when you’re packing everything you own for a long-distance move. Instead of the usual ornaments and lighting, why not decorate your home in a way you won’t have to pack away? The closer you get to the moving day, the more boxes will be lying around your home. Buy whatever supplies you need to decorate the boxes with holiday designs. You can even stack adequate boxes on top of each other to form a triangle shape. Then simply draw a tree on them!
Donations shouldn’t be the last thing on your mind, and here’s why!
Fortunately, charities such as Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity and The Salvation Army will gladly pick up your items free of charge. Also, if you remember to save your receipts, these donations could bring you a positive little tax deduction. And after you finish an expensive move, what could be better?
Keep a sharp eye on the weather
Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather while moving during the holidays. If you’re relocating to or from the Northeast and Midwest, be prepared for cold – often frigid – temperatures. From icy roads to complete blizzards, the holiday season can bring us dangerous winter weather conditions, which present serious challenges for movers.
Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to ensure moving during holidays is as safe as possible.
Make sure you have proper moving and packing supplies. Don’t forget winter-ready garments to deal with harsh conditions. Boots, hats, gloves, shovels, and salt are often necessary. Pack up your belongings in several waterproof plastic bins. Salt any sidewalks and stairs.
Family matters
If you’re planning to move with your kids in the middle of the school year, you need to help them properly adjust to this period. You will need to take care of transferring their important documents and school records to the new school. These can include transcripts; report cards; immunization records; any academic testing they have undergone; and other different files and records. We suggest contacting the old school for more information on how to properly transfer these documents to the new school. Note that most schools have a holiday vacation between Christmas Eve and New Years. So the ideal situation would be to unpack and help your children adjust to the new place during this time frame.
Safety tip for moving during holidays
Unfortunately, home intrusions and robberies usually increase during the holiday season. It’s better to be safe than sorry. The last thing you want is a break-in during the Christmas season. To prevent that from happening, make sure your security system is fully up-to-date both before and right after moving in. If you’re moving this holiday season, get in touch with us, and be sure to take advantage of these tips for moving during the holidays by Authority Moving Group!