The end of the year is best known as the holiday season—a time for spending time with friends and family, not for relocating into a new home. If you’ve planned a holiday season relocation, however, you may be in for a surprise. Moving at the end of the year has plenty of surprising benefits, like lower rates, more flexible appointment times, and if you plan it right, a faster and easier moving experience.

At 495 Movers, our local moving team is always ready with helpful advice and custom solutions to help our customers plan their relocations during the holiday season or at any other time. Here are some great tips for people that plan on moving over the most wonderful time of the year to make your next move a success.

Avoid Busy Travel Dates

For the most part, moving over the holiday season can be a lot quieter than moving during other times of the year. With kids out of school, young adults home from college, and people off of work, the streets can be clear on most days and traffic at an all-time low.

However, there are certain dates you’ll need to avoid, especially for long-distance moving. Holiday traffic can be horrendous, and you won’t want to get stuck for hours on the freeway during relocation. Weekends can be difficult for moving as well, with people out shopping and traveling to see relatives. Check with your movers to learn which dates they recommend for relocating, and which dates they have available to help you move.

In general, it’s a good idea to avoid the following dates for your move:

  • The Saturday before Christmas Day
  • The Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday)
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
  • Holiday Weekends
  • Finding a Great Price

Moving over the holidays can mean saving a great deal of money—if you plan ahead and take the time to find a good deal. This means starting early and shopping around if you can. Most moving companies will offer the best rates in the middle of the week, so try to plan ahead for those dates. If you’re renting a truck for a DIY move, avoid planning your relocation on the dates listed above to keep from wasting time and money on traffic jams and congested roads.

If you’re planning a last-minute move or the moving dates you want are unavailable, consider using a storage company to hold your belongings until after the holiday rush is over. A reputable moving company that offers storage options can help you understand the benefits of their services and how to coordinate them into your plan to save money.

Sell and Donate Unwanted Items

As early as you can, start streamlining your belongings by removing items you don’t want or need. The holiday season is a fantastic time to sell your things on garage sale apps like LetGo, PoshMark, and OfferUp. You can also use Ebay, Craigslist, or Facebook to list items, too. If you’re trying to get rid of a lot of random items, consider having a garage sale on a weekend.

Anything you can’t sell, consider donating to a charity organization like Goodwill or the Salvation Army or a charity food, clothing, or toy drive. The holiday season is a great time for giving—and there’s no better way to get rid of old toys, clothes, books, and other items than by giving them to people in need.

Winter Weather Woes

One of the biggest drawbacks of winter moving is dealing with the weather—especially for people moving on the East Coast. If the weather makes moving too dangerous, it’s not worth the risk. Ask your moving company or moving truck rental company what their policies are for cancellations due to weather issues. Chances are, you’ll be able to reschedule, but see if this is an option just to be sure.

If the weather is just good enough for completing your move, make sure to play it safe. Wear the correct clothing for cold weather moving, practice safe driving on the roads, put chains on the tires, wear boots in snowy conditions, and keep a snow shovel handy for shoveling off of driveways. Moving in rainy or snowy weather can make walkways and driveways slippery, so play it safe and do everything you can to prevent a fall or other injury.

Be Aware of Crime Statistics

Around the holidays, criminals can get desperate—and crime usually spikes up in most areas. One of the worst things that can happen is packing up all of your belongings and having them stolen off of your property, so make sure to play it safe during your move by keeping your doors locked and security system activated.

Also, you should be aware of fake moving companies and the scams they run over the holidays and at other times of the year. Scam artists lure customers in with impossibly low rates for moving services and then rob them or hold their items hostage for “last-minute expenses” and higher fees. Another way they dupe people is by asking for hefty down payments from them in advance—and then fail to show up on the agreed-upon date.

Don’t fall victim to a moving scam and be sure to hire a reputable moving company like 495 Movers. A reputable moving company will be highly rated by organizations like the BBB and Angie’s List. It will also have a long track record of satisfied customers, an established website, and plenty of rave reviews online.

Moving Over the Holidays? Sign Up for a Free Quote Today!

At 495 Movers, we’re proud to serve our customers with everything they need for an affordable, efficient, and enjoyable relocation. If you’re planning a residential or commercial moving project over the holiday season and want a stress-free, no-hassle experience, our team of professional and licensed movers can help.

For more information about our outstanding services and award-winning moving solutions, give our team a call today to speak with a representative. Or, if you’d like to begin planning your relocation with us right away, sign up for a free, in-home estimate by filling out our online form.