Choosing the right time to move is very important. Moving at an improper time can not only cost you a lot of money but also your nerves and sanity. And let’s be honest, nerves and sanity have been a lot harder to keep in good condition these last couple of years than wallets. Unfortunately, deciding when to move can be hard. Both moving and time are quite complex. Put them together and even time lords like Ronald Mallet and Doctor Who would be pulling their hair out. Ha-ha very funny. But all jokes aside, at Verified Movers we are well aware that picking a date for moving isn’t really as easy as just throwing a dart at a calendar and rolling with it. But is there “the best” time to move? If yes, then what would be considered the most popular time to move? And if there even is such a thing, should you be the one to move at that time? Let’s find out!
Why is the “most popular” time to move so popular after all?
Moving is usually very hard. Even if you’re moving down the street with top movers in Dallas, you’ll still have to do a bunch of things and take care of seemingly endless tasks. All that can be very taxing. That’s why most people try to make moving as comfortable and as easy as possible by choosing options that make it so. Choosing reliable movers is one of the ways to ensure your move goes by without much fuss. But that’s not really the only way to make moving smoother. Choosing the right time to move can also significantly impact your moving experience! How so? Just imagine how tough moving in heavy snow and cold would be compared to moving during a lovely spring day and you’ll have your answer.
Figuring out what the most popular time to move actually is can be hard!
That said, there are a few more factors that contribute to determining the most popular times for moving. For example, many people moving from Miami to Chicago often do so when their leases end. That means that particular times of the month will be more popular than others. Also, the way our society works, it’s also more likely that it would be much easier for people to move during certain parts of the week. All this sounds very logical and intuitive when you think about it. But does this really match the reality? Luckily we have statistics to prove (or, well, disprove) our hypothesis. So without further ado, let’s dive headfirst into some real, concrete numbers and see what’s actually going on.
Some seasons are more popular for moving than the rest
One of the biggest, and most popular factors that play a significant role in choosing the right time to move is obviously a season. Seasons are clearly tied to the weather. The weather can impact your moving experience in many ways. That’s why most people choose seasons with tame weather for moving – most commonly summer. Naturally, people move all year round, but for most people in the US, summer is the absolute best option for moving from NYC to Dallas or from wherever to wherever, really. Roughly 60% of moves occur when the weather is nice, i.e. late spring, summer, and early autumn. But what do the numbers say, when do relocations mostly take place?
Obviously, the summer is the busiest season for moving. But it’s also important to keep in mind that top movers in Chicago, as well as movers from other US cities, have a ton of work even before or after those times. The moving percentages have pretty much the distribution of a bell curve. That can clearly be seen in a further breakdown of percentages per month.
It’s also important to note that yet another reason for summer being one of the most popular times for moving is vacations. Many people can only manage to take days off during summer and around Christmas. And who wants to move before or after Christmas with all that’s already going on around that time?
Not every part of the month is the same for sure
The differences between the seasons might seem logical. But why would there ever be a difference between the beginning of the month, the end of the month, and the middle of the month? And is there even the most popular time of the month for moving? You should know that there absolutely is. The beginning of the month is the most popular time for moving by a long shot. However, a good amount of people choose the end of the month rather than the beginning of the month. Mid-month is not that popular for moving at all, though. Here is what the numbers have to say on this:
Obviously, the beginning of the month is most common for moving among US residents moving from Nevada to California, as well as to and from all other states and cities. And if you need any more proof, in 2020, the day with most moves was June 1st, with August 1st following close behind. This just proves that both summer, as well as the beginning of the month, are most popular for moving in the US. Here are the months with most moves in 2020:
Why do people choose the beginning of the month over the rest of the month?
Well, the biggest reason is obviously leases. Most leases end at the end of the month. Because of that, most people require moving at the beginning of the following month. Some even have nowhere to stay and absolutely have to move on the 1st. And that’s exactly why June and August the 1st were both very popular for moving in 2020.
Great, this explains why the beginning of the month is really popular but it doesn’t really say a lot about why the end of the month is second best. Well, many people choose to pay full rent but vacate the premises a few days earlier. Of course, for that to be the case, the new home must be available for move-in before the 1st. People love to choose this option especially if they’re starting a new job next month. That way they’re able to settle in before they start their work on the 1st. And, they’re not losing too much money since they’re just paying for a few extra days and not weeks’ worth of unused space.
One of the main reasons people often move at the beginning of the month is that most leases end at the end of the month.
Choosing when to move during a week is often not a personal preference
After choosing the right season, as well as the right week of the month, it’s time to choose the part of the week that’s best for you to move. Of course, different people have different preferences. Some will, for example, if they can afford to, choose to move on Monday since they’re much fresher after the weekend. While others would prefer to complete their move at the end of the work week so they can use the weekend to relax and recharge for the next week.
However, not everyone can just take time off to move. Many people must do with what they can afford. For most people, that often means weekend. Most people can manage to get Friday off, though. Because of that, most moves happen on Friday through Saturday. Surprisingly, not many people like to move on Sunday. That said, not all movers work on Sundays either. That’s why Sunday is the least popular day for moving. But if you’re planning to move soon, you likely want a bit more info than that. If you’re interested in the exact numbers per weekday here are they:
A time of day also plays a significant role in moving
Making sure you choose optimal everything for your move is very important. That includes, of course, time of day, as well. Even though most of us like to sleep in and would never get up before 10 am if it were possible when it comes to moving, the earlier the start the better. The early bird gets the worm is pretty much spot on when it comes to moving. Especially if you’re moving in summer to or within a state that gets quite warm. In that case, starting early can save you from moving in the horrible heat.
However, even if you’re moving in April, on a perfect day for moving, starting early can still be an advantage. Who knows what might go wrong and how much your moving day would have to be extended. But even if everything goes perfectly, it’s better to start early. That’s why most people choose to move early. The exact percentage is not known. However, it’s speculated that about 70% of people move between 8 am and 10 am, or at least start their moves around those times. So if you were wondering what the most popular time of day for moving is, it’s absolutely between 8 and 10 in the morning.
The best time for moving is early in the morning.
What does moving during the most popular time for moving actually entail?
One word – expensive! If you were hoping to have an affordable move on Saturday, June 1st at 9 am, you might as well give up now. Moving in itself can be ridiculously expensive. And if you were wondering how can you deduct moving expenses, well you can’t. Since not too long ago it’s no longer possible to deduct moving expenses. Just that in itself is enough to make moving a lot more expensive. Then if you choose an in-season, weekend date, you might have to sell a kidney to afford a move. Sure, moving a tiny flat down the street might not be all that expensive. However, if you’re moving a family of 5 from one gigantic house to another massive house all the way across the country, you might as well get a second job right now.
But just how much more expensive is in-season moving. Well, the research shows that you can expect a markup anywhere between 20% and 30%. That might not seem like much but if your baseline cost for moving is high, such an increase can be a lot. And that’s not the only thing you should be mindful of. Moving at the beginning of the month can be 15% to 20% more expensive than moving during the other parts of the month. So if you’re not looking to spend much it’s important to keep in mind what times are most popular for moving.
Should you move during the most popular time to move then?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best time to move will certainly depend mostly on your preferences as well as your schedule. But, if money is your biggest concern, you should probably stay clear of moving during the above-mentioned times. Of course, there’s a reason why the “popular” times for moving are actually popular. Still, if you’re tight on money and having to budget for your move to the very last cent, you might want to consider choosing a date and time of day, week, and month that aren’t in that high of a demand.
Just because a certain date is one of the most popular times to move that doesn’t mean you should choose it for your move!
The most popular time to move might not be the best time to move for you
As mentioned before, the most popular time to move is popular for a reason. As you can clearly see, there are also various reasons why that is. However, as with anything else in life, you shouldn’t follow trends blindly. Mid-June might be in the midst of the high season for moving, but it might not be the best time to move for you. That said, to choose the best time to move for yourself it’s important to have enough knowledge on the matter. Luckily, we’ve made said knowledge very simple and easy to digest. And we hope that after reading this, you’ll be able to choose a time for moving with confidence, be it “popular” or not.