Tag Archives: fall moving tips

Moving Help 20 Hints for Moving in the Fall

20 Hints for Moving in the Fall

Fall is the best time of year to move as the busy and usually costly summer season has come and gone, families looking to relocate before the beginning  of back-to-school are settled in, and the housing market isn’t as intense. Lower prices, lower temps, and lower competition all work in your favor. That said, you’ll still want to plan ahead as much as possible. With changing seasons come different challenges and considerations.  Below are twenty hints for moving in the fall:

.fall moving help

20 Hints for Moving in the Fall

1.  Take Advantage of Lower Moving Costs

Depending on the housing market, moving in the fall is typically much more affordable than summer. Moving companies have cleared the summer rush, gas prices can be lower, and there is more truck/crew availability.

2. Declutter Your Summer Gear

You may have a number of clothing items, swimwear, beach gear, outdoor furniture,  toys, and other seasonal items that just won’t make it to next summer. Instead of packing and moving these items, only to discard them next year, take some time to declutter and items you don’t want to pay to take with you. And, if there are old cold-weather clothing items you or your family have grown out of, consider donating those before the colder weather hits.

3. Rethink Storage

If you live in a climate with challenging seasonal weather, reconsider the benefits of putting some items in storage during your move. This will help clear your moving truck of heavy or bulky items you may not use until late next spring or summer (like outdoor furniture, gardening tools, and barbecues), and can streamline your move by helping you pack everything at once. It will also make move-in that much easier when you arrive.

4. Pack for the Season

While you’re considering bulkier items, don’t forget about clothes and sporting gear that you may not need right away after the move. Pack seasonal items together so you can find them easily later – and make sure you’ve left out all those cold-weather items you’ll need shortly after you settle into your new place, like rain boots and raincoats, snow gear, and snow-removal equipment. If you’ve stored them away, now’s a good time to make sure they’re easy to access and unpack after you’ve arrived.

5. Unpack for the Season

If you’ve stored away crock pots and sandwich presses, large dutch ovens, and other seasonal dishes and service wear, consider talking to your movers about placing them in more accessible locations in your house or apartment upon your arrival. Instead of trudging out to the garage or down to the storage closet to find items you packed away last year, they’ll be in your kitchen or dining room, ready to be put into service for the fall and winter seasons.

6. Setup Utilities in Advance

There’s nothing worse than arriving in a new place during the chilly, wet fall to find you haven’t set up all the proper utilities like electricity and gas. Often times, waits for new accounts can be several days. Not so great when the temperature drops. So be sure you’re clear on what’s required to setup or transfer your accounts, so that you arrive to a warm, bright environment on day 1.

7. Put Down Plastic During Your Move

When both moving in and moving out during the fall, the potential to track in wet leaves, dirt, and mud increase. You want to get back your security deposit, or at least ensure your post move-out cleanup doesn’t involve plastering holds in the walls of your apartment or steam-cleaning rugs. So buy plastic painter’s sheeting, or cut open large black trash bags and tape to entryways and other pathways where movers and friends will be coming and going. When you arrive at your destination, be sure the movers wait for you to lay down more plastic before unloading your items.

8. Keep a Broom Handy

During the fall, no matter your preparation, you’re going to track in a lot of leaves and dirt. Have a broom, paper towels, and sponge mops ready so you can clean as you go. This will ease the post-move cleanup, and help to avoid tracking materials into and out of your moving truck, onto your furniture and boxes, and into your new home or apartment.

Fall Moving Tips
Fall Moving Tips

9. Clear Outdoor Pathways

Despite your precautions for protecting your existing and new home or apartment, you should take extra steps to clear the outdoor paths to and from the moving truck to avoid dangerous situations. Sweep away leaves and shallow puddles with a stiff broom, and put down flat pieces of cardboard in any particularly wet, muddy, or slick spots.  Another helpful fall moving tip requires cleaning while you go can help keep your place tidy and can also help avoid injuries you might sustain while carrying heavy items to and from your place.

 

10. And an Umbrella for that Matter

Rain is the worst for moves. There’s simply no avoiding taking your things outside into the weather to load them into the truck. So be sure you have an ample supply of umbrellas and other plastic covering to keep furniture, upholstery, and boxes dry as they’re loaded into and out of the truck. Wet boxes can break or mold—especially if headed for prolonged storage. And it’s just no fun starting out in your new place with a wet couch.

11. Dress Appropriately

We know, you’re probably used to the tried-and-true moving uniform: running shoes, shorts, and old T-shirt and a baseball cap. But during the fall you’re going to have to plan ahead or colder, and potentially wet weather. Be sure you’re wearing shoes with good traction, have a hooded rain jacket on hand, and that you’ve considered layers so you can dress up or down depending on temperature fluctuations, and how challenging your move becomes.

12. Sell Your Stuff

Start early on your vending efforts to maximize profits. Personally, we’re fans of services that allow you to make money from the comfort of your own couch (who isn’t?).

And, of course, there’s always the classic standby: Craigslist and Nextdoor.com

13. Get creative with how you transport heavy items

Heavy items are one of the main reasons people hire expensive help on moving day. After all, no one wants to throw out their back while lugging an outdated stereo system down the stairs. But trust us, with a couple of hacks, you’ll be able to keep your cash and your back.

Let’s talk about books. Your expansive, curated literary collection is impressive when it’s up in shelves; on moving day, it’s just a pain. Rather than tossing those tons in boxes, pack them in a rolling suitcase, and voila: a portable library.

Think creatively with other heavy items, such as furniture. Remove any attached parts, like legs and drawers, to make the bulk significantly lighter. And always place a piece of cardboard under a heavy item to prevent scratches on the floor. Finally, push instead of pulling -– it’s easier on your body.

14. Hire Movers You Can Trust

Moving Help
Fall Moving Help

Find Google Guaranteed Movers – they have to be licensed, insured, have an actual brick and mortar location and have high insurance.  We recommend Monster Movers serving the following states: MA, RI, NH, ME, VT, PA, DE, NJ, NY, VA, DC, SC, NC, FL, GA, TN, MN, CO, CA, OH, MI,

15. “Save the date”…  for your move

We know, we know – it’s moving day, not your wedding day. But go ahead and get into that planning mentality anyway: Pick the date and time you want to move well in advance, and you could end up saving a ton of cash. Moving in October, November or December moving both mid-month and mid-week will save you the most money as every moving service from storage to moving trucks and full-service movers – is cheaper in the middle of the month.

16. Get the weight  of every item you’re contemplating moving  

help moving
help moving

Finding out how much your furniture weighs in key to getting a guaranteed quote – find a moving calculator here.

If those two boxes of kitchen supplies are all that’s standing between you and a smaller, significantly cheaper storage unit or moving truck, it might be time to implement some tough love.This is where decluttering and a minimalist living approach to your home come in handy – the less stuff you have to move, the all-around cheaper your move will be.Are you still paying for single-use, flimsy cardboard moving boxes? There are so many moving box alternatives, ranging from delivered-to-your-door box rentals to recycled wine crates or banana boxes

When it comes time to wipe down your old apartment, instead of picking up new cleaner, use what you already have. A half-empty bottle of vinegar, a past-ripe lemon, and some old rags may be all you need for a through ceiling-to-floor clean.

17. Got pets or kids? Leave them with a friend while you move

As for kids, your move is exactly the time you should call in a favor with your family. As lovable as they are, kids and pets can cause damage during a move and make the move take longer as movers aka. friends you’ve bribed have to negotiate around them as they run around during moving.

move help
move help

18.Moving out-of-state? Find a Private, Flat Rate Moving Company

Using a private, flat rate moving company that won’t swap, sell or unload your shipment is crucial to avoiding damage, missing items or  pricing that drastically changes.

19.  Check Your Personal Vehicles

While this isn’t necessarily related to your move, relocation is a good reminder to do those things you’ve been putting off throughout the year. While there’s a lot you can do online, some things, like your car, require professional support. So take your ride for service to ensure it’s running and in good shape prior to the colder, wetter seasons.

20. Keep Personal Items with You

You should keep personal papers, social security card and other irreplaceable items with you in a suitcase.