One of the key factors in having a smooth move is when you choose to move.
Why? Because it can affect the:
- Availability of your Mover
- Price of your move
- Quality of service
To prove my point, here is some data from the AMSA’s (American Moving & Storage Association) Industry Trends, a quarterly report on data in the moving industry.
Copyright AMSA 20091
Notice that big hump in the middle of the graph from June through August? That’s moving season. The percentage of moves in a year occurring in any given summer month peaks around 11% – 13%, compared to 8% or less for other months. The AMSA also had data on the percentage of moves in a year, broken down by weeks. Sure enough, every week that contained the last days of the month saw a jump in percentages of moves.
The takeaway here is that if you have the flexibility, avoid moving during the middle of the summer and at the end of the month. The further away from mid-summer / end of the month you can schedule your move, the better off you will be.
Reasons:
1. Availability of your Mover
The summer months are when moving companies make their money, so it’s a busy time for them. If you’re moving during the summer, you should contact moving companies early on (at least 2 months in advance) to ensure you can get in their books. As is with anything, the best ones will fill up first.
2. Price of your move
If you can avoid the peak season, the tariffs (the rates that moving companies base the cost of your move on) are actually lower, so you can save lots of money on your move.
3. Quality of service
Even the best moving companies come under pressure to perform when the season gets busy. Moving companies can overbook and have to scramble to find a truck and crew to service your move, or a tight schedule of back to back moves can be easily thrown off by a customer not being ready or other unforeseen events. Drivers and crew members are also tired from working long hours, and that could mean an increased chance of damage to your goods.
While we’re rapidly approaching mid-summer, don’t despair if you are moving during peak season this year. Simply knowing about the issues above means you can plan ahead – and good planning will go a long way in keeping your move smooth and problem-free.
1Resources:
AMSA Industry Trends
I just came across your post – very useful information. It’s amazing how many people are still clueless about the seasonality of the moving industry. Some want to move in August and expect that their shipment will reach the east coast from the west coast in just a couple of days.