The holidays are a time for festivity, joy, and good cheer – not moving anxieties and arduous relocation tasks. Yet, sometimes it may be necessary to move during the holiday season and greet the New Year in a new home.
As overwhelming and disheartening as this prospect may seem to be, a holiday relocation does not necessarily have to kill the joy of the season – you can organize and execute a house move during “the most wonderful time of the year “and still have wonderful holidays. You just need to be well prepared and plan everything in great detail.
So, if you happen to have a moving calendar hanging next to your Christmas Advent calendar, you need a smart moving strategy that will allow you to incorporate the holiday cheer into your moving preparations.
Here are a few insightful holiday moving tips to help you achieve this feat:
Save up
Moving isn’t cheap and neither is the holiday season – buying gifts, decorations, and fancy food, and paying travel costs and other typical holiday expenses can easily drain your budget without the added costs of a house move. When you factor in the price of packing materials, moving help, security deposits, travel expenses and other moving related costs, your finances may get stretched tighter than Santa’s belt.
In order to avoid financial problems when moving during the holidays, you need to start setting money aside months ahead of time. Save up as much as you can, create a dependable moving budget, and find efficient ways to cut down on moving costs – when you don’t need to worry about money, your holiday move will be a much merrier one (and you won’t have to skimp on holiday fun, either).
Bonus tip: Get holidays gifts well in advance – not only will you be short on money around your move date, but you’ll be busy with moving preparations and post-relocation tasks. You won’t have the time and energy to hunt for presents, so it’s a good idea to get shopping out of the way early. Head to the stores in late October or early November, before the gift-buying rush begins. Or even better – order gifts online and have them delivered directly to your new address a couple of days after move-in day. Then, you’ll only need to wrap them up when the time comes.
Find holiday movers
The first thing to do when planning a holiday move is to find a moving company that can suit your relocation needs and preferences.
Moving services are in high demand during the holidays as moving rates are usually lower in the winter and many people find it convenient to move around Christmas when they can easily take time off work and kids have a break from school. Yet, movers have holiday commitments too and may not be available 24/7.
It is, therefore, very important to book a reliable mover as early as possible – fill in a moving quote to get in contact with several reputable relocation companies, request in-house estimates of your moving costs, discuss your needs and requirements with the moving company representatives, compare their offers, research them to make sure you’re dealing with licensed, insured, experienced, and trustworthy professionals, and choose the best movers for you.
Related: How to make sure my movers are qualified; How to avoid moving scams
Book the services of your preferred moving company as soon as you make your choice – this way, you’ll ensure that you’ll be able to move on your desired date and your holiday relocation will be handled by reliable and knowledgeable moving specialists.
See also: How far in advance to book movers
Schedule your holiday move wisely
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, so it may be a bit difficult to plan and coordinate your move around everyone’s hectic holiday schedule. You need to consider all the relevant factors and organize things well in advance:
Timing
Figuring out the best day to relocate can be very tricky when moving during the holiday season – you need to plan your move around important holiday events, coordinate your relocation schedule with everyone involved in the move (not only your chosen movers, but also utility companies, storage facilities, and other service providers), avoid the crowds, etc.
So, when deciding on a moving day during the holiday season, keep in mind that:
- Moving in mid-week will cost you less than moving on a holiday weekend;
- If you have school-aged children, it might be best to move during the winter break when it will be easier for your little ones to switch schools. Just make sure their school records are transferred to the new school securely and on time;
- Any friends and family members who will be assisting you with your move need to be informed of your relocation plans far in advance;
- Traffic will be heavier than usual during the holiday season, as roads will fill up with holiday shoppers and travelers heading to visit friends and family for the holidays – it’s advisable to avoid moving on the busiest shopping days (“Black Friday” – the Friday after Thanksgiving and “Super Saturday” – the Saturday before Christmas) and travel times (the days immediately before and after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year) of the year;
- Holiday parades and other special events in either your current city or the city you’re moving to can seriously delay your move;
- Many companies close for the holidays or work limited hours during the festive season.
See also: When is the best time to move house
Planning your move well ahead of time will eliminate possible scheduling conflicts that can lead to delays and extra stress during your relocation.
New address concerns
You want Santa to be able to find you at your new address, so you’re advised to:
- Change your address with the USPS a couple of weeks before the move;
- Create personalized holiday moving announcement cards to send to friends and relatives – send your holiday cards early and include your new address information so that they double as moving announcements.
Related: Who to notify when moving
Pack with the holidays in mind
Different types of moves come with their own specifics, but they all have one thing in common – no matter if you’re moving across town, across the country, or across the globe, you need to pack your belongings for moving. However, even the packing process is different when moving during the holiday season:
- Donate the items you’re not going to take with you – Selling unwanted items before your move may be the more profitable option, but donating is the more appropriate thing to do during the holiday season. Besides, the holidays mark the end of the tax year, so these donations may save you some money after all;
- Ask family and friends to help you pack – Your friends and family members will have more free time during the holidays and will be able (and much more willing) to come over and lend you a hand. Your packing will get done quickly and you’ll have a chance to spend some more time together during the holidays;
- Play holiday music while packing to create a festive atmosphere;
- Prioritize the holidays when packing — Think about what you’ll need for the season (holiday decorations, holiday clothing, baking supplies, etc.) and pack those items separately from the ones you won’t use until after the holidays. Label the boxes properly so you know which of them contain your holiday treasures and can unpack them as soon as you arrive at your new home. If you already bought some gifts, pack them together with wrapping materials to make it easier to prepare presents after the move;
- If you have children, make sure you include age-appropriate holiday coloring books, puzzles, and games in your essentials box, so that your little ones can engage in holiday-related activities throughout the moving process;
- Be sure to protect your items from the cold if moving to or from a northern part of the country where temperatures tend to be low during the holiday season;
- Hire professional packers to take care of your belongings and free yourself some time, so you can enjoy the festive season and prepare for the holidays without worrying about packing.
See also: Packing tips and tricks for a safe and trouble-free move
Mind the weather
Moving during the holidays means moving during the winter – and depending on where you live and where you’re moving to, winter weather may pose quite a challenge for your relocation.
In the North and Midwest, the weather can take a turn for the worst in a matter of hours during the winter – heavy snowfall and blizzards can block roads for days, making it impossible to perform a house move in the area; sub-zero temperatures can damage delicate items and pose health threats; etc.
To make your holiday relocation go as smoothly as possible, make sure you:
- Check the weather forecast far in advance to plan your move for a day when the weather is expected to be nice. Check the forecast time and again as moving day approaches – weather prognoses can change several times a day and you need to know if a snowstorm is heading towards your area as soon as possible, so you can prepare for it;
- Prepare your home and your items for winter weather – clear the snow from walkways and driveways, sprinkle salt on paths and steps leading to your house, line floors and high traffic areas with old blankets, towels, and cardboard sheets, pack up your belongings in waterproof plastic bins, add plenty of padding in the moving containers to create better insulation from the cold, wrap larger items in thick moving blankets and plastic wrap, etc.;
- Make sure you have proper supplies and equipment (salt, shovels, warm clothes, etc.) to deal with winter conditions at your new home;
- Call your new utilities companies to make sure the heat and electricity will be turned on in your new home by the time you arrive. (See also: How to transfer utilities when moving)
Keep the holiday spirit alive
Moving or not, it’s holiday season – do not let the relocation process dampen your spirit:
- Maintain your holiday traditions – However stressed and exhausted by the moving process you may be, try not to skip holiday traditions: visit family, make holiday cookies, listen to holiday music, watch holiday movies – just do what you normally do in holiday season;
- Decorate your home – Decorating your old home may feel like a waste of time when you’re moving out of it in a week or so, but if your move date is at the end of December, you probably won’t want to spend the holiday season without any Christmas décor. Just make sure you only put out easy to pack items – a few of your favorite decorations, a holiday wreath, and a small tree will do the trick. The simple, yet charming décor will invite the Christmas spirit to your old home and won’t complicate your move. Once you arrive in your new home, unpack your holiday decorations without delay – adorn the staircase with festive garlands, hang a Christmas wreath on the door, light up the house with Christmas lights and surround yourself with familiar holiday ornaments that remind you of home, beloved people, and happy experiences;
- Don’t host parties – Hosting a holiday party can be a hassle – it involves a lot of cleaning, decorating, and cooking, and you’re unlikely to have the time and energy to deal with all of it during a house move. Have a feast at a restaurant instead or join family and friends in their homes if they wish so;
- Join your new community for the holiday celebrations – You’ll have unique opportunities to meet people and adapt to your new environment at this festive time of the year. Most cities host special events and concerts for the holidays, people are kinder and friendlier around Christmas, the mood is light and cheerful – your transition to your new life will be easier than ever.
All things considered, a holiday move can be merry and bright to fit the season – all you need is a positive attitude and some expert tips for moving during the holidays. Do you agree?
