Spring is a period of renewal, and most people would agree there’s nothing more reinvigorating than spring weather following a long, cold and harsh winter.
It’s little wonder then at a subconscious level, spring feels like an excellent time to rethink our lives and priorities, and tweak what needs tweaking and cut off that which doesn’t suit us anymore.
When it comes to relocating, spring also happens to be one of the busier months of the year, alongside the summer months. While the weather permits, the downside to it is that everyone else is also trying to move during this time.
Competition for rental houses is high (ditto if you’re in the market as a homebuyer) as is the demand for movers at this time of year.
For this reason, moving during springtime has the potential to be stressful, and it’s little wonder a lot of people associate relocating with chaos.
Fortunately, there are tips you can always incorporate into your spring move to ensure it proceeds more swimmingly.
- Book your mover early
Moving companies, as we just alluded to, typically tend to be in high demand during the warmer months. Although peak moving season is usually between the months of May and September (aka summer months, for the most part) the spring months are also another popular season for moving.
That in mind, you’d be wise to book your movers in advance because waiting it out until last minute is going to result in either of two things (or both). One, the reputable movers might be fully booked, or two, the moving rates you’ll get are likely to be steeper than normal.
Neither scenario is ideal, so make sure to avoid the scramble and high rates by booking your preferred mover at least a month (preferably two) in advance.
- Declutter
Spring is a time for new beginnings, and spring cleaning is one of the ways we usually set ourselves up to start life on a clean slate.
If you have a spring move on the cards, this is a good time as any other to double down on the purge. The bonus to paring down on your possessions when moving in spring is – in addition to shedding off old energies – it also leaves you staring at a smaller moving bill as there is less stuff to move.
Some areas to consider for your decluttering project include:
- Old and ill-fitting clothes and shoes
- Worn-out or broken items – from children’s toys to appliances
- Items past their expiration date – food, cosmetics, medicine etc.
- Books that have no sentimental value or you don’t see yourself reading again
- Old cookware etc. etc.
- Host a garage sale
If decluttering helps reduce your moving costs, selling the items that made the cut can earn you some extra funds that can be channeled into your moving kitty.
Organizing a garage sale is one way to attract buyers, but you can always consider the online option by making use of avenues like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to sell belongings that you’ve decided need to go.
- Plan early
The secret to every successful move is proper planning, and that same advice applies in springtime when the moving space is starting to get busy.
This is where your organizational skills will come in handy. In particular, give yourself sufficient time to gather moving supplies and do the packing, the most time-consuming process besides house hunting.
At the heart of it all, you need to have an exhaustive moving checklist to guide you, covering everything including often forgotten aspects like switching utility service providers.
You can find plenty of comprehensive moving checklists online that you can tweak to suit your move.
- Don’t overlook the challenges of moving in spring
Spring is a beautiful time of year full of good vibes.
However, this is also the season when pollen allergies strike. If you experience allergic reactions, don’t forget to keep your meds close by. You might also want to go about your moving business keeping in mind that pollen density tends to be highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Spring fatigue is also a thing. After months of winter dormancy, the need to suddenly get active, coupled with longer days, can lead to spring fatigue, so learn how to manage this to ensure you get your move over the line without experiencing burnout.
Lastly, spring is also a good time to schedule your move if you have a). school-going children and b). you plan to relocate to a different city. By slotting your move into spring break, it allows your child to transition into the new school more seamlessly.
