Helpful Tips for Planning Your Fall Move

Clear Fallen Leaves

​Fall foliage is fantastic to look at. Regions like New England are prime tourism locations when summer ends as a result. However, once those vivid colors fade, and leaves fall off of the trees, you could be left with a fair amount of troublesome debris. 

Wet leaves on walkways and heavily trafficked areas are huge slipping hazards. Of course, any reputable mover will come prepared, with workers’ compensation insurance. Just because this protects you from liability, does not mean you should test the bounds of this coverage. Lifting heavy items or heavy boxes over cluttered or slippery walkways is incredibly hazardous and becomes a big issue around this time of the year. Clearing them will not only make your moving process smoother but will also improve the look of your home.

Dress Properly for Colder Fall Weather

Professional movers are used to working outside and to dealing with the elements. In the summer season, that means bringing extra water and sunscreen. In the fall, that means dressing in layers, having accessible rain gear, or both. 

Since your doors will likely be open during moving day, you should remember not to pack all of your warm clothes into boxes. For local moves, you should keep one more layer than you think you will need. For long-distance moves, requiring a multi-day road trip, bring one or two more complete outfits than you think you will need. 

Don’t Rush to Book

Just as you should when booking moves during any time of the year, you should field multiple free quotes and full, in-home estimates. Due to lower demand, you should be able to see some lower prices than you would at other, busier times. 

Getting multiple quotes will help ensure that you get the best possible price for your relocation. You should remember that quotes are always free when dealing with reputable movers. After getting a quote, you should never feel pressured to book, and you should never be asked to pay a substantial amount of the estimated cost as a deposit. These are both red flags and could be signs that you’re dealing with a shady company.

Contact Utility Companies Before Moving Into Your New Home 

During the fall and winter months, you will definitely want all utilities accounted for well before actually moving into your new home. Access to electricity, heat, and hot water are obvious essentials that you will need as the weather cools. This should be done at least two or three weeks in advance. Calling up utility companies in your area can be a hassle. If you need to have a technician come to your location, then you may be stuck without an essential resource for days. Don’t make your moving experience any rougher than it needs to be; arrange for this ahead of your relocation.

Avoid the End of the Month

​Due to the way leases typically work, the beginning and end of each month are usually more difficult to schedule moves around than other times. Leases begin and end around the first and last of each month, so moving services of any kind are going to be more difficult to line up for yourself. Moving truck rentals and moving containers book just as quickly as full-service movers do. 

Similarly, you should try to book well in advance if you plan on moving on a weekend. Most people with conventional work schedules try to move on weekends in order to avoid spending vacation days on something as labor-intensive as moving a home. 

Book Your Moving Date with the School Year in Mind

If you have children, you will need to be considerate of their academic schedules. If you’re planning a long-distance move, which requires them to switch schools, then the summer would be ideal. If not, then you might want to schedule your move for a weekend day. Doing this will allow for everyone in the family to more gradually transition to a new living space. It will also give your children (if they’re old enough) more autonomy during the unload to decide how they would like their room and things arranged.