If you’re getting ready to plan a summer move, you’re not alone. Experts estimate that 60%-80% of all relocations in the United States occur between April and September. Clearly, lots of people believe summer is the best time to move.
Although there’s some truth to that opinion — especially if you have school-age children — relocating during peak moving season comes with its own set of challenges. Booked-out moving companies, heavy traffic, and intense heat can make a summer relocation difficult and even dangerous, depending on how well you prepare.
What do you need to know to plan a safe and successful relocation? Our residential movers at Ace Moving & Warehousing in Minneapolis share a few valuable tips below.
Book Your Moving Company as Early as Possible
Because summer is peak moving season, professional movers and packers can book up several weeks or even months in advance. If you want to secure your preferred move dates on a reputable moving company’s schedule, start vetting companies and pricing out your options as early as possible.
Ideally, you should book moving services about 90 days in advance of your move date, but you can do it earlier if you want. Things you’ll want to look for in a moving company include:
● A track record of high-quality service
● Positive reviews from previous clients
● Licensing and insurance
● Rate transparency
● An array of moving services that meet your needs
● Detailed moving and/or packing estimates
● Trust signals, such as a listing, rating, and reviews on the BBB, Angie’s List, and other business listing websites
● Affiliation with a reputable van line (at Ace, we’re affiliated with Atlas Van Lines)
Try to Avoid Scheduling Your Move on a Holiday Weekend
If you can, try not to schedule your relocation on the weekend of Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or Labor Day. You’ll likely find there are far fewer moving companies available on those dates, as even residential movers like to kick back and enjoy the holidays with their loved ones.
Furthermore, heavy holiday traffic can seriously slow down your transportation process, especially when you live in a densely populated metro area like Minneapolis or St. Paul. Holiday parades can force you to make several detours en route to your new home, and if you need to make multiple back-and-forth trips, you could waste hours.
Cool Down Your New Home Before Move Day
The last thing you need on a sweltering summer moving day is to arrive at your new home to find it’s unbearably hot inside. If you forget to turn on the a/c in your new place before move day, you’ll be in for an uncomfortably sweaty unpacking session that could last hours.
If you’re opting for full packing services, your movers will handle the work for you, but asking them to do physical labor in a sweltering environment really isn’t good etiquette. To avoid this situation, make sure you schedule a transfer of your electric service well in advance of your move day.
Remember to switch on the air conditioning the night before you move to cool the house down. If you’re making a long-distance relocation, crank up the a/c as soon as you arrive at your new home.
Start Moving Early in the Day
Outdoor service professionals start their workday at the crack of dawn to beat the summer heat. Follow their lead when your moving day arrives. When it’s hot and humid outdoors, dehydration and heat exhaustion can set in quickly, especially when you’re getting physical activity. From there, the potential for suffering heatstroke is very real.
Since there’s no shortage of exercise on move day, the best way to protect your well-being (and the well-being of your movers and packers) is to begin moving as early in the day as possible. Aim to start around 8 a.m. or even earlier if your movers can arrive before then.
Wear Appropriate Clothing and Footwear
On moving day, dress appropriately! It’s not a fashion show, so don’t worry about what you look like — worry about what you feel like and your safety. Wear non-slip, closed-toe footwear and socks to prevent blistering.
As far as clothing goes, avoid wearing anything dark since it’ll attract the sun’s rays and cause you to sweat more. Choose a comfortable, light, breathable outfit, preferably something made of cotton or sweat-wicking material.
Don’t wear clothes that are excessively flowy or loose as they may increase your risk for injury. Loose clothing can easily get caught on things during the moving process and cause you to trip, fall, or become stuck. For more ideas on how to maximize the safety of your move, check out our 16 tips for avoiding injuries throughout your relocation.
Take Health Precautions in the Heat
One of the most important things you can do on moving day is to keep plenty of cold water around. Staying hydrated is incredibly important on hot summer days and since you and your movers will be getting plenty of physical activity, you’ll likely be sweating a great deal.
While heat tolerance levels vary from person to person, maintaining adequate hydration is one of the easiest ways to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke from setting in. In addition to drinking plenty of water, you should also understand what the early signs of heat exhaustion look like. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
● Headache
● Nausea
● Flushed skin
● Dizziness
● Increased heart rate
● Muscle cramps and fatigue
● Confusion
Be observant and if you notice anyone’s condition deteriorating, find a cool shady place for them to rest and recover. Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke can overlap, so it may be difficult to determine how serious the situation is. Call a medical professional for advice, and if you’re concerned, take the person to urgent care or the hospital.
Protect Heat-Sensitive Cargo
Just as heat can cause a person’s condition to deteriorate, it can also cause many of your belongings to do the same thing. If you’re working with professional movers and packers, they’ll ensure everything in the moving truck is properly packed and protected from impact. But without air conditioning in the back of the truck, they can’t ensure your belongings won’t suffer from heat-related damage.
If you’re moving any of the following heat-sensitive items, move them in your personal vehicle where you can control the temperature:
● Electronics
● Medications
● Cosmetics and personal care products
● Cleaning supplies
● Cassettes, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, hard drives, and other media storage devices
● Art supplies and candles
● batteries
Some of the above items are classified as non-allowables, which means your moving company can’t transport them in the truck anyway. If you can’t fit all your heat-sensitive cargo in your personal vehicle, have your movers load it onto the truck last so it’s the first thing they unload and bring inside your new house.
Hire Minneapolis Residential Movers for Your Summer Relocation Today
If you’re looking for a Minneapolis moving company you can trust, look no further than our team at Ace Moving & Warehousing. Since 1958, we've provided a comprehensive range of professional moving services for residents throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. From local moving services to long-distance move management and full packing services to climate-controlled storage solutions, we do it all. Check out our reviews to see what our clients have to say!
Ready to get started? Feel free to request a quick moving quote online or give us a call today at 763-755-2045. Questions or concerns? Fill out our contact form with your information, and we’ll be in touch!