Summer often feels like the perfect time for a move. The weather is sunny and warm. The kids are out of school. And the vacation time is blocked off in your calendar. You couldn’t ask for a more convenient season to ease into a major life transition, right?
This convenience factor is why most folks relocate during the peak months of May to August. But keep in mind: summer moving is about 20–30 percent more expensive than any other time of year. Due to high demand, it can also be tough to find professional movers that aren’t booked up in the summer. Combine these logistical issues with hot temperatures and rainstorms, and there’s a lot to consider before you hit the road, whether you’re moving across town or moving cross-country.
Fortunately, this comprehensive list of summer moving tips will make it easier to plan ahead for a safe, efficient, and hassle-free process. From locking down the movers to surviving the heat and accounting for the seasonal traffic, this guide will cover the ins and outs of what you need to know about moving in the summer.
14 Summer Moving Tips for a Successful Transition
As we’ve established, summer moves can be hectic and expensive, but no need to sweat it because we’re in your corner. Here are 14 practical summer moving tips for a seamless transition into your next chapter—whether it’s in a new city or across the whole country.
Summer Moving Tips: Before Moving Day
1) Book the moving company well in advance
Summer is the peak moving season, which means it’s also the busiest time of year for moving companies. Once you gather some price quotes and narrow down the movers you want to hire, book them as soon as possible — ideally, 3–4 four months in advance. The longer you wait, the less available moving dates and companies you’ll have to choose from.
2) Don’t plan the move on a holiday weekend
If at all possible, avoid relocating over a holiday weekend such as Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. Street parades, traffic congestion, road closures or re-routes, and other logistical factors on these occasions can make moving in the summer extra challenging.
3) Coordinate all the utilities at your new home
Nothing dampens the relief of arriving at your final destination, only to find there’s no A/C waiting for you. So, before leaving your old home, contact all utility providers to confirm when you need the air conditioning, electricity, and water turned on at your new home, and have them activate services at least a day early just in case.
4) Monitor the weather leading up to the move
As your move gets closer, keep an eye on the weather forecast for potential rain showers and high UV indexes. This will help you determine when to start moving, so you can avoid intense heat—or reschedule the move for another day if it’ll be raining too much.
Summer Moving Tips: On Moving Day
5) Dress comfortably for the seasonal heat
Put on sunscreen and dress in lightweight, breathable clothing (like moisture-wicking T-shirts and athletic shorts or pants). Wear a hat and sunglasses to shield your face and have non-slip gloves accessible in case your hands sweat. Re-apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of skin every 2–3 hours or so as necessary.
6) Gather essentials on-hand for your movers
Set aside sunscreen, cooling towels, electrolyte packets, snacks, and a cooler for water and other hydrating drinks for all the movers and anyone else helping load the truck.
7) Start loading the truck as early as possible
Schedule the movers to arrive as early in the morning as possible, so they can take care of the most labor-intensive parts—such as loading heavy furniture—before the hottest temperatures roll in. Then, everyone can pause for a break when the heat is most intense and resume in the late afternoon. After all, summer moving allows for more hours of daylight.
8) Designate a room for everyone to cool off
Have a “cool room” available with cool neck towels and a portable fan that anyone can use after being outside in the sun. Both physical exertion and hot temperatures can increase the risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion, so it’s vital to be sure everyone (including you) drinks plenty of water and takes regular breaks. If you’re not sure how to tell if someone could be overheating or dehydrated, here are the most common symptoms to know about:
Headache
Faintness or dizziness
Disorientation
Slowness or fatigue
Rapid heartbeat
Flushed or parched skin
Dry mouth or tongue
Infrequent urination
Sunken eyes or cheeks
Shallow breathing
Loss of consciousness
Irritability
9) Set up at least one portable fan outside
Have a portable fan set up somewhere along the path from your house to the truck. This will help cool the movers down as they load up boxes and furniture. If possible, invest in a cordless battery-powered fan—or position it near an outdoor extension cord.
10) Pack heat-sensitive items inside your car
Transport any electronics, houseplants, and other heat-sensitive items in your car instead of the moving truck. Be sure to water all plants the day before moving, then wait until the last minute before you leave to place them in the car, so they won’t be exposed to the heat indefinitely. Or if it’s a local move, take your plants to their new home ahead of time.
Summer Moving Tips: After Moving Day
11) Ensure the utilities work at your new home
Upon arrival at your new home, check the air conditioning, electricity, and water to ensure all utilities are in optimal working order. If you notice a malfunction, contact the provider right away to schedule an inspection and take care of necessary repairs.
12) Unload all heat-sensitive items immediately
Moving in the summer will expose your items to at least some high temperatures—there’s just no way around it. But you can minimize that exposure by unloading the most heat-sensitive items first, such as electronics and houseplants. Get them inside as soon as you arrive at the final destination, and turn on the ceiling fans for more ventilation.
13) Bring a portable fan to cool down the entrance
Travel with a portable fan in your car to place at the front entrance of your new home. This will help draw hot air out of the house to cool it down quicker. You can also set up a fan outside for when the moving company arrives and starts unloading the truck.
Navigate Peak Moving Season with Colonial Van Lines
Need help moving in the summer? With over 50 years of experience in long-distance relocation, Colonial Van Lines understands how to navigate the ins and outs of moving in any season. Our team of expert, highly trained movers can handle all the logistics from start to finish, ensuring a safe and smooth arrival to your new home—no matter how hot it is outside. Contact us for a free quote, and let’s get a head-start on your summer moving plans!