The holidays tend to be a hectic period for most of us.
Between attending work parties and school functions, shopping and shopping for presents, sorting all the decorations, and probably planning a vacation, it can feel like you’re trying to beat the clock in your bid to tick all the checkboxes so everything goes according to plan.
While Covid-19 might have forced us to tone things down a bit, the holidays are well, the holidays, and there is always bound to be more activity than usual.
But what happens when you happen to be moving during the holidays? Is it possible to pull off such a gargantuan task and still enjoy your festivities?
Well, by incorporating some tips into your move, there is no reason why you cannot salvage your festive season.
Timing is everything
The holidays may not fall squarely in the middle of peak moving season, but it doesn’t mean moving companies are readily available.
Thing is, movers are people with families and have their own holiday commitments too. Obviously, you’ll always find movers working during this time of year, but the options are a bit limited than you otherwise would be used to.
For this reason, it is imperative that you book a reliable local moving company – or interstate mover if you’re moving long-distance – in advance to avoid last-minute frustrations (and bumped up charges).
Speaking of cost, it’s also important to remember that holiday moving does cost more than non-holiday moving.
Even if you’re moving DIY, there are things you need to plan for in advance. For one, traffic is usually a concern at this time of year – such a big concern in fact, that the US Department of Transportation says the busiest travel time of the year is between Thanksgiving and New Year.
That said, if you’re flexible, you might want to avoid the actual days of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
Budget considerations to think about
Normally, it is best practice to set aside a moving budget to work with.
But it can be difficult to stay on budget during the holidays when there is a lot of gift buying to do, which can add to the financial strain when you already have moving costs to contend with.
And even if you don’t plan to splash on any holiday purchases, as we said, moving during the festive period can be more expensive than normal.
So, if you plan to use a moving company, remember that you stand a better chance of saving money when you move in midweek. Most movers tend to be short-staffed on holiday weekends.
You can also consider alternative relocation options like rental trucks – or if you have friends or family to help, then your wallet should be in a happy place.
Do your packing early
Packing early is one of the best things you can do when moving, holidays or no holidays. But it takes even more significance during the festive period because of the heavy item list on your to-do.
Thus, if you know you have a move on the cards that falls during the holiday season, plan to do your packing early to avoid putting a damper on things when everyone else is busy having a good time.
Obviously, moving during the festive means you won’t enjoy a normal holiday, no matter how well prepared you are. But getting your business done early is better than doing it last minute.
While you’re at it, make sure the holiday décor is conveniently packed so you don’t have a hard time putting it up when you get to your new digs.
Family concerns
Moving during the Christmas period means uprooting your children in the middle of the school year.
Good thing is, most schools have a holiday vacation at this time. But make sure to contact the current school to ensure smooth transfer of your kids’ school records and important documents – report cards and transcripts, immunization records etc.
Don’t forget safety
Not just safety on the road, although that too is vital.
About 400,000 burglaries happen during the months of November and December, according to SafeWise reports per the FBI.
Nobody wants a break-in on Christmas, so to curb the likelihood of this happening, it’s recommended to do your business under the radar.
Make sure your security systems are up and running before or right after moving in. Arrange with the security systems provider weeks in advance to have any installations or fixings done.