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Regardless of the season, making a household move is difficult. If your schedule and timeline are flexible, there are multiple factors you should consider when booking your moving date. Don’t forget to make these factors part of your negotiation deal if it’s your current or new employer who wants you to move.

If we had to recommend an ideal time of year, it would be spring or late fall. Why? These are the best times to find professional movers and rental companies that aren’t charging outrageous rates.

Do you think you can manage to complete your move during the week? We suggest this because weekend rates are usually the highest for both truck rental and moving companies. Moving is at its peak in the summer and the first weekend of each month is the most common. Granted, you’ll need to think about all considerations including your spouse, kids, jobs, school, and other factors when choosing a moving date.

Here are some of the most common factors you should think about when picking a moving date:

The school year

If you have children that still live at home, the best thing you can do is work around their school calendar. Summer is the best time because they’ve completed another grade, have said their goodbyes, and are no longer under academic obligations. Careful not to move right after school is over, however, as doing so won’t give your kids enough time to adapt to the idea. Give them time to say their farewells to neighbors and school friends. Try to also allow for a few weeks in your new home so your kids can meet other children and make neighborhood friends before school starts up again.

It might feel like you’re taking away some of their summer fun, but your kids are more likely to be excited about their new school if they’ve already made friends.

As the new school year approaches, create some time where you and your child can see the new school, meet their teachers, and determine the best transportation method so you both feel prepared.

Special events and holidays

Major holidays are less than ideal for moving. Avoid relocating during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Ramadan since the focus should be on spending time with family and friends. Moving on or near birthdays, anniversaries, and other family events can be challenging too. Try to buffer in some time between your move and any major events or holidays so you can get settled into your new home. Doing so will also give you time to make new friends that would love to have you over for the holidays.

The changing of the seasons

The average person would say that summer is the best time to move because kids are out of school, the weather is great, and friends can usually lend a hand. If this is the moving season for you, make sure you do your research on moving company rates and schedules. As we said, most companies have peak times and will charge more, so don’t be afraid to shop around.