THE BEST TIME TO MOVE

How do you know the best time to book your move? With the advent of sites like Expedia, SeatGeek, and other price comparison websites that try and predict the ebbs and flows of pricing of certain products, buyers have become keen to buying at the right time, on the right day. So when is the best time to book your move? What day of the week should you target? How far in advance do you need to book your move? Our moving experts from New Jersey and New York revealed the secrets in this FAQ:

THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO MOVE

Best Time: September-December and January-April

Without a doubt, the busiest months for moving are close to the summer; typically, many families and students have to plan moving around the end or beginning of the school year, May-August. Thus, the packed moving schedule means there could be opportunity to get a deal in the rest of the year, in September-April. It’s easier to accommodate every part of the relocation process, from quote to move, in those off-peak months. If you don’t have the flexibility to pick the time of the year you’re going to move out, there are other ways to optimize your move to get a good deal.

THE BEST TIME OF THE MONTH TO MOVE

Usually, there are not certain dates to seek out if you want to find a good deal; there’s merely dates to avoid. Try to avoid the dates near the beginning and end of the month (29th-3rd), and the very middle (14th-16th). That should be a good amount of the month to aim for.

THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK TO MOVE

Best Day: It Depends

While it depends generally which day of the week you should move on, the consensus seems to be that Wednesday is the day of the week in which a would-be mover is most likely to get a good deal. Mondays and Fridays are usually the busiest days for movers, especially in big cities like Los Angeles and New York where movers need to adhere to building worker guidelines which restrict moves on weekends. 
Weekdays are generally preferable for many moving companies, as they like to give their employees weekends off to spend with their families and other loved ones. Some companies generally have younger employees without families who may be more willing to fill up their schedules with weekend moves. It usually depends on the type of company you’re dealing with.

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD YOU BOOK A MOVER?

Moving costs usually operate with a sort of bell curve when it comes to timing. Reserving a moving date too early can result in losing negotiation leverage and a chance at sealing a deal. Reserving a date too late, when moving companies have fewer spots left to accommodate stragglers, can result in a higher price. 
What’s the sweet spot then? It depends on the time of the year. In the busier May-August months, you’ll likely to need to reserve your moving date at least two weeks in advance to get a reasonable deal. The best deal probably comes somewhere between three weeks and a month in advance, according to our LA & NYC sales representatives. In the off-peak months of September-April, the best deal will probably be just 2 weeks from your moving date. Our L.A. representative Eddie says a good deal in the off-peak months can come as close as one week in advance. When you’re calling into get your moving quote, make sure to do it on Tuesday-Thursday; the office’s busiest days are Monday and Friday, and less staff are available to answer calls on weekends.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO GET THE BEST PRICE?

• Flexibility is the key to a great deal. Be open with your movers on when you have availability to move.
• If you want to make sure your price is accurate, make sure to get an on-site quote, so that a company estimator is responsible for generating a quote for you based on your inventory.
• The earlier you are able to nail down every part of your move that will go into your quote, the easier it will be for you to determine the best time for you to set your moving date and book your move.
• Ask about any active promotions or deals your moving company may offer. You may be able to get an “early bird discount” for booking your move in advance. Other companies offer free tools such as moving boxes or equipment to ease the financial strain of preparing for your moving day.
• Making sure you have all the necessary tools in advance to finish the job on moving day in advance to prevent any price gouging at the last minute. (Tools could include boxes, packing tape/materials, moving blankets, etc.)
• Clarify early in the process about your insurance options.
• For long distance moves, early bookings will help you arrange a faster delivery process.