Moving on a Low Budget? This is the Cheapest Time of Year to Move

August 14, 2022Moving Tips
Blake Shaw

Bostonian and residential moving and packing expert. Blake Shaw enjoys bar-hopping, music, and writing insightful content.

When is the cheapest time of year to move? This is an important question if you want to relocate but feel that your budget is limited. Indeed, relocations demand investments. However, there are many ways to save on moving expenses, and a lot depends on what period of the year and month you choose to hire long-distance movers or a car shipping company.

The Cheapest Time of Year to Move Is During Off-Season

If you are planning on relocating to a new state on a tight relocation budget, the best period is the off-season, and for relocations, that is winter and autumn. To be more precise, if you are looking for the cheapest month to move, that would be December or January. But the months between October and February are generally considered to be more affordable for organizing your move.

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Moving Across the Country Is Cheapest in Winter

Winter is the most affordable period to move to a new city as the demand for relocations and housing is the lowest. Customer reviews state that prices drop by twenty to thirty percent, which is not a small difference. However, there are certain disadvantages that mustn’t be overlooked.

Still, the financial advantages easily outweigh all other disadvantages, especially if you are moving to another state alone. Here are the main reasons to consider booking cross-country movers and moving during the winter months.

Rent and house prices are lower

Due to the fact that fewer people relocate during wintertime, the competition in the housing market is not so intense. Hence, landlords cannot demand high rents, as it is a well-known fact that many apartments are vacated throughout this period, and that is a clear loss for the landlord.

Also, if you are looking to buy real estate, one of the more common house-hunting tips is to do it during wintertime, as lighter competition has the potential to affect real estate prices even more. Most people who are selling are often in a hurry to do so, and negotiating a good price is more likely. Nonetheless, be sure to check websites like Numbeo and see the cost of living of your desired destination.

Moving companies lower their prices

Finding a long-distance moving company during wintertime and agreeing on a schedule is never a problem. Furthermore, since there aren’t many clients in this period, the prices are also lowered for all services. Last-minute relocations are also much easier to perform in wintertime.

Storage rental is less expensive

Fewer relocations mean that there will be less demand for storage services as well. However, no matter what period you choose, one of the things you must consider when relocating is renting a storage unit, as people often cannot relocate all their belongings immediately to the new place.

However, you might have guessed that there are certain reasons why everything is less expensive during a cold month. Here’s what makes winter moving dates more affordable.

Unfavorable weather conditions

Truth be told, packing furniture and other home possessions is much more pleasant on a colder day. However, problems arise with transportation. If you are moving to a colder state, it might not even be possible to do it during wintertime, as there is a chance that roads will become blocked.

Kids go to school

Relocating with kids might be more difficult because they have to go to school, which means that you will have to completely interrupt their semester. This often results in delays, and overall, children tend to perform worse because this change has a lot of psychological pressure.

Work schedules are tight

Wintertime is often the busiest period for all employees. Hence, you will have to negotiate terms with your employer as well. Of course, if you are searching for a job in another state before relocation, then it doesn’t matter what month you choose for relocation.

Holiday celebrations will be disrupted

One of the hardest parts of relocation is saying farewell to your friends and family. On top of that, you will most likely have to spend the holidays alone. But even if you are relocating with your family, the celebrations will be disrupted, and that often intensifies the relocation depression.

You Will Often Hear That a Warm Autumnal Day Is the Best for Booking Movers

Autumn is a specific season for relocations. The prices are definitely lower, but not as in wintertime. However, warm autumnal weather is one the best for relocations. But, on the other hand, rainy weather is not so good as you will have to buy extra packing materials.

Overall, the efficiency of relocation is probably the worst in this type of weather. Of course, all the other downsides we have mentioned for wintertime apply to autumn as well.

USA Auto Transport
Autumn might not be one of the peak seasons and can be good for your overall moving cost

Shipping Cars in the USA Is Less Expensive When the Weather Is Nice

There are many benefits of car shipping. But as opposed to standard moving service, booking a USA auto transport company is usually more expensive when weather conditions are not so good. Shipping a car in winter might demand more money.

That’s because you will probably have to get enclosed auto transport. Because of precipitation, an enclosed trailer is recommended for maximum protection.

On the other hand, open trailer transportation is enough for shipping a car cross country when you are sure that weather conditions will be good. Hence, one of the more useful car shipping tips is to follow the weather forecast. Then determine whether it is safe for your car to be exposed to external elements during transportation.

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You Will Also Need to Choose Between Two Different Delivery Methods

All renowned auto transport companies have two options for delivery – terminal-to-terminal car shipping and door-to-door auto transport. In terms of car shipping costs, the latter service is more expensive, but at the same time more convenient. However, choosing the appropriate service will depend on a number of factors.

If you want to save on relocation costs, definitely choose terminal-to-terminal. However, this might not be the best choice if you are suffering from driving anxiety, as terminals can be located far from your new home, especially if you are relocating to a big city.

Picking the Best Day and Week for Moving Can Also Save You a Lot of Money

One of the common relocating tips is to relocate in the middle of the month if possible. People usually leave the home that they have been renting either at the beginning or end of a month and as a result, relocation companies are the busiest during these periods. Hence, try to book the second or third week, as that is when it will be most likely for movers to accept your desired schedule.

When it comes to days, the weekend is the most expensive for relocations, particularly during the off-season, as most people can’t pick other days because of their jobs. Hence, if you want to save money, you should look to hire movers between Monday and Thursday.

Time of the Day Can Also Affect the Price

Schedules can affect the quote as well. Generally, you will get the most affordable quote for all services in the early morning hours, especially if the relocation is taking place in one of the hotter months. Of course, this all depends on how much it will be needed to perform all the tasks, and it is not unusual for everything to stretch across the entire day. This will not significantly affect the cost, but still, much depends on the company as well.

An open road in the USA
Picking the right moving day will save you some money

Summer Is the Most Expensive Season for Moving, but You Can Reduce Expenses

There is no doubt that summer is the best time to move out for a number of reasons, but the prices also tend to rise during this period. However, it is absolutely possible to save money to move. You just have to know what to do:

  • Downsize for the move – You will be amazed at how much stuff is currently in your possession that has no use. Such items have to be discarded as they will only increase the overall cost of relocation services. You can either donate or sell them.
  • Purchase only the necessary relocating services – After you have created your new apartment checklist, start thinking about what service you need. This is especially important for packing, as all companies separate packing of furniture and other large household items (this service is included in the basic price) and packing of smaller items such as glassware, kitchenware, pots and pans, and such (you have to pay additionally for this service). If you are unsure how to pack different types of items, there are many tutorials available on the internet, and it will definitely be worth the effort.
  • Get used packing materials – If you have decided against hiring long-distance movers, you will have to acquire packing materials by yourself. Although packing paper and bubble wrap must be bought, other equipment, such as boxes and relocation blankets, can be reused. Visit your local storage facilities and ask for used boxes. You will most likely get them for free.
  • Find a roommate – One of the main reasons why people give up on relocating is being unable to find affordable housing. We are aware that this might not be the ideal solution, but there is nothing wrong with finding a roommate until you have found a place for yourself. Being able to split utility expenses means a lot, and houses and apartments that seemed impossible to rent will suddenly become possible with a roommate.
  • Organize a garage sale – We have mentioned that you have to get rid of all the obsolete and unnecessary items, and a garage sale is one of the best ways if you need to earn some money. What is more, garage sales are most successful in summer. Here is a useful video on how to quickly organize a garage sale.
A garage sale sign
A garage sale can be a lucrative venture during summertime

If You Need To, Consider Selling Your House or Apartment in Summer

If you own your home and want to relocate, consider selling it. During the summer months, real estate prices are the highest due to stiff competition. This has the potential to cover all your relocation expenses and enable you to find an ideal home in the new state. However, this is not a small matter, and you have to be serious about it. The wisest thing to do is to hire a trustworthy real estate agent. Here is a useful video if you want to learn more about the real estate selling process.

YouTube video

It Is Perfectly Fine to Relocate on a Lower Budget

There is no denying that having financial security is a major advantage when relocating. However, as you can see, with the right approach, relocation expenses can be limited. Patiently search for the right companies, and be realistic when deciding on what you actually need for a relocation to be successful. Taking a minimalist approach is always good, regardless of whether you have a healthy or limited budget.

No matter when you decide to relocate, give the USA Auto Transport crew a call. Our team will help you relocate anywhere in the US. It doesn’t really matter if you are moving in the summer or you decide to avoid the busiest times of the year.

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