Pros and cons to moving in each season
Your banker has just informed you that you’ve been pre-approved for your mortgage! The major life milestone of homeownership is just within reach! How exciting! Now is as good a time as any to start planning for your move. But before you get down to the nitty-gritty, have you considered when would be a good time to move? This may seem insignificant, but a well-chosen moving day has its benefits. Of course, there are many pros and cons to moving in each season. So ultimately the decision that is right for you depends on your circumstances: budget, family composition, work schedule, preferences, etc. Certainly for many, external factors determine the exact moving day. For example, banking approvals, lease dates, the ability to get time-off from work and more. However, if you do have some flexibility, here are a few points to consider relative to each season.
Summer, summer, summertime!
In the UK, summertime seems to be the preferred time of the year to move house. This should be expected given its longer periods of daylight, which means that more can be done before night falls. Summertime is also the period in which children are on their longest break from school. If your children are a bit older, this could mean more hands to help with packing and unpacking. If they are younger though, their being home might be counterproductive. So you might want to arrange for the little ones to stay with their grandparents or relatives while you focus on packing. The, on average, two months of summer holidays also mean that children will have several weeks to adjust to their new environment.
In contrast, summertime, also means higher temperatures and higher service rates unfortunately. Fortunately, York has mild summers, with an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. However, occasionally the city has experienced higher temperatures, which could potentially make moving physically exhausting. Our advice: check the weather forecast before selecting your moving day and be sure to keep well-hydrated. See our previous article for more tips on summer moves. As mentioned earlier, July and August are peak times in real estate. So you can expect higher prices from house removal companies, and related businesses such as transportation rentals.
Autumn – time to turn over a new leaf
For some, the autumn months are ideal for moving house. The advantages of moving in early autumn are lower house removal rates, as removal companies are transitioning into their off-peak season. Cooler weather, which allows for a much more pleasant move. As well as the opportunity to completely settle in before the start of the holidays; among others. There is also something to be said about the changing landscape and warm colours in autumn. These might, arguably, prepare you and your family emotionally for this new chapter. Contrastingly, if you have children, moving at this time of the year might be potentially disruptive, as they would have only just started the new academic year. If the move involves changing schools entirely, definitely consider whether you could complete the move before the start of teaching.
Time to spring into action!
Similar to autumn, moving during the spring means lower house removal rates. The weather is also considerably cooler and there are more bank holidays to maximise on. A long weekend, such as Easter weekend, may be ideal for springing into action. Packing and unpacking, there may even be less traffic depending on the location of your move. However, moving during bank holidays can also be challenging since most businesses are closed. In the event of an emergency, you may have a hard time finding a tradesman willing to assist. If you do find one, the visit may be quite costly. Additionally, if your family includes school-aged children, moving in late spring may be disruptive as they will likely be preparing for or sitting end-of-term exams. Pro tip: parents, before choosing your moving day, check the school calendar to ensure that there are no clashes with important dates or periods.
Baby, it’s cold outside!
Yes, believe it or not, even a winter move has its appeal. The reality is that winter time is possibly the least preferred time of the year to move in the UK. But money is an excellent motivator! While a winter move is not implausible, it is important to be mindful of the weather and your safety. Fortunately, like summer, winter in York is also relatively mild. Still, wearing the right footwear and putting salt on walkways will reduce the likelihood of you or anyone else getting injured and/or damaging your belongings due to a fall. You should also try to organise as many phases of the move as possible. Remember the days are shorter. There will likely be more traffic on roads as persons do their holiday shopping. So preparation is key for a successful winter move. For more advice see our previous recommendations here.
For tips regarding the best day of the week to move, see this article by the Home Owners Alliance. We are sure that the suggestions shared above will be invaluable to you. If, however, you feel that you need some assistance in making your moving day as stress-free as possible, we, at Van Man York Removals, would be happy to help! With years of experience in removal services, a sterling reputation in York and hundreds of satisfied customers, let us help you with your move, regardless of the season. Feel free to contact us for your quote today. We’ll be pleased to chat with you.
07931 849 112 | 01904 375 995 | Get your removals quote online | admin@vanmanyork.co.uk
