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• By NJ Great Movers
• In Moving Tips

Survival Tips for Moving Over the Holidays

The last thing you want to do during the holidays is move house, but sometimes it’s inevitable. What should be the most wonderful time of the year quickly becomes the most stressful time of year. While it’s not ideal, there are tips for moving you can follow to make your move easier over the holiday season.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

If there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s wait until the last minute to move. That’s true whether you’re moving during the holidays or not. However, the stress ramps up even more when you’re dealing with the holiday season. Not only do you have to worry about all the intricacies of moving, but you also have to deal with holiday events and planning.

Normally, you would want to give yourself at least a month to organize your move, but you might want to bump that up to six weeks or more. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to declutter, pack, and find professional NJ movers.

Include a Change of Address On Your Cards

Whether you’re sending out digital or physical holiday cards, you can use the cards to serve a dual purpose by also announcing your address change. Of course, that all depends on whether you know your new address or not! If you don’t have one yet, it’s still a good idea to mention that you’ll be in a new place over the holiday season. That way, your friends and family members can wait to send out their own holiday greeting cards.

Speaking of holiday cards, make sure to let friends and family know to save the gifts until after you have moved! That way, you’ll have less stuff to move. If you do end up getting presents before then, keep everything in its original packaging until you’re in your new home.

Plan a Gathering Outside of the Home

There’s no reason to skip the holidays entirely. You’ll need some time to relax and celebrate with friends and family. With that said, you might need to scale back a bit or, at the very least, reconsider the venue. It might not be possible to have your entire family over to your home since you’ll probably be in the middle of packing. Try to get someone else in your family to host for this year and then host the next one at your new place.

Even if you don’t have a big family gathering, you should still set expectations for your partner and/or children. Let them know that you’re going to pack most of the holiday decorations and that they can pick one or two ornaments to keep out to put on the tree. Even with minimal decor, you can still make your house festive with a few simple items like a wreath, some lights, and a small tree. When packing your holiday decorations, make sure to pack them separately from the rest of your belongings and label them accordingly.

Buy Moving Supplies During Holiday Sales

While there aren’t a lot of benefits to moving during the holidays, one of the few advantages you can get are the amazing after holiday sales. You can save quite a bit of money by scouring online and in-person at stores for some amazing deals. Sure, it might not be as fun as scoring a $50 flatscreen TV, but it’s better than spending full price on boxes and packing tape! Not all stores will have discounts on these items so do research ahead of time. Or, if you don’t want to deal with the lines and throngs of people, go online. You’ll have several opportunities to save money. If nothing else, there will be a lot of shipping boxes you can pick up from friends and family for free!

Ask For a Holiday Discount

Not too many move during the holiday season for a variety of reasons so most professional moving companies will be more open to giving some discounts. With that said, most won’t give you one automatically. In order to get this discount, make sure to book your moving company early on and also ask for a discount. You’ll probably be able to shave off a couple hundred dollars from the total. Plus, since there aren’t as many people moving during this time, you’ll have more freedom when it comes to choosing your move date.

Consider the Weather

Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather on moving day. If you’re relocating to or from colder parts of the US you should be prepared for cold temperatures as well as icy roads, snow, and more. The holiday season can usher in some very dangerous weather conditions, which can make it challenging to move. While reputable movers should have experience working in a variety of weather conditions, you should take steps to protect your belongings. That means:

• Placing electronics in weather-sealed bags and/or weather-proof plastic bins
• Using sturdy moving boxes
• Wrapping furniture in plastic wrap
• Placing your mattress inside a mattress protector

Don’t forget that you need to prepare yourself for inclement weather. Make sure to wear warm clothes during the move as well as a pair of waterproof boots and gloves. While you’re at it, winterize your car by changing to snow tires, changing your oil and antifreeze, fixing your heater, and replacing your battery if necessary. It might cost you some money upfront, but you’ll be glad you spent it once the colder weather comes.

And don’t forget to turn on the utilities in your new home! You don’t want to be freezing when you move so make sure to call to get these turned on the day of your move. On the same note, turn off your utilities at your old place so you’re not wasting any extra money.

Transfer Schools

If you have kids, then moving during the holiday season means you’re uprooting them in the middle of the school year. Before you move, make sure all of the important documents and school records are transferred to the new school before they start. That means transcripts, report cards, immunization records, any academic testing, and other files and records. Try to get this done before the holidays as the administration department will likely be on holiday for the last week of December. Call the new school to make sure they have received everything and if anything else is required.

While moving in the middle of the school year isn’t ideal, there are some benefits. In many cases, the teacher might give your child more attention to make sure they’re caught up or understand the current material. If your child was struggling at their previous school, this is a great opportunity to get them up to speed. As well, it’s a fresh start for children who might not have liked the kids at their old school to make new friends.

Don’t Stress During Your Holiday Move

Which one is more stressful: moving or spending time with family during the holidays? While we can’t do anything about your family, we can make your move a lot easier! Once you’re ready to move into your new place, give us a call and we can walk you through the process. After that, sit back and enjoy the holidays in your new home!

FAQ

Do moving companies work on holidays?

You should definitely ask the moving company you choose, but most places work 24/7!

What happens to my move if there’s a bad blizzard or ice storm?

It depends on how bad the storm is, but if you’re worried about it, call and confirm with the moving company. Unless it’s a very serious storm, chances are they will move you.

What happens if the moving truck gets in an accident?

The movers should call you directly and let you know about the accident as well as the new estimated time of arrival. If it’s a bad accident, you might have to wait another day or two for your things to arrive. When you do get your things, make sure to check that everything is there and in one piece before signing off on the bill of lading!