How to Plan a Last-Minute Move During the Late Summer Rush
By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
The good news is that you're not stuck having to DIY the whole move with a rented truck. You can still get the professional moving company services you would normally count on with the right techniques and a little flexibility. Today, we're here to provide a few helpful tips on completing a last-minute move even if it happens during the end of summer rush.
Do Most of Your Packing DIY
What really matters for most people is having the boxes loaded on the truck, the heavy furniture safely moved, and the large truck handled by experienced professional movers. But what about packing? Packing can be very time consuming, so if you are thinking of a DIY pack job, here are a few things to keep in mind.
You're more than capable of folding your closet into boxes and hanging bags. With a few internet guides, you can figure out how to make use of packing paper and dish packing grids to make sure your dishes, cookware, and collectibles are safely packed. No doubt, you can pack up all the not-so-delicate stuff in your closets and you may even be able to recruit friends, neighbors, or coworkers to get it done faster if you're willing to pay them in pizza.
Even if you opt to not have a professional moving company help you pack, they can help you equip yourself to pack expertly with all the boxes, packing supplies, furniture blankets, and dish grids you need to do it right. And, if you get part of the packing completed and realize that you are in over your head, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call your local moving company to ask for help.
Be Available to Move on Weekdays
Weekends are the single highest demand time for moving services no matter what time of year it is. It may truly be impossible to find a summer weekend that isn't booked. But weekdays are different. Because far fewer people are available to oversee the moving process on weekdays, movers often have these days, or open hours during weekdays, open and available for last-minute movers who didn't book a weekend several months ahead of time.
For many people who must move suddenly, weekdays are less of a problem because your normal schedule and plans have already been turned on their head. If your job is moving you, you may be able to ask for a few extra paid days off to handle the sudden move. If you're switching jobs, you may have the time at home on weekdays to handle this scheduling quirk.
And if you can't make yourself available on weekdays, you might be able to connect with a friend or neighbor who is available who can oversee the move for you while you are at work.
Work with Your Movers and Ask for Advice
Finally, don't be shy to ask your moving company for additional tips. Professional movers know better than anyone else what it's like to handle a rushed moving job and will be more than happy to offer a few pointers. Talk to your movers about your mutual schedules to find the right days where both you and they are available and consider any tips they offer on how to make the schedule work.
Your movers may even have helpful advice and expert tips from years of experience on how to pack up faster, how to keep your precious items safe while rushing, and what to do about un-movable things like houseplants, pets, or your chemistry set collection.
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Moving at the last minute, even during the summer moving rush, doesn't have to mean doing it all yourself. If you're willing to work with your moving company, we can help you find the right dates, times, and techniques to get everything done on time to the highest level of quality even when there's no time to make careful moving plans.
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