In the United States, peak moving season usually begins in early spring and finishes at the end of summer. It is estimated that 80% of all relocations occur during this time period. Moving during high temperatures may not be your first choice, however sometimes it is the only feasible option. This is especially true if you move during your kids’ summer holiday, before school starts up in the fall. Here are some tips to help moving during high temperatures of summer heat.
Requirements of moving in high temperatures
Rest assured, it is possible to move safely without risk of overheating and damaging your precious belongings. Timely organization is vital as there are many tasks to handle. Your top-most priority is to protect yourself, your family members, pets, and plants from excessive heat. Protecting your heat-sensitive belongings follows closely behind.
Moving during summer has one more disadvantage besides moving during high temperatures. Namely the moving rates are often significantly higher. If you cannot move during the off-season, you need to do your best to reduce moving expenses. This usually involves decluttering and packing on your own.
Moving preparation tasks can be divided into three categories. There are things to be done before relocation, on moving day, and right after relocation. Here is what your summer heat, Moving moving checklist should look like if you are moving in hot weather.
Tasks to be handled before moving day
Schedule the move in advance
The most important task is to find reliable movers and get a free online quote and/or schedule a virtual estimate. As you are about to move in peak season, it is vital to set the moving date in advance. You may be unpleasantly surprised if you leave this for the last minute. The best and most affordable local movers might not be available. To avoid exorbitant prices and unnecessary stress, look for professional movers at least two or three months in advance.
Transfer utilities
Don’t forget to transfer / setup new utility accounts for your new address at least two weeks before the move. You do not want to arrive at your new home only to find out there is no electricity and you are not able turn on the air conditioning.
Sort & Pack
As you’re packing, set aside heat-sensitive items. You will need to pack them with special care. If the moving van is not climate-controlled, consider transporting the following items in your own car.
Medicine and cosmetics
There is a good reason why pharmacists advise us to keep our medications in a dry and cool place. High temperatures can render medications useless, even in the best-case scenarios. Cosmetics can easily melt or spoil in the heat, which most women have experienced firsthand during summer vacations. The best option is to place medications and cosmetics in airtight plastic bags and then keep them in a cooler for the duration of the move.
Indoor plants
It is important to take great care if you are moving house plants to your new home during the summer. Water plants profusely the night before the move and remove any excess water the next morning. Next wrap a cylindrical, cardboard shielding around each plant. You can also place them in a box and stuff paper around the pots. This will protect plants while allowing them to breathe.
Electronics, batteries and media
Your TVs, computers, photo albums, DVDs, or a vinyl collection should not be exposed to heat. Ideally, electronics should be packed their original packaging. Transport them yourself in climate-controlled conditions, along with chargers, batteries, and power banks. As a preventative measure, backup any important data to the cloud.
Other heat-sensitive items
Items like paint, crayons, candles, are likely to discolor, melt, or change properties if you are moving during high temperatures. Other items like cleaning chemicals and sprays (including deodorants) can be dangerous if their containers are pressurized; they can explode if exposed to extreme heat.
Move time and item storage
Long-term weather forecasts tend to be unreliable as they are based on temperature averages. Moves should therefore be planned for the worst heat. Schedule your move early in the morning when temperatures are more bearable. Your relocation can be over before the worst heat occurs between 11 am and 4 pm ― unless you are moving long-distance. In that case, it may take days or weeks until your belongings arrive at the destination location. Until then, they should be kept in a temperature-controlled storage facility.
Important things to do on a moving day
There is nothing more important than avoiding heat-related illnesses. You can prevent heat exhaustion by wearing loose-fitting clothing that will allow your body to keep cool. Stay hydrated with lots of water. Keep your electrolytes balanced with sports drinks. If you are outdoors, make sure to wear protective accessories like a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Apply a high SPF sunscreen regularly for maximum protection. Turn on your air conditioning as soon as you arrive at your new home.
If you have a medical condition that can worsen in extreme heat, take care to not expose yourself. Possible signs of heat exhaustion include fatigue, dizziness, faintness, headache, nausea, low blood pressure upon standing, muscle cramps, and a weak, rapid pulse. Should these symptoms become worse, seek immediate medical attention.
When moving during high temperatures is over
As soon as you wave goodbye to your movers, reward yourself with a refreshing, cool shower. Order your favorite take-out meal for delivery. After some well-deserved rest, check the state of your heat-sensitive items and start unpacking. Moving during high temperatures can be challenging, but is not impossible.
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Sally Simms & Lisa Roberts, Guest Contributors
Sally Simms is a freelance writer specializing in articles for the moving industry, as she has worked many years at a family-owned moving business. Her professional and life experience has granted her important insight into the elements of a successful relocation. Sally enjoys sharing moving tips.
Lisa Roberts is with US Moving Experts, a website created to answer relocation-related questions, with the goal to make moving projects stress and hassle-free.