Summer moves, with their warmer weather and longer days, can be a lot easier than those that take place during the coldest parts of winter. Use this advice to take advantage of what summer has to offer and address some major season-specific concerns.
1. Use all the sunlight to your advantage
Longer days throughout summer give you more hours of high visibility to get your move from start to finish. Plan on getting an early start, whether it's heading out to pick up the moving truck or scheduling your professional movers to show up as soon as possible on the big day. If you're moving your own belongings, you can use this approach to take advantage of the extended daylight without having to spend as much time loading and unloading during the warmest part of the day, which generally peaks at about 3 p.m., according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Even if you're working with professional movers, using this strategy can help you stay cool as you oversee the process and start setting things up once your movers leave. One important, related note to keep in mind is that summer is the busiest season for moving, so booking early - and being willing to choose one of the first time slots - can help you secure some dependable, professional assistance on moving day.
2. Keep yourself hydrated and safe from the heat
With all the hustle and bustle that comes with moving day, it's easy to forget two important needs that are harder to address once all of your belongings are in transit: Staying hydrated and protected from the sun's rays. Your best bet will be to pack some sunscreen to take with you in your day-of or first-night bag that you'll keep close by during the move, and lay out some clothes that offer sun protection without making you too warm.
When it comes to hydrating, fill up all your water bottles and make sure you have a plan for getting more if needed. In a similar vein, you should be extra careful to not work too fast in extreme heat if you're moving things yourself. Working slower can mean a little more sweat, but it also keeps you safer from potential dangers like heatstroke and dehydration.
3. Turn on your utilities ahead of time
If at all possible, you should have your power and water turned on in your new home before a summer move. This is the easiest way to ensure you have access to fresh water (and ice, with your freezer) and can use air conditioning or fans to keep things cool during and after the move. This simple tip will make things a lot more comfortable once things are finished, too, whether you work with professional movers and packers or take on all of the heavy lifting yourself.