The Movers.com Blog

Autumn leaves! Photo by Alex Seise

Today is the autumn equinox which means a handful of things.  First, in the northern hemisphere, the days will begin getting shorter and the nights will grow longer.  The temperatures will become cool and the lazy days of summer will be replaced with bountiful harvesting.

For movers, fall has its benefits and downfalls.

The cooler weather is much more welcoming to manual labor.  While not yet dipping below freezing levels, the air is generally just mildly cooler than a typical air conditioning setting.  Imagine moving in a climate-controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated quite nicely-that’s what it’s like relocating in the fall!

Since summer is the unofficial moving season, movers tend to increase their rates from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Now that the season has passed, they will bring their rates down.  Another bonus: many of the more inexperienced movers (such as temporary college students) tend to work during the summer months, so by moving in the off-season, you’ll be more likely to have full-time permanent movers loading and unloading your belongings.

Gas prices tend to be less expensive during the fall than during the summer, though the difference isn’t often tremendous.  Most movers can pass this on to their customers in the form of lowered prices.  While your mileage will be unaffected, the cost per mile will go down slightly-and this can add up for cross-country or international moves.

Besides rush hours, midday traffic during the day is lessened due to the fewer number of tourists and vacations.  With fewer people on the roads, you’ll be more likely to have your belongings arrive on time.  There are also fewer chances for collisions.

Movers can also perform their work without children getting in the way, as most kids are in school on weekdays.  Without children distracting their parents, the adults can focus their attention on organizing and overseeing the move.  With the proper foresight, it’s possible for the movers to arrive as soon as your children are off to school and to finish up before they’re due home in the early afternoon.

Like every season, autumn also has its negative points for movers.

As the season’s name suggests, leaves fall from the trees and collect on lawns, pathways, and streets.  Even the slightest bit of moisture makes fallen leaves as slippery as ice.  When moving a large couch or other piece of furniture, one missed step can spell trouble.

Also, fall weather can be very unpredictable.  While you may have a number of pleasant days, temperatures can erratically hop into the upper 80s and dip well below freezing with little warning.  Rain, snow, and ice are all possible during these months.  When planning your move, make sure to keep the forecast in mind.

Finally, with vacations ending and “real life” starting up again, there are more chances that movers will have additional obligations outside of work to fulfill.  This could spell trouble for weekend moves especially if several movers are out watching their children play sports or marching in the local band.  As long as you plan your move in advance, this shouldn’t affect your relocation.

Moving in the autumn has many great points, and as long as you’re prepared to deal with unexpected weather issues, you should have no problem relocating through Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the fall foliage as you settle into your brand new home!

Have you ever moved during the autumn?  Tell us about it with a comment below!