How Early in Advance Should I Hire Movers?

The summer moving season — when the majority of moves and relocations happen — has arrived.

As always, our goal is to take on all the heavy lifting to deliver the best possible moving experience possible, with minimal frustration and maximum speed and efficiency. The guidelines below offer ways we can work together to make it happen. 

How Early in Advance Should I Hire Movers? 

The availability of professional movers depends on many factors, including market availability; where you are moving from and to; and the time of the year you move. 

Especially during the summer moving season — May through September — we suggest booking as far in advance as possible. 

Why Should I Book My Mover Early? 

Both you and your mover need time to carefully plan and carry out your move so everything goes smoothly. As soon as you can, begin researching different moving companies and the types of services that best fit your needs. The more time and preparation you can give yourself, your loved ones and the moving companies, the less stress you’ll experience throughout the entire moving journey.  

Planning is important, including this year’s summer season. If you need additional advice — or can’t get your preferred move date — check out these helpful tips.

When Should I Book My Mover? 

This depends a lot upon where you’re planning to move. Some areas of the country are not affected by capacity and logistical challenges at all, while others are. Our best advice? Book your move date in advance. Have flexibility? Please book early anyway. This will ensure we deliver the level of service you’ve come to expect. 

That said, here are some general guidelines based on the various move types:

Interstate Moves 

If you’re moving to a different state or cross-country during the summer season, you’ll want to book well in advance of your move date. Even during less busy times of year, booking your move date in advance is always a good idea.

Spend some time doing research online to find a trusted and experienced interstate mover.  Local moving companies can’t always perform interstate moves. This is because any move that involves crossing a state line must follow the U.S. federal laws and regulations — including licensing requirements — to help protect consumers before, during and after their relocations. 

Intrastate Moves 

If you’re moving to a different city within your state, book well ahead of time during the summer season. As with other types of moves, securing a move date with a prospective intrastate mover as far ahead of time as possible is best. 

Local Moves 

Moving a short distance and within the same state still needs a good amount of advance planning. Ideally — and especially in the summer season — we recommend contacting prospective local movers well in advance.

International Moves 

Moving abroad can be a challenging and complex process involving special documentation, shipping logistics, the continued back-up of ocean freight, customs paperwork and clearances. If your move is job-related, talk to your employer, as they may have relocation specialists on staff. If it is a self-move, you’ll want to find a qualified, trusted international moving company as far in advance as you can.

We hope you find these guidelines to be useful as we navigate this year’s moving season together. We will provide updates about conditions and timelines as they evolve. In the meantime, our blog is filled with helpful moving checklists and advice to streamline and de-stress the moving experience.