There’s much to be said about planning your relocation thoroughly and getting a head start by jumping straight into your first task. It can make all the difference between enjoying a successful move without undue stress. However, it’s not always clear what day and time of year are better for moving into a new house or apartment. While your personal circumstances may dictate your final decision, you’ll have a better experience if you plan this thoroughly. In this blog, Anthony Ward Thomas provides important information on both issues to help you make an informed decision. You’ll also find some best practices for setting your removal date, including our insider tips.
Contents
- What’s the Best Day of the Week to Move?
- What’s the Best Time of Year to Relocate?
- Avoiding Common Timing Mistakes When Moving House
- Planning Your Move in Advance: A Moving Checklist
- Timing Your Move with Storage: How It Can Help
- Booking a Prestige Removal Company for Stress-Free Moves
- FAQs: Best Moving Days, Costs, and Practical Advice
What’s the Best Day of the Week to Move?
Moving to a new home may seem straightforward on the surface, but once one scratches underneath, the true nature of the beast becomes apparent. Even something as simple as picking the day you undertake the removal is challenging. Luckily, the first thing we’ll cover in this blog is choosing the day for your relocation, and there are a few things to consider.
Friday is Too Popular
Undoubtedly, Friday is the day most people request when booking their removal service. And, as you’d expect, this means it fills up quickly, making it difficult for you to secure your move for this day. If you’re adamant that Friday is for you, it will take lots of forward planning.
Banking Problems for Fridays
Similarly, Friday is also the busiest day of the week for most banks. With many of their transactions closing in line with their branch closing times, you might be desperate if the seller doesn’t receive the full payment. Legally, the seller won’t hand over the keys until the funds have been transferred, leaving you both in limbo until Monday.
Benefits of Earlier in the Week
Although booking a Friday relocation has advantages, we suggest you consider booking earlier in the week. For example, booking on a Monday or Tuesday with a transaction delay is no problem. You have three whole days to resolve the issues. Additionally, you’ll have little to no problem securing your booking.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Relocate?
Choosing a day for your relocation is relatively simple compared to working out the best month or season to undertake your relocation. It’s slightly more ambiguous, but there’s still plenty of merit in working out your options. And if there’s one crucial reason for doing this, it’s to encourage a potential buyer to plan ahead.
Summer’s a Favourite
Various studies show that summer is the most popular season for relocations, with August taking the lead. This might be due to the favourable weather, with warmer days and more sunlight making relocating easier. However, relocating is a chain of events, making predicting your completion date difficult. Most people must sell their current property before submitting a successful offer on a new house or apartment, which can take one or several months. If you want to move during the summer, you’ll need to start looking at properties in the springtime or earlier. The more time you give yourself, the easier it will be to find your perfect new home and to scout the area thoroughly.
Springtime is Favourable
Springtime is the next time of the year when people tend to move, possibly due to more amicable weather conditions. You’ll avoid the summer rush for booking removals while enjoying the milder temperatures, although that’s also harder to predict nowadays.
Autumn Works As Well
Our summers tend to extend into September now, making autumn a viable option. With a bit of luck, the sun is still shining, making it more manageable. The only consideration is the seasonal university influx of relocations due to the beginning of the term, which sees plenty of tenants booking removal services.
Winter is Unpopular and Easy to Book
And as you’d expect, winter is the least favourable time to relocate, likely for the polar opposite reasons why summer is so popular. However, this shouldn’t end the conversation because winter has a lesser-discussed advantage. Due to harsher weather and fewer daylight hours, relocations are more challenging, so fewer people book during this season. That means less competition for the best moving companies. Regardless of when you choose to move, Anthony Ward Thomas has a fleet of vehicles, and we can accommodate relocations all year round. This means winter’s no problem for us, and you’re guaranteed to confirm a booking.
Avoiding Common Timing Mistakes When Moving House
In this section, we’ll list a few typical mishaps people make when moving. The aim is to highlight them to avoid making similar ones. If you book your removal with us, we’ll walk you through the process to ensure this doesn’t occur, but it’s worth covering them, just in case.
Leaving Packing Until the Final Week
While it’s tempting to leave the packing until the final moments, it may lead to rushed, disorganised packing, which has the potential to damage items. Likewise, it needlessly increases stress and makes moving days chaotic. Moreover, last-minute packing supplies can be expensive or unavailable. Solution: Start packing non-essential items (furniture, devices, portable appliances, clothing, etc) early and move them to a storage unit.
Failing to Book a Reputable Removal Company in Advance
As mentioned earlier, quality movers get booked quickly, especially in peak seasons. While Anthony Ward Thomas doesn’t add premiums to any particular season, other movers do. In addition to limiting your moving day choices, there’s a more serious risk of hiring unverified or unreliable companies when you leave things too late. Solution: Make booking your removal service one of your first tasks, and give yourself plenty of time between doing so and your preferred moving day. For example, we recommend giving yourself at least three months but lean more towards a decent time of six months.
Not Updating Home Insurance and Removal Cover
Many people don’t realise this, but their home insurance policy may not cover items in transit. Your coverage must stipulate whether your possessions are fixed or portable (or a variation of words to those effects), so remember to contact your broker to update your information. Without the correct insurance to cover removals, you risk damage or loss that may not be claimable. This is the worst possible start to life in your new home. Solution: This is straightforward: Contact your insurer today to discuss your upcoming relocation. They’ll explain how your policy needs to change and the new rates. More good news for Anthony Ward Thomas customers is that we can handle new insurance claims on your behalf and provide standard liability insurance.
Underestimating How Long It Takes to Move
Regarding the moving day, packing, loading, and transport take longer than expected. A DIY move often leads to overpacking removal vans, multiple trips, or delays, and some less reputable movers also make this mistake. Solution: It’s a sensible practice to use a buffer day in case of delays with paperwork or keys. For this reason, our team often packs the day before a big move.
Forgetting to Redirect Mail and Notify Utilities Early
We’re all guilty of forgetting a task here and there, but this is one you must steer clear of. Here are some core action points regarding updating your departure and new address when moving:
- Council tax – you can receive a nasty final demand if you fail to do this.
- Gas and electricity – submit two sets of final readings before you leave to remove your liability. Also, request an account transfer to your new address.
- Internet, phone, and TV: To transfer your accounts, repeat the same process as above (minus the meter readings). Note that this may require additional installation, so consider temporary measures like an internet dongle.
- Bank, doctor, etc – list everyone who holds your personal information and update your address.
- Post Office – click here to see the correct process for redirecting mail via the Post Office.
Planning Your Move in Advance: A Moving Checklist
We can’t overstate the importance of forward planning to avoid last-minute stress enough. It’s truly the difference between a chaotic scenario and a smooth-sailing relocation. We recommend creating a moving checklist – you can read our list here and adapt it to your needs. This section will map out an ideal timeline. We suggest using our moving checklist with a blank calendar. You can then use both to calculate your deadlines and plot tasks for specific weeks, giving you a better idea of how much progress you’re making (or not).
Anthony Ward Thomas’s Moving Timeline
3+ months before moving
- Research removal companies – look for an average of 4.5 on Google.
- Get x3 quotes from competing moving companies.
- Book early to avoid the rush (especially for Fridays and summer relocations).
- Contact schools to get a place for your little ones.
- Begin initial research on your new location.
Note: To avoid any issues, you should perform these tasks 6 months before, but 3 months should be sufficient.
2 months before moving
- Notify your current school that you’re leaving.
- Compile a list of everyone who has your personal information.
- Start packing non-essentials and moving items to storage (more on later).
- Declutter to reduce your overall moving volume (and to ensure you don’t bring your clutter with you).
- More in-depth research of your new location – arrange a visit there for an in-person experience.
1 month before moving
- Continue packing non-essentials to reduce any packing clutter in your current home.
- Undertake any minor repairs and maintenance to prepare for a sale or end of a tenancy (note that Anthony Ward Thomas can assist with property maintenance and cleaning).
- Contact your utility providers (gas, electric, water) and submit your meter readings (you’ll repeat this on the final day). To save you hassle, request an account transfer where possible.
- Contact your non-utility service providers – make the same request for account transfers.
1 week before moving
- Confirm details with the removal company and pack essentials for your moving day.
- Check your travel route and ensure your car is ready for the journey.
- Consider provisions for your family (kids and pets) for the trip.
- You must pack a moving day kit that covers the journey and when you settle in.
- Inform your local council of your departure to de-register for council tax.
Moving day tips
- Greet your moving team and give them enough space to perform their duties.
- Contact your utilities with your final meter readings.
- Double-check your tyre pressure and oil gauge before setting it off.
- One final route check is needed to avoid roadwork or congestion.
- Say your final goodbyes to your home and set off for the new adventure.
Timing Your Move with Storage: How It Can Help
Moving home is rarely a walk in the park. Any number of variables can usurp your best-laid plans. That’s why many of our moving customers add a storage package—it gives them more control over the process.
Using Storage to Bridge Gaps Between Moving Dates
While most relocations are relatively straightforward, there are rare occasions when a moving date changes. This usually happens in mortgage chains when a delay filters down the line to everyone. You may be presented with the unfortunate situation of either moving out of your property without adequate storage for your possessions or cancelling the whole deal. Using short-term storage options for household items puts you in complete control. You won’t have to suffer delays or change your plans around other people. As we mentioned, you can start packing and moving things out of your move. Our team will pack directly from your storage unit on the moving day, making it even more convenient.
Long-Term Storage Solutions
It should come as no surprise that we offer a range of storage options, including short—and long-term options. Self storage is perfect for spreading your relocation over several weeks or months due to its limitless access. If you don’t need frequent access, you can use container storage. This typically suits long-term needs, such as international relocations. Don’t worry if this seems slightly confusing—we’ll assess your needs and suggest the most suitable storage option.
Booking a Removal Company: Best Timing for a Stress-Free Move
Time is the greatest gift you can give yourself when moving. The earlier you begin planning, the more straightforward the rest of the relocation will be. It’s a simple concept: Doing more now will prepare you for tomorrow.
Average Sale Time
You may not know this, but a property’s average time on the UK housing market is just under six months. This likely excludes maintenance and repairs, so we’re discussing a ready-to-sell house or flat.
Align Your Removal
We suggest aligning with your relocation timeline within this context. It’s worth using a similar timescale to book your removal service. Doing so will avoid issues with premium moving companies’ full bookings.
Benefits of Reputable Movers
Choosing a reputable moving company like Anthony Ward Thomas can make all the difference. We offer a range of removal services, including home removals and man & van services. Our services suit properties of all sizes, including cost-effective vehicles and team sizes that match the volume. Likewise, we provide specialist add-ons, like packing, to save you time and crates to safeguard unique items. The Anthony Ward Thomas team will always try to accommodate emergency moves. We’re here to assist at every stage, so it makes sense to book us early to help with the planning phase.
FAQs: Best Moving Days, Costs, and Practical Advice
What is the quietest day of the week for moving house?
- Tuesday and Wednesday are the quieter days (and most cost-effective) to move.
- Demand is lower midweek, meaning better rates and more availability, but this also depends on the season.
- Fewer bookings mean movers can allocate more time to your relocation, reducing the risk of rushed service.
When is the busiest time of year for removals?
- Summer (especially August) is the peak season for house moves.
- Longer daylight hours and better weather make summer the most desirable moving period.
- Removal companies book up months in advance — early planning is essential to secure your preferred date.
How far in advance should I book a removal company?
- 6 months ahead is ideal, and 3 months is the suggested minimum.
- 1 to 2 months should suffice for off-peak seasons or midweek relocations.
- The earlier you book, the more options you’ll have — and you’ll avoid last-minute stress.
What happens if my move is delayed on the day?
- If financial transactions stall, you may not get the keys until the next working day (another reason to reconsider Friday relocations).
- Moving earlier in the week (like Monday or Tuesday) gives you buffer days in case any issues happen.
Is it better to move midweek or on a weekend?
- Midweek moves (Monday to Wednesday) are less hectic, with fewer traffic and booking conflicts.
- Weekend moves offer convenience but come with higher costs and limited availability.
- Midweek moves often lead to a smoother, less stressful experience if flexibility allows.
What’s the best time of year to move for easier scheduling?
- Winter and late autumn offer the most flexible schedules and lower competition.
- Movers have more availability, and you may even secure better rates.
- Even winter weather challenges can be expertly managed with a reputable removal company.
How does using storage make moving easier?
- It bridges the gap if your moving-out and moving-in dates don’t align.
- It allows you to pack and declutter gradually, reducing last-minute chaos.
- It provides a safety net for delayed moves — your items stay secure until you’re ready.
What should I do if I forget to update my insurance before moving?
- Contact your insurer immediately to extend coverage to items in transit.
- Any damage you incur without updated policies is out-of-policy, meaning you can’t claim anything.
- A reputable moving company will offer standard liability insurance; the best will handle all the insurance paperwork for you.
Anthony Ward Thomas – Helping You Find the Ideal Time to Move
Anthony Ward Thomas relocates thousands of people every month in London. Customer service is paramount to our company and drives everything we do. Each removal and storage package provides more options for our customers. Furthermore, we’re here for you during every stage of your relocation. Every move has its own challenges, and there’s no wrong answer when choosing the day or month for your relocation. We advise listing the pros and cons to see which month best suits you. If this is during the summer, it’s worth remembering that the removal slots tend to book up faster. Please contact us today for more information on the best time to undertake your relocation. Our team are available to discuss this and anything else concerning your upcoming move within or to London.