Don’t get us wrong: moving is always bound to be a challenge regardless of the season. That said, the ease of the move can really depend on what month you plan to move.
If you’re moving at the start of the month or the middle of summer in Australia, you can be a bit bogged down by the heat and humidity, depending on where you live in the country, the time of the move, and outside conditions.
Conversely, if you move during July or August, then you could deal with a host of other weather-related problems. In any case, choosing when to move can play a big role in influencing the entire experience.
If you want to ensure that you’re moving most conveniently for your needs, then you’re in the right place. We’ll dive into detail on what to expect when moving in summer versus moving in winter.
Let’s jump right into it.
Common Challenges of Moving
The challenges of moving go beyond just dealing with the weather. It requires a high degree of commitment and coordination, and overlooking even just one aspect of it can spell doom to the flow of your taskload.
Here are the common challenges associated with moving to new homes or commercial spaces.
- Schedule conflict: When dealing with local removalists some of their services may be fully booked during your desired date, which can lead to you making adjustments in your scheduling to accommodate their availability.
- Physical exertion: Moving can be physically taxing, especially if you’re planning to bring a lot of items. This is further compounded if you’re doing the carrying, loading, and unloading yourself.
- Budgeting: Costs can add up when moving, especially if you leave things like booking services to the last minute.
- Packing and unpacking delays: Rushing can lead to improper packing, misplaced items, or longer unpacking times. This can cause friction in the overall smoothness of the moving process.
- Coordination with various providers: A change in utility providers will require you to talk to their agents to set up utilities in your new space. Expect to deal with lots of paperwork when moving. You’ll also have to update your address in various government, medical, and private websites.
Anticipating these challenges is important to ensure that you won’t encounter any surprises during your move, or at least have a plan of action if you do face them.
Pros and Cons of Moving in Summer
Summer—the time of beach hangouts, lush greenery, and lots of cold desserts. It’s the time of the year when the weather gets hot and quite humid. This time of the year also presents distinct benefits and challenges for those planning to move during this time.
Let’s explore these pros and cons in greater detail.
Pros
- Longer Daylight Hours
Summertime tends to enjoy longer daylight hours compared to the winter season, or every other season, as a matter of fact. This extra daylight helps you more easily make the most of the day without feeling like you’re rushing or pushing yourself too hard.
Furthermore, you can also choose to move during the later parts of the afternoon without having to worry about losing daylight too quickly. This allows you to transition between working, moving, and unpacking more seamlessly.
- More Free Time
Summer often means school holidays for kids and seasonal transitions for many workplaces. This reduction of both work and family duties allows you to focus your days on the move more easily.
Furthermore, removalists also recognise summer as peak season for many moving jobs. This means that these companies deploy more resources during this time to accommodate this increased demand. This nearly guarantees you an available slot for removalists to work on your moving project, particularly in small towns.
- More Pleasant Weather
Sure, “pleasant” is subjective, but dealing with bright and clear days is often much more optimal than dealing with persistent snowfall or icy road conditions.
The conditions summer brings make transporting and loading items significantly safer compared to the wet, icy, and often hazardous conditions that winter weather can create.
So if you’re moving from a high-altitude area with unpredictable weather, summer’s stable and consistent conditions make it a far more reliable season to schedule your moving date.
Cons
- High Demand
In populated cities, the demand for moving may be much higher than the supply, especially in the best suburbs of popular cities like Melbourne. This could lead to you being stuck with unfavourable schedules, limited flexibility, or the need to book moving services far ahead.
- Increased Moving Costs
With the high demand associated with moving in summer, this also comes at a cost—literally. Moving in summer can cost more if you’re hiring removalist services compared to if you’re hiring them during off-peak seasons like the wintertime.
- Extreme Heat
Some parts of Australia can feel tremendous heat during peak times. This isn’t only uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous for you, the moving professionals, and your belongings.
In some cases, you’ll have to consider the weather when packing your supplies (i.g, using a special type of heat-resistant packing material), which can add to your overall moving cost.
Pros and Cons of Moving in Winter
Winter, known for granting us mild weather conditions, occasional snowfall, and a shorter time of day.
It can range from pleasantly cool to subzero temperatures depending on where you’re from. Moving during this time also shares a unique list of pros and cons that are worth considering.
Here are the pros and cons of moving in the wintertime.
Pros
- Lower Moving Costs
Moving in winter is something not a lot of people do compared to moving in the summertime. This forces companies to slightly reduce the price of their services, which you can take advantage of to score on greater deals.
- Greater Scheduling Flexibility
Moving in wintertime also means that you’ll have access to a higher number of bookable slots for your moving date.
This greater flexibility allows you to not only choose your optimal dates and times, but also change them if necessary.
- Cool Weather Conditions (if timed right)
Some parts of the country experience mild winters of just a few degrees above zero with barely any snow.
These conditions can make for a more pleasant moving experience, especially considering the fact that loading and unloading boxes are quite taxing and work up a sweat.
Cons
- Weather and Road Condition Risks
If you live in a part of Australia with volatile weather, like Melbourne, then you’re likely well aware that weather risks happen in a snap and potentially disrupt the move.
It could even cause you to delay it in the worst of cases, which could make the moving plan a bit more complicated and expensive.
- Shorter Daylight Hours
Wintertime experiences much shorter daylight hours. This means that you may have to rush through things to ensure that you can get things done before the sun sets.
Some removalist companies also work shorter hours during wintertime, which is something to consider when hiring these professionals.
- Utility Setup Challenges
Once you’re in your new accommodation, you may have to set aside more time to set up utilities like heating and hot water. This is because winter conditions can ice these systems and make them more likely to freeze up.
Delays in setting up electricity, gas, or water can leave you without basic comforts in colder conditions, making early coordination critical.
When’s The Best Time to Move?
If you’re at the crossroads of deciding when’s the best time to move, it’s a good idea to take a step back and consider your environment and your priorities.
If you live in a place with a mild climate and prioritise comfort and low costs, then moving in the winter can be a suitable choice.
If you prefer to take advantage of your free time, then moving during summer is totally fine as well.
Both options are ideal, so ultimately it’s up to personal preference and availability. All the best in making that move happen!
