The Pros and Cons of a Summer Home Move

Summer is the peak season for moving home, and for what would appear to be very good reasons.

But those good reasons could also be the very reasons why you should not move home during the summer months.

Summer is the time of year when we can get outside, feel the sun on our faces, and get some fresh air. The last thing we want is to be inside after yet another long cold and wet winter.

And that’s the problem with summer home moves. The good weather takes time away from us. A time when we could be unpacking, making the house into a home, and forming a bond with our new surroundings.

The summer is such a busy period, when every job needs to be done in a very short time span.

Whereas moving in the autumn or early spring gives you the breathing space you need to settle into your new home and surroundings.

So in this week’s home moving blog, we go against the tide of saying that summer is the best time to move home.

6 Pros and Cons of Moving Home in the Summer

Here we list the reasons that most people will cite as the advantages of moving home in the summer, then we counter that with the flip side of the coin and look at the cons which make summer home moves a bad idea.

#1 Better Weather

Pros:

• It is no fun moving home in cold, wet weather, good weather naturally lifts your spirits and can help alleviate some of the stress you may experience moving home.
• There is also less chance that there will be delays or problems caused by flooded roads or icy conditions.
• It is also safer and cleaner for both the removal team and your belongings moving in good weather.

Cons:

• Moving home is exhausting work and in hot temperatures fatigue soon sets in and there is also the danger of heat stroke.
• People tend to be more irritable in hot weather and stress levels are higher.
• If moving long distances by car and you are taking kids and pets with you, you have to factor in more rest stops and be mindful of the temperature inside the vehicle.
• You also need to be more aware of things that are temperature sensitive such as plants, food, and electronics and ensure that they are prepared for the move properly and kept out of direct sunlight.
• Because people tend to do more DIY, and more people move in the summer, you may find it difficult to hire a van, and it will almost certainly be more expensive in the summer months.

#2 School holidays

Pros:

• The kids are off of school, so it is easier to change schools and there are likely to be fewer extracurricular activities going on during the summer holidays.

Cons:

• It is far safer to have the kids kept away from all the home-moving activity. It may be harder to get childcare during the summer months when most nurseries or schools are closed.
• More people tend to take their vacations in the summer months so if you are moving home without hiring a removal company you may find it harder to get family and friends to help.
• Getting your pets into boarding kennels could also be an issue as most are full as people are taking their summer holidays now.

#3 Longer Days

Pros:

• The longer days mean you have more time to move home and the longer evenings mean that you can get more done in your new home.

Cons:

• The good weather will entice you out and about, away from the boxes that need unpacking and the home that needs setting up.

#4 Car Boot Season

Pros:

• The summer months are when all the biggest and best car boot sales are being held so it is easier to declutter your home and sell some things at this time of year.
• It may also be easier to sell everything as a job lot to a seasoned car booter saving you the bother of having to sell everything yourself.

Cons:

• There will be far more competition to sell things and you therefore may need to sell your things for less than you would have liked.
• Other people will be spring cleaning too and a trip to the local recycling centre could turn into a very long excursion.

You may also like to read: How to Do a Car Boot Sale Before Moving Home. Summer is the height of the car boot season so is an ideal time to get rid of all the things you will not be taking to your new home. From preparing your things for sale to how to haggle over prices, this guide will help make your car boot sale a great success.

#5 Integrating into a New Community

Pros:

• Good weather encourages you to get out and about giving you the opportunity to meet the neighbours, explore your new surroundings, and start building a new social circle.

Cons:

• It is often best to ease yourself into a new community, to take your time to find your feet and make informed decisions as to what you do and do not want to be involved in. With so many community activities, social events, and people around, it could all be too overwhelming.

#6 More Bank Holidays

Pros:

• There are plenty of Bank Holidays during the summer giving you time off work to get all those essential new home jobs done.

Cons:

• More people are at home on bank holidays which is likely to mean fewer parking places and more congested roads which could delay your home move.
• It is likely that your neighbours will be having a Bank Holiday celebration and if they are having a noisy party then your opinion of them could be clouded by your first impressions.
• If you are moving to a touristy place it is likely to be full of day trippers on a Bank Holiday which can make the locals’ life a nightmare.
• First impressions count and if your very first experience of your new area is traffic jams, people everywhere, nowhere to park, packed shops, and litter everywhere, it is going to be hard to create that loving bond with your new home town.

You may also like to read: Is it Possible to Move Home on a Bank Holiday? In this guide we look at the pros and cons of moving on a Bank Holiday, whether it is a good idea and in some cases, whether it is even possible.

8 Disadvantages of Moving Home in the Summer

There are also some disadvantages of moving home that are specific to the summer season:

#1 Higher Moving Costs

Summer is the peak moving season and therefore the most expensive time of year to move home.

Self-drive rental vans are more expensive and harder to find, your journey to your new home could be longer due to traffic jams or more road works so increasing fuel costs, and because removal company services are in high demand they can charge more for their services.

#2 It is Harder to Find a Good Removal Company

Good removal companies get booked up months in advance and this is especially true in the peak moving season. You may find it very hard to book your first, second, or even third choice of Removal Company.

Must read: How to Pick a Good Removal Company: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide. In this post, we take you step by step through how to pick the best removal company for your particular needs.

#3 Seasonal Labour

You may find that some removal firms hire seasonal labour. That may mean that your precious belongings do not get quite as much care and attention as a fully trained, full-time removal team may give them.

#4 Gardening

Many people will be moving into a property with a garden for the first time. It is likely to come as a huge shock just how time-consuming it is to look after an outside space and during the peak growing season there will always be a hundred and one jobs to do.

You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Buying a House with a Garden. Many people aspire to have a garden, an outside space to entertain or maybe grow some vegetables. Having a garden is a wonderful thing for your mental and physical health but it is also an expensive and time-consuming asset. Here we look at the reality of living in a home with a garden.

#5 Exterior House Maintenance

There will be lots of little jobs to do inside your new home in addition to all the unpacking and setting up of your new home.

But the exterior will need your attention as well and the good weather encourages you to attend to the exterior first.

There will just not be enough hours in the day or days in the week to get everything done and the danger is that you end up living for months with unpacked boxes and a house that does not feel like home.

The danger of that is that without bonding to your new home and area relocation depression can soon set in.

#6 Vermin and Pests

With the warm weather comes bugs and pests. If you had moved earlier in the year you would have had time to block the holes and prevent them from getting into the home. Once they get access to your home it is a far harder and more expensive task to remove them.

#7 First Impressions

With the good weather comes garden entertaining and kids playing outside. If you or your new neighbours enjoy a BBQ, have a hot tub, or kids disturbing the peace then it is easy to get off on the wrong foot with your neighbours.

They may be really nice people but your first impression will not be good and could sour your relationship with them.

Moving outside of the summer allows you to get to know your neighbours and them to get to know you.

Once you have that bond then you and they will likely be more tolerant of the odd noisy day in the garden.

And you cannot put a price on or value too highly having neighbours that you get along with.

You may also like to read: How to Deal With the Anxiety of New Neighbours. Whether you are anxious about new people moving in next door or are worried about the people you are moving next door to this guide will help you. From how to deal with new neighbour anxiety to how to deal with stressful neighbours this guide is invaluable.

#8 Being Thrown in at the Deep End

Summertime means garden parties, fetes, and social activities. Whilst that is a great opportunity to get to meet your neighbours and the locals, for some people it can be totally overwhelming.

Often it is better to gradually settle into your new surroundings, meet people and socialise at your own pace.

And again you cannot get your new home the way you want it if you are never there.

You may also like to read: Moving Home as an Introvert. Tips to Make Moving Home Easier for You. To a certain extent, most people are introverts and need some alone time. In this guide, we offer some tips on how to manage your home move and your relocation if you need solitude to recharge and energise yourself.

So, whilst there are many positives to moving home in the summer it also makes sense to consider the disadvantages as well.

For some, the advantages will far outweigh the disadvantages, we are all different after all, but it pays to be aware that just because most people move in the summer that it is the only or the best option.