Most people would rather not think about moving in winter. It is cold, it gets dark early, and the forecast can change the plan. But winter is also when movers have the most open dates and the least pressure on price, and a winter move that is planned for the weather goes just as smoothly as one in June. Here is what changes when the temperature drops, and how Baltimore movers plan around it.
Is it cheaper to move in the winter?
Usually, yes. Moving has a busy season, roughly May through September, when leases turn over, school is out and everyone wants the same Saturdays. Outside that window demand drops, and in most markets rates and availability follow it. For most households, late fall through early spring is the cheapest time to move. It is also when last-minute movers are easiest to find, because crews are not booked solid.
Three things matter as much as the month:
- Day of the week. Monday through Thursday is easier to book than a weekend.
- Time of the month. The first and last few days of any month are the busiest, because that is when leases start and end.
- Notice. Even in winter, a few weeks of notice gets you your first choice of day and start time.
Every move is priced on its own details, so the honest answer for yours is a written quote. Ours are free, and you know the number before we lift a box.
The best time of year to move depends on what you need
If you need the lowest cost and the most flexible schedule, winter wins. If you need long daylight and dry weather, summer wins, and you pay for it. Spring and fall sit in between. There is no wrong season, only trade-offs, and the trade-off with moving in winter is that you have to plan for the weather. That part is manageable.
Winter moving tips: before the truck arrives
- Keep the heat and lights on at both addresses. Have utilities at the new place start the day before, and do not shut off the old place until the day after. A crew works faster and safer in a warm, lit house.
- Clear a path. Shovel and salt the steps, the walk and the stretch of curb where the truck will park. In a Baltimore rowhouse that means the front steps above all: marble and stone get slick fast.
- Hold the parking. Winter streets get narrower when cars park away from snowbanks. Have a spot ready as close to the door as you can manage, and check whether your block or building has rules for moving trucks.
- Start early. In December the sun sets before 5 pm in Baltimore. A morning start keeps the whole job in daylight.
- Watch the forecast and stay reachable. Three days out, look at the weather for moving day. If a storm is coming, call us. Shifting the start time or the day is usually easier in winter than in any other season, because the calendar has room.
- Pack a cold-weather kit. Gloves, a shovel, ice melt, old towels for the entryway and something hot to drink. Keep it out of the boxes.
Moving in the rain, sleet or snow
Weather is the part of moving in winter that people worry about most, and it is a packing problem more than a moving problem. Here is what we do, and what you can do to help:
- Floors. Wet boots and clean floors do not mix. Floor and doorway protection goes down before the first box moves.
- Furniture. Upholstery and wood get wrapped before they leave the house, so they are covered for the walk to the truck.
- Mattresses and electronics. Use mattress bags, and keep TVs and computers in their boxes or in plastic with the seams taped.
- Boxes. Cardboard that sits in slush falls apart. Stage boxes inside by the door, not on the porch, and use plastic bins for anything that must stay dry.
- Cold-sensitive things. Houseplants, paint, cleaning liquids and anything else that can freeze should ride with you in a warm car, not in the truck.
- Electronics on arrival. Let TVs and computers come up to room temperature for a few hours before you plug them in. Cold electronics carried into a warm house can collect condensation inside.
Moving during the holidays
Thanksgiving week and the stretch from Christmas to New Year's are the exception to the open calendar that makes moving in winter easy to schedule. Many people use the time off to move, buildings shorten their elevator hours, and crews take holidays too. If your move has to land in one of those weeks, book it as early as you can, confirm your building's rules for the day, and plan the first night: beds made, coffee maker found, and one box with whatever the kids need.
Moving in winter in Baltimore: the short version
Baltimore winters are more often wet and icy than buried in snow, which is why the plan above is mostly about traction, dry boxes and daylight. Pick a weekday in the middle of the month, keep both houses warm and lit, clear the steps, and have a backup day in mind. The rest is our job.
Planning a move between now and spring? Get a free quote, or call us at (410) 999-8387 and a real member of our family will pick up.