Moving house entails a lot of decisions.
From hiring movers, packing and cleaning your old space, to renting a truck, it can be easy to forget the most important decisions of them all, choosing the ideal day to move. Incidentally, that one choice can have a huge effect on your entire moving schedule, especially as it would affect the ease of your relocation and your bank balance.
If you ask people who have moved houses multiple times, they will tell you that when you move, is as important as how you move; therefore, if you want to have a hassle free, seamless moving experience, pick the right day of the week.
This article will suggest the absolute best day to move, and some key factors to think about when planning your next move.
Moving house on a Friday
Friday is typically a popular day of the week for moving house. In fact, this is traditionally the day most people move to the UK. You have the entire week to plan your moving process, engage a moving company, and do all the necessary things you have to do before moving your belongings, leaving Friday, the end of the work week an ideal day to finalize your move.
Another good reason why people opt for Fridays is because of work commitments. If you work during the week, you will only be taking one day off to move house. This means minimum downtime in terms of work productivity. Also, you will be having the entire weekend to unpack your belongings (the important ones, except if your belongings fit in a backpack), and settle into your new home.
However, that Friday is a good day to move does not mean that it doesn’t have its downsides. According to expert moving company Ausmove, Friday is usually the busiest day of the week for moving companies, as just about everyone also wants to move on this day.
If you like the idea of moving on a Friday, it is essential you book an appointment with the moving company well in advance if you want to secure your moving date.
Key factors to keep in mind when moving on a Friday
- Book an appointment with the moving company well in advance as Friday is a high demand day for movers.
- Make sure that you complete all the necessary financial transactions in the morning, as anything after 3pm will enter into the new week (Monday).
- Have your solicitor complete all the necessary legal work before Friday, including the signing of the deeds, transfer of ownership, and so on. This will expedite your Friday move.
- If anything goes wrong with the legal of financial part of the deal, it will likely have to wait till Monday.
- Collecting keys may take longer on Friday as there is a higher likelihood of estate agents delay.
- If you are dealing with a chain, it is almost impossible to control the move date. In this case, you will have to go with the flow.
When a Friday move is not feasible
That Friday is the traditionally accepted day for moving house is no reason why you must move on that day. In the event that you are unable to secure a Friday moving appointment within your time frame due to the high number of people moving, or because you were unable to finish the financial and legal details of your new home, you can always consider a midweek move.
Choosing to move during the weekday (Tuesday to Thursday) though not a people favourite, is also a good idea. On the one hand, you may get to save on moving cost as you can get a moving discount due to the slow demand. In fact, there are data to show that Tuesday is usually the cheapest day to move house in the UK.
On the other hand, if you opt to move on Thursday, you will have the advantage of an extra day off work, which may come in handy if you have lots of belongings.
Generally, you want to choose the middle of the week if you intend to avoid the Friday rush, and want the assurance that anything that goes wrong can be solved quickly before the end of the week. Also, should something go wrong in your new house, you will not have to wait for the weekend to end before getting a tradesman or repairer over.
You also have the option to move on a Saturday if you can’t afford to take time off work. But keep in mind that you will need to complete all the necessary financial and legal processes during the week if you want a seamless Saturday move.
The least popular day to move is Sunday, as almost all businesses are closed, unless you want to hire a truck and do the entire moving on your own.
Important considerations for choosing your ideal moving day
Work: If you work for a really busy organization, it follows that you may not be allowed time off midweek or on a Friday. In this case, a weekend move is your best bet.
Weather: It goes without saying that you will need to keep an eye on the weatherman when planning your house move. You should definitely avoid moving in bad weather (especially in the middle of winter, rain or snow storm) as the bad roads, heavy lifting, and uncertain conditions will turn your move into a nightmare.
Family concerns: You may also want to consider the schedule of your spouse when planning a move. And if you have children in school, you may want to consider a summer move, especially if you are moving out of the city, in order to avoid wrecking their school year.
Final thoughts
While a lot of people feel that Friday is the best day for a house move, the best day for you will ultimately depend on your unique circumstances.
However, whatever day of the week you decide to move, ensure that you work with an experienced moving company, so that you enjoy a seamless and hassle-free move into your new home.