So, when for one reason or other you are faced with imminent relocation in Metro Vancouver, BC or elsewhere in Canada, you need to come up with a smart strategy in order to plan and organize a trouble-free moving process. You will need to take into consideration several factors when scheduling your move and setting a moving date.

And you may not always be at liberty to decide when to move due to circumstances beyond your control. Before deciding on a moving date, we recommend answering the following questions.

Are you on a lease agreement?

The fine print on your rental agreement may be very important. Make sure you clearly understand and agree with all the provisions when signing an agreement.

If the property you are about to leave is a rented one, you will need to comply with the terms of the lease. Check the provisions of your rental contract and go through all the specific renters’ moving out rights and obligations you have signed below. Read the fine print carefully and find out how soon you need to notify your landlord about your move and how to proceed in order to get your security deposit back.

Make sure that you are familiar with all the clauses in your contract, that you have fulfilled all your responsibilities and that you know how to terminate the rental agreement, so that you can avoid any penalties and conflicts.

Are you selling your old property or buying a new home?

So, your old property is for sale. If somebody were interested in it and you were able to receive a good price, you would have to move out before the future owners move in, right? Plan your course of actions carefully because the situation is quite tricky:

• in case you haven’t found your future home yet, you will have to provide temporary housing for your family and storage for all your personal possessions;
  on the other hand, you will probably want to sell your old place as soon as possible to cash some extra money for your move and for buying a new house.
• if you bought a new home, you will have to negotiate the date when you will be able to move in with the previous owners. Also, don’t forget that you may need extra time for any required repair works or desired renovation projects.

Are you starting a new job on a specific date?

If you are about to start a new job in a new city and your first day at work has already been defined, you don’t have much of a choice. You need to move in time to be able to settle in and put your personal affairs in order before that date. This will probably be your top priority and you will have to organize the entire relocation process having this specific date in mind.

Is school a factor?

– If you are moving to a college – well, you will have to be there in time for the start of the academic year, right?
– If you are moving after college – you will have to move soon after graduation, either back with your parents or to a new place where you can pursue your happiness and begin your new life;
– If you have a school-aged child – you will have to consider school start-dates and the effects of an eventual mid-year move. Many psychological factors come into play when moving with children, especially when they have to change schools, so research your possibilities and be extra careful when deciding on a moving date.

Flexibility in choosing the best time to move is really a privilege you should take advantage of. If you are in the favorable position to be able to set a moving date according to your preferences, check the following tips on how to choose the best date to move into a new house.

Seasonal Considerations

If you can choose the season and the month when your move will take place, have in mind the following factors.

• Fit Your Move Into Your Budget

It is no secret that summer is the busiest moving season and if you prefer to avail of the favorable weather and all the available help from friends and relatives who are free in the summer, be ready to dig deep into your pocket. Spare the time to check the schedules and the rates of different Metro Vancouver moving companies before hiring the one that best suits your needs. Also, remember to book their professional services as early as possible to ensure that your chosen Metro Vancouver movers and a moving truck will be available for the time you require. Have in mind that most reputable Metro Vancouver moving companies are understaffed during the peak season and sometimes students and other temporary crew replace the experienced Metro Vancouver movers which could result in damages and a further drain on your budget.

Moving in the winter, on the other hand, may be much cheaper but also hides certain risks. Scheduling a move anytime from September to mid-May will significantly reduce the moving costs and will guarantee you the help of an experienced moving crew at the most convenient time for you. However, it is very troublesome to deal with all the tedious and complicated moving procedures when the weather is so adverse. More often than not, transportation is extremely difficult and the moving truck could be caught in a snowstorm and delayed – if your household items loaded in it freeze and thaw, they may sustain considerable damage.

Depending on the climatic conditions in the specific states you are moving from/to, you need to decide when it is safest and cheapest for you to move across the country.

• School Year

Be considerate – what matters to one family member, matters to all.
The school play this year turned out to be really impressive, right? If you have school-aged children, you will want to make the transition to a new educational facility as easy and trouble-free for them as possible, right? This means that when you have the liberty to decide when to move, you will have to take into account the school calendar.

It is generally believed that summer is the most appropriate time to change schools. Wait until all the classes are over, the final school play has been successfully put on stage and your kids have said their goodbyes to school friends. Don’t rush things – allow your children to adapt to the idea and prepare emotionally for the big change. Find the time to visit together all their favorite places, to say goodbye to all neighbor kids and to invite their best friends to a fare-well party.

Depending on the age of your children and their attitude towards the move, you can decide on a moving date that will benefit both your plans and your kids’ social development.

• Previously Planned Events

The last season-related factors you need to consider when deciding on a moving date are the various special occasions throughout the year.

Holidays. A move prior to a major holiday, such as Christmas, or a personal holiday, such as a birthday, is definitely a poor decision because the event will lose its magic unless celebrated with close friends and family. After all, holidays are all about the reunion with your beloved ones and it is their pleasant company that makes the moment jolly and festive. Actually, planning your relocation immediately after a holiday is quite a good idea because you will have sweet memories to cheer you up, will have availed of the opportunity to say goodbye to everyone and will have plenty of time to settle in before the next holiday;

Vacations. If your kids have been looking forward to the first summer month to go to the Boy Scout camp by the seaside, postpone your move for after that. Or if you have already planned a trip to Europe, don’t ruin it with moving preparations. Provided that you are in a position to decide when to move, make the most out of it;
Guests. If your sister visits once a year or your foreign friend has finally found the time to stay with you for a week or two, you may as well plan your move for after your dear guests have left, right?

Having specified the season and the month of your move-out date, you should determine the day.

Best Day To Move House

Here is a detailed checklist to help you set the most advantageous date for your relocation.

• How To Move Cheap

The lessons of life will best teach you how important it is to do everything light on your budget.
A penny a day will allow you to move your way!

If possible, opt for a day during the second half of a month (15 – 25 is usually the perfect ten-day period to perform a move). Most people need to move on the last or the first days of a month because of rental agreements, job-related considerations, etc. Avoid this peak period if you can. Also, have in mind that many prefer to relocate during the first half of a month, soon after they have received their salary and feel more confident about covering their moving expenses. Go out of the ordinary if you want to organize a cheap and easy relocation.

As far as a specific day of the week is concerned, the weekends are, of course, the busiest. Tuesday is said to be the least preferred day for a move, so you may receive a significant discount if you settle for a Tuesday move (or Wednesday, or Thursday, for that matter).

How To Get Help Moving

Even if you have hired a Metro Vancouver moving company, you may need some help on moving day itself (a reliable friend or a relative to look after your young children or to take care of your pets, for example). And if you have put your mind on a DIY move, you will definitely need as many helping hands as possible. So, before setting a moving date, contact your helpers and make sure they will be available. This will usually be their day off, most probably during the weekend.

To be continued…

Original source: https://www.mymovingreviews.com

Need advice on planning your local or long distance move in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Delta, Maple Ridge, Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland, BC?  CLICK HERE to get in touch with one of our moving specialists who can assist with setting up your move and will make sure your entire moving process goes smooth.

Metro Vancouver Moving: What To Consider When Deciding On a Moving Date