The Best Time To Move…To Florida

About a thousand people move to Florida every day – retirees, empty-nesters, beach bums and, presumably, at least a handful of alligator enthusiasts. From the warm climate to the abundance of famous attractions, folks make the move to the Sunshine State for innumerable reasons. That said, there are a few things to consider before making the leap. Especially, when is the best time to move?

Summer is definitely the most popular time for relocation. The kids are out of school, many people have less work to do and therefore, more time on their hands to spend on relocation. The parents also won’t have to worry about enrolling their children in a new school mid-semester. While this may be ideal for you, it’s not all that great for teams of movers in Florida. Most moving companies are trying to take care of multiple clients and may not be able to give you their full attention. Due to more traffic on the road, it might take them more time to deliver your belongings. 

Florida may be known as the Sunshine State, but don’t kid yourself. The weather in Florida varies wildly and often unpredictably. The state’s notorious summertime heat and humidity brew up some extremely potent thunderstorms, and Florida leads the nation in lightning strikes by a wide margin. And, of course, there are hurricanes to contend with, especially in the southern part of the state during summer and fall. Don’t be discouraged by the weather – just don’t head to Florida with an unrealistic expectation that the sun will shine all day, every day.

A lot of people usually prefer to move during the warmer months — May through August — when school recesses are in effect. They also like to move at the beginning or end of a month, and on weekends. Faced with this sort of demand, moving companies charge full fees and have fewer openings on their schedules. Not only will you pay top dollar for a top mover, you may find yourself waiting for an opening on that mover’s schedule.

But, plan your move between the end of Fall through Winter months, and you could benefit from movers trying to drum up business during their slow period. Many companies also have more schedule leeway, which means better odds of your move occurring when it’s convenient for you, rather than for your moving company. Some even offer discounts.

The heat and humidity make summer not only an uncomfortable time to be moving boxes and furniture out of a moving van, but potentially a dangerous one, with a real possibility of heatstroke or heat exhaustion.

Winter in Florida, however, isn’t that cold or snowy at all. There might be more rainfall, but that’s about it. If you have the freedom to choose your moving date, we would suggest picking a fall or winter month. For one, it could actually save you a bit of money. The moving companies often lower their prices, knowing that it’s a less busy season. The real estate market is also less busy, and it would be a perfect time to buy a new home. Plus, your movers will appreciate the little drop in temperatures – no one likes to carry moving boxes and load them onto a truck all day in the middle of the summer!

So if you will ask us, book your moves between September and May. Call us today for a free quote!