May is National Moving Month

May marks the beginning of the busiest moving month. Renters are relocating and house sales will steadily rise throughout the summer, but before there was a month dedicated to moving, there was Moving Day. As one New Yorker put it in 1799, the people of New York were “stricken down on the first of May, by a type of madness, which will not allow them to rest till they have relocated their residence.” By the late 1700’s, so many were opting to relocate on moving day, New Jersey farmers were asked to travel to Brooklyn to lend out their wagons and other equipment to assist movers with the swell of demand. According to National Today, by 1820, moving day had become so prominent with residents looking to relocate that the streets of New York were crowded with moving carts, causing an annual moving ‘pandemonium.’ By 1856, many looked to move in the few days before or after Moving Day to save themselves from the chaos that Moving Day expanded to Moving Week, and in 1997, the entire month of May was declared National Moving Month.

Summertime Moves

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about one in nine people move each year, with the largest chunk of those moves occurring between Memorial Day and Labor Day. With the weather getting warmer, people are more likely to move, and the increasing rate of houses on the market during the summer season means the supply of new homes meets the demand. If you plan to move this summer, here are some helpful moving tips to help you celebrate National Moving Month!

1: Hire movers you can trust: Think of your move as an assignment that you would really like to receive a good grade on. If you want to ace the move without a lot of crunch-time stress, it’s important to do your homework. Reputation is key when it comes to picking the right movers for your needs. Do you know anyone who has moved with them before? Do they have good Google reviews? When you’re looking into services a company offers, don’t forget what their customers are saying about them.

2: Plan ahead: May is National Moving Month for a reason. As the start of the busy season, spring is the best time to book your summer move. Pick a date and book movers as soon as you have your moving date or you may be stuck with a time that isn’t ideal for your schedule.

3: Keep your essentials close: When you’re moving day comes, be sure to pack an essentials box of things to keep with you on your move. Clearly label this box and be sure to include things you’ll need as soon as you get into your new home. For a more in-depth look of what to pack in your essentials box, check out our detailed essentials box blog.

Moving with Shleppers

Happy National Moving Month! Whether your next move is coming up this month, next year, or anywhere in between, Shleppers is always the perfect addition to your moving team. Leave the Shlepping to us. Get a FREE quote or call us at 800-847-4537 for more information today!