3 Reasons to Consider an Off-Season Move in New Jersey

When is the busy season?

Late spring and summer are the busy season for moving. School is out, the days are long and the weather is easy. Around the Hudson there is a second rush every month. Many leases start on the first, so the last days of a month and the first days of the next are crowded in buildings on both sides of the river. An off-season move means a date outside those peaks: fall, winter, or the middle of any month.

Reason 1: more choice of dates and times

In the busy season, popular dates fill early. With an off-season date you have a better chance at the exact day you want and a morning start. It also helps with the building. Many waterfront high-rises book the freight elevator and the loading dock in time slots, and at the end of the month those slots go fast. Mid-month, the building calendar tends to have more room.

Reason 2: a calmer moving day

Fewer moves in your building means no wait behind another family’s truck at the dock, and no other sofa in the elevator. The halls are quieter, and the doorman has time for you. Cooler weather helps too. The crew and your family stay fresh, and heat-sensitive belongings like candles, vinyl records, wine and electronics do not sit in a hot truck.

Reason 3: time to plan every step

An off-season date usually leaves room to plan. There is time for an unhurried estimate, time to sort and donate, time to book packing, and time to line up storage if your old lease ends before the new home is ready. Planning time is where most moving-day problems get solved in advance.

What a fall move needs

For many families, fall is a good window: mild weather, children back in school, and buildings past the summer rush. Plan for rain. Keep towels at the doors, and cover boxes that cross an open sidewalk. Wet leaves on steps are slippery, so sweep them the night before. From November on, daylight ends early, so ask for a morning start.

What a winter move needs

• Clear and salt the steps, walkways and driveway the night before, at both homes.
• Lay mats and old towels at each entrance. Snow and salt come in with every trip.
• Start early. Daylight ends early in December and January.
• Carry plants, and anything else that must not freeze, in your heated car.
• Let TVs and computers warm to room temperature before you turn them on, so any condensation can dry.
• Have the heat and the utilities on in the new home before moving day.
• Watch the forecast in the last week, and call us early if a storm is coming.

If you must move in summer

For families with children in school, summer is often the only choice. Book early, especially if your date falls at the end of the month. Ask for a morning start to stay ahead of the midday heat. Keep water and cold drinks ready for everyone. Keep the air conditioning running at both homes, and keep children and pets in a cool room or with a sitter. Carry medicines, candles, vinyl records and anything else that melts or warps in your own car.

Weekends and holidays cost the same

With us, weekends and holidays come at no extra cost. That makes a Saturday or a holiday move easy to fit around work. One thing to check first: some buildings allow moves only on weekdays or in set hours. Ask management before you pick the date. Our high-rise moving page covers what buildings usually ask for, including the COI and the elevator reservation.

If your date changes at short notice, ask about last-minute and same-day moves. We take them when a crew is free.

How to choose your date

1. Check the lease end date at the old home and the start date at the new one.
2. Ask both buildings for their move hours and elevator rules.
3. Pick two possible dates, one of them mid-month if you can.
4. Book a free estimate and get a written price for your date.
5. Reserve the elevator as soon as the date is set.