Summer moving requires additional planning and considerations than other times of the year. Summer is peak moving season, which may throw a few curveballs your way when you plan a summer move. Before you jump into packing things up or hiring a moving team, read through our ultimate guide to help you have a stress-free summer move. Whether you are moving locally or long-distance, this guide can help protect your items and your health during a long moving day.

The Busiest Moving Season

Because of longer days, warmer weather, and school breaks, summer is the most popular time to schedule a move. Especially for families or those who recently finished university, moving into a new space during the summer months gives them more flexibility and freedom. Summer is a busy time for moving companies as well, which may make your move more difficult if you are unable to schedule the help of professionals. Certain moving dates may also be busier, resulting in higher fees or limited availability for moving trucks. If you plan to move during this busy season, here are some tips we know will make your day easier.

Book Your Moving Team Early

In order to secure your spot with your preferred moving company, you will need to book early. Typically, you should schedule a moving team or rent a moving truck at least 6 weeks before your moving day. Professional movers are highly trained and come with the right equipment to help ensure a smooth moving experience. Booking early can help save you frustration leading up to the move and on a summer moving day. 

If you want to compare prices and learn more about each moving company in your area, it is best to start this research a few months in advance. While moving companies aren’t fully booked every day of the week, popular dates such as weekends may fill up quickly. Consider planning your move on a weekday or on a week without any popular holidays.

Time Your Move Around The Heat

In the summer months, the time of day makes a big difference in the outside temperature. Even just an hour can be the difference between 5 and 10 degrees, which is crucial when it comes to heat. Planning your move earlier in the day will help get most of the manual labor done before the peak of the day, when the sun is at its highest and most aggressive. Early mornings and evenings in the summer are best to avoid hot items, heat exhaustion, or overheated moving trucks. Take advantage of the extra sunlight in the summer by moving at “non-typical” hours.

Take Extra Caution With Heat-Sensitive Items

Sensitive items should be protected during a move, whether it be fragile items, heat-sensitive items, or family heirlooms. During the summer, items like electronics, food, medications, candles, and plastic should be wrapped in specialty supplies or moved inside an air-conditioned vehicle. Items that are prone to melting or warping can be moved early in the move and placed in the air conditioning of your new home, or very last to avoid prolonged exposure to heat. 

Stay Properly Hydrated

Those helping you with your move, carrying boxes and items in and out of different locations, can be taxing on your body. Especially during the summer heat, moving can be extremely tiring, causing our bodies to overheat. During a busy moving day, homeowners, family, and even moving teams need to prioritize hydration throughout the day, but especially as the temperature rises. Drinking water and electrolytes to replenish your body while sweating is important if you want to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration. 

Wear Sun Protection

Another way to protect your physical health during summer moving is to wear proper sun protection. Sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, and UV protective materials are best to wear during a hot summer day, especially during peak times of the day when the UV index is high. Wearing sunscreen or protecting your skin will have long-lasting effects, including a lower risk of skin cancer. Even if you want to avoid the pain of a sunburn, wearing sun protection during moving day is essential for short and long-term comfort.

Watch For Signs Of Heat Exhaustion

Exerting yourself on a hot day can often lead to heat exhaustion, even if you are used to working in the heat. Knowing the signs of heat exhaustion can help you take action before it is too late or avoid it altogether. Drinking plenty of water, wearing sun protection, and taking breaks are important for optimal health. Some of the most common signs of heat exhaustion include:

• Heavy sweating
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Clammy skin

If you notice any of these signs during summer moving, stop physical activity immediately and determine if medical attention is needed. Move to a cooler location, drink some water or a sports drink, and watch for additional signs. If heat exhaustion has progressed and the person doesn’t feel better after these steps, medical care should be sought immediately. 

Create A Moving Plan

No matter when you move, having a well-thought-out plan can make for a less stressful move. Planning out the day in advance will save you from frustration and stress on the actual day. Plan what items will need to be moved first, consider how long you will have the help of a moving company, and schedule in breaks, meals, and snacks. This will help keep everyone on the same page and prevent overheating as well. 

Stress-Free Moves With Rocky Mountain Movers

Rocky Mountain Movers has years of experience moving homeowners and commercial businesses, so you can have a smooth transition into your new space. Our movers have proper packing equipment and tools that can help you have a more productive moving day. Summer moving may not be ideal for some, but we are ready to tackle the challenge of any move, large or small. Get a free online estimate or schedule your move with us today!

Whether you’re getting ready for a long distance move across states or you are relocating to a new home in the same city, packing up all of your belongings is a big process. Deciding what belongings go in which box and packing it all up in time for the move can be stressful and time consuming. A good moving box can save you time spent moving items to and from vehicles, prevent damaged property during the move, and spare you the energy of reorganizing everything to fit into your new home. The only thing better than a moving box is a free moving box.

Avoid extra spending costs when it comes to moving by discovering the best places where you can access free moving boxes to store your items for the journey!

Where to Find Free Moving Boxes

1. Someone Who Recently Moved

An easy way to acquire free moving boxes is from someone who just used them in a move. Reach out to friends or neighbors who may have moved in nearby to take any boxes that they no longer want off their hands. See if you have any family members who have stored boxes away for safekeeping. Ask your boss if your workplace has recycling where durable cardboard boxes are kept after receiving a new shipment. Your personal network of friends, colleagues, and family might come in handy before moving day.

2. Liquor Stores & Breweries

A popular place to find free moving boxes is a local liquor store or brewery. These stores frequently get deliveries with strong, sturdy boxes that are made to carry big glass bottles. A perfect solution for storing delicate dishes or glassware, these boxes are usually designed with cardboard dividers to separate the fragile bottles. Check the hours of a local liquor store to arrive before they close, or call ahead to ask if they have boxes and get the best time for picking them up.

3. Grocery Stores

Another location you can expect to find moving boxes for free is at a grocery store. Since most grocery stores are restocking their shelves consistently throughout the week, they have plenty of empty boxes that they are discarding. Make sure to call ahead to see if they have extra boxes, or reach out to a store manager and ask if they can set some boxes aside for you when it’s time to restock. Since these boxes are used to store food, make sure they don’t have holes in the bottom or sides, which are meant for extra ventilation when shipping fruit, and double check that there are no food or drink stains from leaking produce.

4. Online Communities & Digital Market Places

Check out the online message boards, free listings, or exchanges to find people looking to give away their used moving boxes.

• Facebook Marketplace: Community members often post items that they are looking to give away for free, especially after a move. This is a convenient way to find locals with free boxes.
• Craigslist: Use Craigslist’s “free stuff” section to search for any free moving boxes in your area.
• Nextdoor: A site meant to connect neighbors, Nextdoor may have threads with people in your area looking to get rid of boxes, or a “for sale” section that you can browse for moving boxes.
• U-Haul Box Exchange: In an effort to minimize waste, U-Haul offers this program to help customers connect for ride shares, sell or give away boxes, and find moving supplies. Get together with others who have recently moved and find free boxes through this exchange program.
• KSL Classifieds: Here in Salt Lake City, people often turn to KSL Classifieds when searching for cheap or free used items. Simply search “free boxes,” and you’ll get a list of all the free moving boxes available in your area.

5. Bookstores & Libraries

Much like liquor stores, bookstores, and libraries have shipments that require reinforced boxes, meant to hold heavy books. With less predictable delivery times, make sure you are coordinating with store or library managers for confirmation that they have empty boxes for you and a good time for you to pick them up. 

Depend on Rocky Mountain Movers For Your Upcoming Move

At Rocky Mountain Movers, we understand the stress that comes with moving. From heavy lifting to treks up and down stairs, to hauling big items on the road, we are here to help. With our full service moving company, we specialize in everything from pianos and individual items to whole offices and homes. Trust us to move your goods with respect and care. Contact us for a free online estimate today!

Understanding how to pack effectively can help you to minimize problems with your move. When you start packing, you’ll want to ensure that you do so correctly to help prevent any issues and make your moving process much easier. It is important to ensure that you use the appropriate equipment and lifting techniques to prevent injuries or damage to your belongings. Here are a few packing tips for your move.

Start Early

Packing may take more time than you might expect. It usually takes several full days of packing to finish the packing process. You will likely want to start packing a few weeks or even months prior to the move. This can help you to break the process up into smaller components.

Pack What you Don’t Need First

While you should start packing early, there are many things that you will simply be unable to pack far in advance. When you start the packing process, you will want to ensure that you start with the items that you don’t need. Holiday decorations, sentimental belongings, and many other items may be packed in the early stages to help you start the process earlier.

Create a Designated Packing Zone

Packing takes up a great deal of space. If you designate a packing zone, you can ensure that everything will be kept in a specific place. Keep all of your packing supplies in this packing zone so that you can expedite the packing process and prevent things from becoming lost.

Label your Boxes

One of the most important packing tips is to label all of your boxes as you pack them. You should label each box with the area where it will belong, as well as what the box contains. This will ensure that each box is delivered to the right location when it is moved into the new home. It will also help to ensure that you can find things you need more easily.

Get Good Boxes

When you are packing, it is essential that you have good-quality moving boxes. Though you may be tempted to recycle older boxes, these are flimsier and are likely to break on the job. By obtaining sturdy moving boxes, you can prevent accidents from occurring.

Don’t Pack what you Don’t Need

Decluttering prior to the move is a great way to make your moving process easier. The last thing you need is to bring unnecessary belongings to the new home, only to decide you don’t actually want or need them. Decluttering will simplify the moving process and ensure that you can keep your new home cleaner and more organized.

Pack Room by Room

Packing your home all at once can easily feel overwhelming. Breaking the process into smaller pieces can make it far more manageable. You may want to consider packing one room up at a time. Start in the least used rooms and ensure you pack up the kitchen last.

Heavy Items on Bottom

When you are packing a box, it is important to ensure that you pack them correctly. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom of the boxes. It is also useful to limit each box to a 50 pound maximum. This will help to prevent the likelihood of boxes breaking, as well as minimizes the chances of injuries during the move.

Moving can feel like an overwhelming process, especially when it comes to packing up all of your belongings. When you pack your belongings correctly, you will be able to simplify the process and make your move easier. For more information about the best way to pack or the moving services that we can provide, contact us at Rocky Mountain Movers today.