Tips For Moving In Fall: Pros & Cons

Moving is an exciting yet stressful time, making it crucial to plan as much as possible before the move.

When it comes to the best time of year to move, fall and spring are regarded as the ideal times. This is thanks to mild weather and temperatures, as well as less intense tourism and traffic in more urban areas.

For a move in the fall season, there are both pros and cons. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of moving at this time of year is essential for creating an effective plan that allows your move to go smoothly. 

In this article, we discuss the pros and cons of moving in the fall, including the pros and cons of moving during this season and important considerations for selling a home as well.

Keep reading to learn 10 tips for a successful fall move!

When is the Best Time of Year to Move?

Moving can be a hefty task, especially if bad weather is at play during your move.

In general, fall and spring are thought to be the best times of year to move. Fall is overall the best, offering cool temperatures and mild weather, while spring can sometimes include heavy rain.

However, the best time of year to move can also depend on the region you are moving to. 

For instance, if you are moving to northern Colorado, this region experiences long and snowy winters. Not only does this make winter a bad time to move, but it also can affect the earlier spring and later fall months as well. As such, late spring or early fall are the best times to move in this specific region. 

Taking the time to research yearly weather patterns in the area you are moving to is key.

By doing so, you can better plan your move for a time when there is less of a chance for extreme temperatures or adverse weather. 

What is the Cheapest Time of Year to Move?

Overall, the summer season is the most expensive time of year to move for a multitude of reasons. As a result, the other seasons tend to be more cost-effective for moving, especially if you plan on hiring a moving company or other moving services. 

The cost of a move can be dependent on several factors, including:

• Local Schools: Aside from warm weather, one of the top reasons why summer is a hectic time of year to move is due to school schedules. Both K-12 schools and universities head back to school in the late summer and early fall, making this a busy time for moving companies. Plus, competing with university students for home goods at this time of year can be frustrating as well. 
• Weather: Rain, snow, and storms can have a massive impact on several aspects of your move, from how long it takes to drive to your destination to when you are able to unload your belongings. Additionally, moving services may charge extra fees for late fall or winter moves when encountering snow is more likely. 
• Distance: No matter what time of year you have chosen to move, distance is always going to play a part in your total moving costs. Where the time of year comes into play, however, is how many extra costs you may accrue over that distance. Driving through extreme temperatures can be rough on a vehicle, resulting in the need for maintenance. Meanwhile, heavy traffic can have an impact on your gas and fuel expenses if you end up stuck on the road for longer than intended. 

Is Fall a Good Time to Sell Your Home?

If you are selling your former home for a move, you may wonder when the best time is to sell. 

According to Lending Tree research from 2021, the best times of year to sell a home were between late spring to early summer. The highest premiums were seen in May, with houses selling for a median value of $197,400. Overall, the highest premiums occur from March through August compared to other months. 

However, this does not mean that fall is a bad time to sell your home.

Due to the busy season in real estate occurring from late spring to early summer, there are fewer overall listings in the fall. As a result, sellers have fewer competitors when it comes to attracting buyers. 

This lack of competition also means that you will have easier access to specific services, such as mortgage lenders and home inspectors. In turn, you are likely to have a faster closing for your home thanks to these professionals having wider availability.

The key to selling a home in the fall is to make sure it is in great condition with few updates needed on behalf of the buyer. For example, if your home has a deck, pressure washing and refinishing the deck can be an added perk for the buyer that minimizes the amount of work they need to do after the closing. 

Pros of Moving in the Fall

Now that we have covered the basics of moving in the fall — including potential costs and planning to sell a former home — let’s discuss some of the specific advantages of moving in the fall.

Here are three pros for fall moves:

• Service Availability: For anyone moving in the mid to later fall months after the busy moving season has died down, you will have much greater access to moving services. This enables you to compare the pricing and features of different moving companies, rather than having to sign on with the first available company you find. 
• Decreased Costs: Lower demand for moving services and equipment in the mid to late fall months often results in lower costs. To attract more customers in the slow season, moving companies will sometimes offer discounts or deals for moving services. Similarly, renting a moving vehicle can be cheaper outside of peak season as well. 
• Great Seasonal Timing: In terms of the season, fall is a beautiful time of year to move. You get to experience the beauty of the changing leaves and pleasant weather that comes with fall, making your new home feel even cozier. Plus, moving in the fall gives you ample time to get settled in before the holiday season begins. 

Cons of Moving in the Fall

Though moving in the fall can be greatly advantageous, it is not without its drawbacks. Having a clear understanding of the potential challenges to moving in the fall is essential for planning around them.

Here are three cons for fall moves:

• University Traffic: As mentioned earlier, moving can be difficult in the summer due to the return of university students. Many housing options meant for students offer leases that begin in the summer or early fall, meaning that the earlier fall months can be subject to lots of moving activities. The biggest challenge this can present is finding moving companies that are not already booked and busy for the season to help with your move. 
• School Schedules: If you have children, moving in the fall can be tough, as school tends to start back up in the early fall. This gives your kids little time to adjust to their new surroundings before having to start classes at a brand-new school. If this is a challenge you face, it may be to your benefit to take a few day trips to the area with your children before the move to allow them to acclimate and get to know the area a bit before school starts. 
• Less Sunlight: The days in the later fall months have less overall sunlight, limiting the amount of time you have during the day to unload and unpack your belongings. The easiest solution to this is to rent or buy construction lights that can illuminate a moving truck and the surrounding area during the darker hours. 

Top 10 Tips For Moving In The Fall

The fall season can be an excellent time for a move, as costs are lower and the availability of moving services is higher. Plus, moving in the fall gives you plenty of time to settle in before the colder months of winter roll in for the season. 

To finish off this guide to moving in the fall, we have provided you with 10 essential tips:

1. Work with a Moving Company: To make your move as simple and convenient as possible, consider working with a professional moving company. Lifting furniture can be a strenuous task and can even lead to injury if you are not careful. Moreover, driving a large moving vehicle on major roadways can be stressful. A moving company can handle these challenges for you.  
2. Begin Planning 6 Months Ahead: Don’t wait until your move is almost upon you before you begin planning. Ideally, you should start planning at least six months ahead of time for your move. In this planning stage, you can make lists, do research, gather moving supplies, and everything in between to ensure you are prepared for the move. 
3. Make Moving Checklists: A moving checklist can be massively helpful once your home begins to feel a bit disorganized and messy in the middle of a move. Moving checklists can help you keep your belongings organized while also helping you decide how to prioritize different items for packing. A moving checklist can also help you remember to finish all extra moving tasks, like switching electric companies and getting WiFi. 
4. Lighten Your Load: The more stuff you have, the more complicated your move will be. Before you begin the moving process, you may want to first lighten your load. Do you have a chair that’s been gathering dust in a corner for years? Let it go. Do you have boxes upon boxes of papers and mail that you are never going to look at? Shred them. Now is the time to rid yourself of unnecessary items that you have been holding on to. 
5. Ship Your Belongings: One great way to get your belongings to your new home quickly and easily is to ship them. By shipping your belongings, you can eliminate the hassle of a moving truck and simply move to your new home and await delivery. Many moving companies offer shipping options, as well as moving truck services. 
6. Create a Clear Budget: Having a clear budget in mind for your move is key. Costs can stack up quickly during a move and you don’t want to feel financially unprepared when the time comes. Important considerations to include in your budget include boxes, moving trucks, moving services, and transportation (flying, driving, etc.) costs. 
7. Research Fall Weather: Before you move, make sure to take a look at what kind of fall weather you can expect in the region you are moving to. Though you may not be able to move your official move date once it is set, keeping an eye on the weather can help you plan accordingly and gather the proper supplies (rain jackets, tarps, etc.). 
8. Look Up School Schedules: Along with researching the fall weather in the area you are moving to, it is also a good idea to look into the local school and university schedules. This will help you determine when these schools start back so you can avoid the super busy moving times.
9. Compare Moving Services: Choosing a moving service can be a big deal, so don’t rush into it. Comparing different moving services can help you see what types of services are available and compare prices, enabling you to gain a better idea of what a fair price looks like. 
10. Remember to Breathe: Moving is a stressful time! In the midst of the moving chaos, don’t forget to step back and breathe for a moment. This should be a time of excitement and change — take care of yourself so you can enjoy it. 

Final Thoughts

There you have it — the ups and downs of moving in the fall.

The key to achieving a successful move all comes down to your personal flexibility. No matter how intensely you plan, unexpected variables are certain to pop up. Maintaining a positive attitude will help you to meet these challenges head-on and overcome them.

Now, go get ready for your move!