International moving in December, Pros & Cons

Relocating during the holidays is not something that most people choose to do. It will pose a few more challenges and issues that may not be present when moving in warmer months of the year but the basic principle and guidelines of moving home will be the same. There is still a need to plan in advance, to go through the same steps when it comes to packing, but there will be additional steps recommended to take. However, if you make sure that you work with one of the top international movers, carefully plan out the relocation, and take care of things ahead of time, you will have nothing to worry about. In this article, we will provide you with a couple of tips on how to make the whole process more manageable.

8 tips for moving internationally during the holidays

1. Find a quality international moving company
2. Consider donating some of your stuff to get into the holiday cheer (and it will help declutter before your move!)
3. Consider that the roads are going to be more congested
4. Make sure you change your address in due time
5. Book your flight(s) ahead of time
6. Make arrangements for your pets
7. Check the weather forecast - try to avoid storms or snow!
8. Keep winter items close at hand

As you can see, there is a lot to do even without all the preparations for the relocation process itself. Moving in December will pose a few more problems compared to moving in summer but with good planning, there is no reason to think that moving in December should be a major issue.

Choosing your movers

The most important asset in an international relocation is going to be your moving company. You want to hire experienced international movers to ensure that your belongings arrive on time and intact. This is even more important when moving internationally during the holidays, as an experienced mover will know about the additional challenges. Make sure that you choose movers with a proven track record of successful international moves, as well as a company that will provide you with insurance and valuation options. It is best if you contact your moving professionals ahead of time, as availability during the holidays might be an issue otherwise.

Timing is Key

When planning your international move, timing is one of the most important factors, especially when moving during the holidays. Moving, in general, can be complicated and doing it in the middle of the holidays doesn't make it easier. It is always recommended to plan your move as early as possible, ideally 6-8 weeks in advance. This helps ensure availability with the movers and steamship lines around the time you are looking to move. When planning your move, try to avoid the end or very beginning of the month. This is the busiest time of the month and very close to the major holidays. When moving internationally, please bear in mind that offices and ports are closed for more days than usual, due to the holidays. This causes delays at the ports and space availability issues. It is suggested to try to arrange for your move to occur prior to December 12^th or after January 9^th. While this timing may not always be an issue, it typically is. It's always better to be prepared in advance to reduce the potential stress an international move may cause.

Donate some of your belongings

Chances are, you will not want to take absolutely everything you own to your new home. You might want to donate some of your belongings as part of the decluttering process. Doing so will put you in the right holiday spirit of giving and will set the tone for the entire relocation. There are plenty of charities you can donate some of your belongings to, but you can also donate them to some of your friends or family members. If you are unsure of the charities that operate within your area, you can always contact some of your local police or fire departments and ask them about it. They often work with organizations in the area and may be able to point you in the right direction. Or you can do a simple google search if you prefer finding these charities on your own.

Account for congested roads

During the holidays, roads inevitably get congested. This adds to your travel time, whether you are driving to the airport or to your new home. You will want to account for the additional time it will take you to reach your destination. Check into the estimate time of arrival and, just to be safe, add an hour or two. You never know how bad road congestion might be, after all. It is best to arrive early than late, after all.

Change your address in due time

During the holiday season, we usually receive more mail, packages, and similar. Therefore, you need to ensure that everyone has your updated address. This is something that you need to do ahead of time, so you don't need to wait an additional time for your packages to arrive. We also recommend signing up for a forwarding service ahead of time, even if you provided everyone your new address. You never know if you accidentally forgot someone, so it better to be safe than sorry. If you don't know where to start with this process, you can always reach out to your overseas movers. They can help you with this process and explain the easiest way to go about it. Just a reminder, normally, you will be able to change your address online, but some places may require a personal visit.

Book your flight early to avoid spiked costs or delays during the holidays

The closer it comes to the holidays, the more expensive plane tickets become. To avoid paying a premium for your flight, you will want to book it as early as you possibly can. And if you can be flexible with your dates, all the better! Most of the time it is well worth changing the relocation date if that means that the flight is cheaper and that you have more space for yourself within the aircraft. It is not suggested to book your flight too close to your pickup date. Due to the nature of transportation, delays can happen and with the current port conditions, they most likely will happen. Speak with your international movers to get a better understanding of potential delays and an idea on when you should book your flight(s) for.

Make the necessary pet arrangements

Most holidays include some sort of noise. New Year means fireworks, the 4th of July in the US is self-explanatory, and so on. If you are relocating with your pets, you want to arrange a “safe” location for them to be in both your “old” home and your “new” home. It is never recommended to have your pet wandering your home while movers are in and out handling large furniture and boxes. Wandering can lead to your furry friends getting hurt, lost, or finding their way into boxes, or the moving truck itself (it has happened!). Additionally, too much “noise” can cause your pet to get anxious and uncomfortable. You want to help your dog adapt to the current situation and their new home and minimize the effect loud noises might have. You may also try to mask the sound by having the TV at a higher volume than usual. Talk to your vet before you start making any arrangements to create the best plan for your pet. Our top priority is to complete your move safely and efficiently, so please help us help your furry friends by keeping them safe, comfortable, and away from the movers.

How the weather may influence your move

While there are many things to plan for your upcoming move, the weather is one that's often overlooked. Certainly wind, rain, sleet, and snow can wreak havoc on your well- coordinated plan to relocate to your new home. Therefore, it is imperative that you prepare for the worst by keeping track of the weather during the entire week of your move. It is useful when you know what kind of weather to expect. This way, even if you must move in poor weather conditions, you can be prepared.

Here are some tips to help navigate poor weather on your move day:

• Ensure that all walkways and driveways are shoveled, salted, and safe

  If you aren't physically able to shovel and snow has fallen or is in the forecast, be sure to have someone lined up to handle that for you ahead of the movers getting there.

• Provide Warm Drinks Throughout the Day

  When the weather outside is frightful, a warm cup of cocoa, coffee, cider, or tea can be delightful! Keep a fresh batch of warm drinks on-hand for everyone involved in the move to enjoy as needed. Also, water is always a needed beverage, regardless of the weather.

• Be Sure to Take Frequent Breaks

  Sometimes in the winter we push harder because we aren't sweating as heavily as we would be in the summer, or we just want to power through. Be mindful that even if you aren't dripping with sweat, you are likely exerting yourself more than is typical and doing so while going in and out (and in and out, and in and out!) of the cold.

• Plan an Early Start

  While getting an early start for any move is recommended, it is especially important during winter months when daylight hours are precious and few! Plan to start as early as possible to account for the early sunset and be prepared for an extra day or two of unpacking the moving truck if you have an especially large move.

• Cover Your Floors

  On moving day, there will be countless trips in and out of your home, and back again. If it’s snowy, muddy, or just plain messy outside, those trips can result in exhausting floor clean-up once the day is done. Prepare your floors ahead of time by laying down protective tarps, sheets, and towels, which can easily be washed or tossed at day’s end. In addition to protecting your floors, these will also help minimize chances of people falling, providing traction for wet soles. If floor coverings aren’t an option, speak with your moving company ahead of time to discuss options. Most moving companies can provide a solution but be mindful that there may be an additional cost.