It’s May in Chicago, which means beautiful weather, baseball season has begun, and everyone is moving. This is the perfect time of year to move being not too hot and not too cold like a move in the summer, fall, or winter would be. It’s also a great time of year because the kids have finished up the school season but summer camps haven’t quite begun yet.
Since everyone is moving in Chicago right now, what are some ways to move efficiently with the extra traffic, moving trucks, and busy streets of moving crews? Take a look at these tips for moving that may help you in Chicago during this national moving month.
Why move in May?
May has become the National Moving Month everywhere, but especially for Chicago, where the weather has finally warmed up after a long winter, but it’s not so hot like the upcoming summer months that bring on the sweat.
This is a great time to count on great weather that is less likely to dehydrate you or make you think twice about packing your jacket, and the sun is out after a spring full of rain showers. Just make sure you’ve gotten all of your packing supplies and movers hired well before May since everyone is going to be booking their move for this month.
Tips for your upcoming Chicago move
When you’re preparing for your move, make sure you find a company to work with that can give you an in-home estimate and has a BBB accreditation to ensure they are licensed and valid. Those that have a BBB accreditation are required to keep up with their licenses, which will be easy for you to confirm through some online research.
Then be sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for the move, especially with all of the costs involved and time needed to get one of the great area companies to help you or to start the packing yourself.
Your in-home estimate should be free and allow you to discuss everything that you’ll need moved, like the storage items in your basement or specific appliances, and ask questions about anything you don’t understand, along with asking about the insured value of your belongings and when additional fees may come up. Get a written estimate with a few companies and compare costs, reviews, and your experience with each before making your decision.
Once you’ve chosen your professional movers, get the contract signed and have all of your questions answered in writing before the move. Make sure you have a plan in place for the moving day, a truck secured, and your new house is prepped for move-in.
You’ll need to setup utilities in your new home so that you can use the lights, water, and air conditioning on moving day, and be sure you’ve secured with the new building or neighborhood that a moving truck will have access and a place to park for unloading. Find out if there will be other moves happening on that street that day so that you can strategize where your truck will go and what time of day to have everything happen.
What’s going on in Chicago this month?
Now that you’ve settled into your new place, you’re likely going to be ready to enjoy some of the excitement of the city going on this month. This is the perfect time to arrive as baseball season has just started and the weather is feeling great. You can unpack those summer clothes and get ready for more time outside, enjoying the fun of the Navy Pier, relaxing at the beach, or doing some shopping at the Magnificent Mile.
This is the month for Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekends which means you’ll find activities celebrating these fun holidays like Mother’s Day brunch and a huge Memorial Day parade in the Loop. Be sure to also make time for the Lincoln Park Wine Fest on the 20th, Beer Under Glass on the 18th, Bike the Drive on the 28th, and Mayfest on the 19th which will offer an outdoor beer garden, pretzels, music, and fun in a giant heated tent on the street.
It’s National Moving month right now and the perfect time for your arrival to Chicago. Make sure you’ve hired a professional moving company to properly handle your belongings and household memories, and once you’re settled in, start enjoying some of the exciting things going on around this incredible city.