Summer time is the most common time of year to move to a new home and you’ll find that everyone else is doing the same thing. The only downside to this time of year is you’re going to be dealing with that summer heat while you’re carrying heavy boxes and trying to navigate to the new place.

On the flip side, the crummy winter weather is behind us and the April showers have brought those May flowers. Fall is a busy time of year to try to move with school in session, sports, and the holidays approaching, so summertime is a great time to stop what you’re doing and get into your dream home. Take a look at these tips that will make your summer move a great one.

Plan ahead

The best way to have a great move any time of year is to plan ahead. When it comes to your summer move, you’ll want to make sure you start planning the winter before so that you can start implementing the tasks in the spring up until the move.

Three months in advance you’ll want to choose your moving date, look ahead at the weather for that date, get your moving quotes, and start de-cluttering your space. You’ll also want to make sure you’ve found your new home.

A month before the move, you’re going to want to order your moving supplies, donated or sold items you are going to purge before the move, start packing and requested time off work for the move. You’ll also want to use this time to start switching over utilities and updating your payment records and addresses on everything from credit cards to services you use.

Two weeks out is when you’ll hire a cleaning crew or clan yourself. You’ll need to update your insurance to make sure you are covered during a move and you’ll want to make sure the new place will allow truck parking for the day.

The week before is the time to empty the fridge, clean the oven, pack your bags, snap photos of your stuff, and double check the weather. That way the day before you are just confirming arrival times, grabbing cash from the ATM for anything you need, preparing for the heat with sunscreen and bottled water, and packing for your pets.

Stay cool

It’s going to be really important to stay cool on moving day. Consider children and pets’ heat safety as well. Stock up on cold water and ice for everyone to stay hydrated. Also, be sure to have a personal mist fan available and cooling towels to keep your body temperature lower.

While many fear moving in the winter for too cold of temperatures, moving during hot temps can be just as dangerous. Be sure to wear breathable closing, keep air-conditioning ready and available, wear protective footwear, and have sunglasses and a hat ready to go for that bright sun.

Hire a great crew

Of course, hiring a great moving crew is going to make the move all that better. A reputable Chicago moving company will be able to keep you and your household goods safe during a hot summer move and will help you to avoid any heat-related disasters. Make sure to book well in advance because this is a popular time of year to move and the moving companies are more popular than ever.

Be careful of extreme temps

Speaking of extreme temperatures be careful with your belongings in these temperatures. While it may not seem that bad when you first step outside, you’ll quickly find that that sun beating down on you is not ideal. That means that you have to take some extra precautions to protect your things from the heat.

If anything needs climate control, be sure to pack that last to allow it to stay in the air conditioning longer and consider it going in your vehicle to ensure it has room to breathe and stay cool, such as your plants or valuables.  Heat-sensitive items should be packed carefully, such as electronics that could be damaged from extreme temperatures. Consider purging some things and holding a yard sale to sell some of the things you won’t need in the new house in order to have less stuff to move on moving day.

Watch your budget

Finally, watch your budget during your upcoming move. It may be tempting to go out for a cold drink after your move or eat out at restaurants all week during your move, but you will incur a lot of expenses doing so.

Summer is already such a popular time to move that you may have spent more on the home than you planned and now you’ll be spending on things like outdoor patio chairs and swimming supplies for your new home. Be careful about working out a great deal with your moving crew, choosing reusable moving supplies, and try to keep your routine as much as possible to decrease extra costs during the move.

It’s time to start planning for your summer move now. Use these tips to stay cool, be prepared, and start getting to work just a few months ahead of the move!