If you’re planning to move home before the end of the month, be warned: Friday 29th August is expected to be the busiest moving day of the year.
An estimated 22,386 households are expected to move on this date alone, according to analysis from HomeOwners Alliance and reallymoving.com, nearly four times the 6,000 daily average. This means it is the most in-demand date for removal companies across the UK.
The research, drawn from over 711,500 reallymoving removal quotes over 13 years, found that nearly a third of all moves take place during late summer. August is consistently the most popular month to move home, with Friday the top choice for moving day. That’s likely to be because movers then have the weekend to unpack, without having to take time off from work. Sunday is perhaps unsurprisingly the least popular day to move.
Risks of moving at busiest times
Although a Friday move means there are then a couple of days to get sorted, there are plenty of risks involved in booking a move for the end of the week, especially during peak moving season. As Fridays are typically busier than other days, home movers can face delays caused by hold-ups further up the chain, funds not being transferred across in time, or keys not being released.
Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: “Friday August 29th will be the year’s busiest moving day - but that also means the most stressful. If you can, avoid the rush. Moving midweek or outside peak season can save you money and hassle. If you must move on a busy day, confirm your removals firm early and have a backup plan in case of delays.”
You’ll also need to ensure you book your removals company as soon as you have a moving date so that others don’t beat you to it.
Rob Houghton, chief executive of reallymoving, said: "Moving on the busiest day of the year means there will be more competition for removal services, so make sure you’re well prepared and that everyone in the chain knows you’re aiming for that date.
“Ask the removals company to visit your home to assess how much you need to move, or as a minimum do a detailed video survey over WhatsApp or FaceTime to make sure you get the right size van and team on the day.”
