Why the End of the Month Is the Busiest Time to Move

Why the end of the month is the busiest time to move

Ask any mover which days fill first and you will hear the same answer: the last few days of the month and the first few days of the next. The reason is the calendar that housing runs on.

• Leases run by the month. Many apartment and rental house leases end on the last day of a month and start on the first
• Rent is paid by the month. Nobody wants to pay for a home they have already left, so renters hold out until the final days
• The next tenant is waiting. Landlords schedule the incoming renter right behind the outgoing one, so move-out dates have little give
• Jobs and school terms often start at the beginning of a month, which pushes long-distance arrivals toward the same days

Put those together and a large share of each month's moves lands inside the same one-week window. In summer, when more people move overall, that window is the tightest of the year.

Why home closings cluster at month-end

Home sales add to the pile. Buyers and their lenders often aim for a closing date late in the month. One common reason is that the mortgage interest a buyer prepays at closing typically covers only the days left in that month, so a later date can mean less cash due at the closing table. Lenders, agents, and title offices also tend to work toward month-end targets.

How a closing date affects your own costs depends on your loan, so ask your lender or closing attorney before you choose one. The point for your move is that buyers, sellers, and renters are all reaching for the same handful of days.

What end of the month moving means for you

End of the month moving is not a problem by itself. Movers plan for it every month. It does change what you should expect:

• Fewer open slots. The morning start times go first, and the day you want may be taken weeks ahead
• Less room for changes. If a closing slips or a landlord hands over keys late, there may be no next-day opening to move you into
• Crowded buildings. In apartment buildings, several households may want the elevator and the loading area on the same day
• Scarce rental trucks. If you plan to drive yourself, trucks and equipment are in demand on the same days
• Pricing can vary. Some movers charge more on peak dates, so ask whether the date changes your quote

The best day of the month to move and the best day of the week to move

If you have any say in the date, the pattern is simple.

So the best day of the month to move is somewhere in the middle weeks, and the best day of the week to move is usually Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. A mid-month move on one of those days gives you the widest choice of start times and the most slack if something runs late.

How to get a mid-month move when your lease ends on the last day

You may have more control over the date than you think. A few approaches that work:

• Overlap the two homes. Start the new lease a week or two before the old one ends and move in the gap. You pay some double rent in exchange for a calm date
• Ask the new landlord for early access. If the unit is empty, many will hand over keys a few days early, sometimes for a prorated amount
• Ask the current landlord for a short extension. A few prorated days into the next month moves you out of the rush on the other side
• Talk about the closing date early. If you are buying or selling, raise the date with your agent or attorney before the contract is signed. Closing a week earlier, or arranging to stay a few days after closing, can take the pressure off
• Move in two stages. Take boxes and small items over ahead of time and book the crew for furniture only

Lease and contract terms differ, so get any change in writing.

How far in advance to book movers for a month-end date

As a rule, plan on 1 to 2 weeks of notice for a local move and 3 to 4 weeks for a long-distance move. Those numbers assume an ordinary date. For the last week of the month, and for any date in summer, add to them.

The practical answer to how far in advance to book movers for month-end is this: call as soon as you know the date, even if a few details are still open. It costs nothing to ask. Our quotes are free and carry no obligation, and it is much easier to adjust a booked move than to find a truck at the last minute. Have these ready when you request a quote:

• Both addresses, with floor numbers and any stairs or elevators
• Your first-choice date and one or two backups
• A rough inventory of furniture and the number of rooms
• Whether you want packing help

Before you choose, run through our questions to ask a mover.

If you have to move at the end of the month

Sometimes the date is the date. You can still make a busy day go smoothly.

1. Book the mover first, then build everything else around that slot
2. Ask for the first start time of the day. Early jobs are the least likely to be affected by anything that runs long
3. Reserve the elevator, the loading area, and parking at both buildings right away. See our guide to moving out of a high-rise
4. Be completely packed the night before. On a day with no slack, an hour lost to loose items matters
5. Confirm key pickup times with both landlords or your closing office, and ask what happens if the closing is delayed
6. Keep a fallback in mind for one night, such as a friend's spare room, in case keys are late

If time is already short, our last-minute packing plan and packing services can help, and the moving checklist keeps the rest on track.