Around 40 million people move every year. Of that, 70 percent move between May and September. Summer tends to be a great time to move due to several factors such as weather, summer break for kids, slower work schedule for adults, and general lease timing for landlords. When you consider all of the different moving parts, it’s no surprise that many people opt to move during the summer months.

Of course, there are plenty of downsides to moving during the summer, not least of which are soaring temperatures and sudden summer thunderstorms. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make your summer move a bit easier.

Book Your Movers Ahead of Time

If you’re renting, you probably already know when your lease is up, so instead of waiting until the last second, book your movers well in advance. Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for professional movers, so if you wait too long, you’ll either pay an exorbitant amount or you’ll end up hiring a not so reputable company (that will also charge you an arm and a leg).

You might be able to get away with booking your movers a month in advance during the fall or winter, but you should aim for at least two months in advance during the summer. When booking your move, try to start it early in the day as possible as that is when temperatures and humidity levels tend to be lowest. You’re also more likely to beat traffic if you start earlier in the day!

Start Packing Early

While you shouldn’t leave packing to the last minute regardless of when you move, this is especially true during the summer. Most people get more lethargic and cranky during the hot summer months, making it all too easy to just throw everything into a box without too much thought. You want to limit how much time you spend lifting and moving around so start packing as early as possible. Focus on packing non-essentials first and then slowly put away the rest of your belongings until you’re left with just the necessities the day before your move.

Be careful when packing, though! Some items, such as electronics, don’t handle heat well. Do some research before you have the movers load your laptop or xbox on the truck. If you think some of your items might melt, pack them in separate boxes and try to keep them in air conditioned surroundings as much as possible. Electronics should also be the last items placed on the truck and the first items taken off after you arrive at your new apartment. Go the extra mile and pack them in weatherproof bins and/or baggies to protect them from summer showers.

Think About Your Clothes

While you might not be doing all the heavy lifting if you hired professional NYC movers, you should still think about what you’re going to wear the day of the move. You generally want to stick with lightweight and breathable fabrics such as cotton and/or linen. Opt for more loose-fitting clothes as well to help keep you cool.

Your clothes should be summery, but your foot gear should not! Moving day is not the time for flip flops, sandals, or heels. Stick with comfortable closed-toed shoes or, if you’re doing a DIY move, wear some boots to protect your feet in case you drop a box on your foot. Even if you hire movers, chances are you’ll probably carry something whether that’s your pet or a box of important documents and items that you want to make sure make it your new home.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated during the summer months is incredibly important especially if you plan on moving. Even if you’re not doing the heavy lifting, you’ll probably still sweat a lot since you’ll be keeping your door open for the movers and have your air conditioner either off or uninstalled from the window. If you’re not replenishing your body with enough water, you could experience negative side effects of dehydration.

Make sure to offer water to the movers and anyone else helping out. If possible, try to stock your fridge at your new apartment with water as well so that you can have something cold to drink after you arrive. You and the movers will be thankful for it!

Look Up the Weather

A couple days before your move, take a look at the weather report. Thunderstorms and squalls happen frequently during the summer months, so you want to make sure you prepare accordingly. If it does look like rain, you should purchase protective coverings for your cloth furniture so they don’t get wet.

For boxes, make sure to give them a thorough inspection and seal any gaps with packing tape. If you’re using old cardboard boxes, you’ll need to take some extra precautions:

• Reinforce the box with extra layers of packing tape around the edges, corners, and bottom
• Line the inside of the box with a plastic sheet, drop cloth, or trash bag to prevent water from leaking inside
• Put your belongings in a plastic bag before you put them in the box
• Clearly label boxes that should not get wet in large letters on the top and side of box by writing “KEEP DRY” or “DON’T GET WET.”

Heavy rain and/or hailstorms can also affect the timing of the movers as it might take longer for them to get to your house and the destination. They might run into dangerous road conditions and/or detours along the way. If they end up going above the time allotted for the move, be prepared to have a higher bill after the move. You should also consider tipping them more, especially if they did a good job of protecting your belongings from the rain.

Conclusion

Summer moves might be common, but that doesn’t mean you should take them lightly! You’ll be competing with millions of other people moving during the same time, so you’ll have to plan accordingly. If that’s not enough, you also have to contend with the summer heat and downpours. Luckily, with enough preparation you should be able to make your move without any issues.