Winter time brings many thoughts to mind. Long nights with clear, deep, black skies. Cold mornings with the frost heavy on the ground. Fresh snow, slowly falling from a deep blue background. To many, it’s the best time of the year. To others, they can’t wait for spring to come again.
Winter is primetime for several activities. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and more. But is it primetime for a move? Let’s take a look.
Location, Location, Location
When it comes to moving, there are some specific things we must address and consider when deciding if winter time is a good time to make a move, the first of those being location. If you’re currently sitting in southern California, there’s not much more to discuss, winter time would probably be the best time of the year for you. However, if you’re residing in the Midwest or Northeast, we have contemplating to do.
New York winters can be absolutely brutal. Blizzards and driving winds can make breathing a difficult proposition. Icy conditions turn a simple walk into a daily hazard and the bitter cold can send any hardened New Yorker running for warmth. Keep in mind that a move isn’t something that can be easily rescheduled, so you may have to face snow, ice, wind and sub-freezing temps if you elect to move during the winter months.
Inventory
The next topic to cover is availability of housing. For the reasons mentioned above, along with the school year being in full swing, inventory in the housing market is commonly at Its lowest point during winter. If you’re not too picky and just need a place to call home for short time, this might not be an issue. However, if you’re needs are fairly in depth, finding the right place can be hard.
Winter for the Win
Now for the good news. Although inventory may be low, and conditions may not be ideal, those two factors together create a positive; low competition. Moving companies, Realtors, rental agencies and mortgage brokers will be looking for business more so in the winter time, which means you’ll probably receive more attention than you would during the boom months. You may even find discounts and specials being run during the winter time that you wouldn’t find in summer.
How Many People do you Need to Move?
Lastly, we’ll consider the size of your family. A single person moving from studio to studio across a borough shouldn’t find winter all that difficult. A minimal number of boxes and furniture to move and no kids to worry about usually equate to an easy move. But, if you’re a full-size family with one or more kids in tow, winter time can present some challenges. Aside from having a full house worth of items to box up and transport, there’s also schools to consider, sports, extracurriculars, and friends to take into consideration.
Ultimately, it’s your decision. You know yourself and your family better than anyone and know what you’re capable of handling. So, weigh the pros and cons and we’re sure you’ll make the right choice.