Can You Move During the Holidays? Pros and Cons
Movers do work during the holidays — and moving in November or December often comes with real advantages, even though it's not the first time of year most people think of. Life doesn't pause for the holiday season: a new job, a closing date, or a home you couldn't pass up doesn't wait until January. This is especially true in Burlington County, where the moving season naturally slows down once the weather turns — which works in your favor if you're flexible.
If you're weighing a move in Burlington County or nearby towns like Moorestown, Mount Laurel, or Willingboro, here's an honest look at the pros and cons of moving during the holidays — plus how to make it as smooth as possible.
On This Page
Do Movers Work During the Holidays?
The Pros of Moving During the Holidays
The Cons of Moving During the Holidays
Tips for a Smooth Holiday Move
Balancing Your Move With Holiday Travel and Plans
Why Choose Local Movers for a Holiday Relocation
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Movers Work During the Holidays?
Yes — most professional moving companies, including Burlington NJ movers, stay open and active through November and December. The holiday season is actually one of the slower stretches of the year for the moving industry, which means crews are typically available, not booked solid the way they are in summer.
That said, "open" doesn't mean identical to any other week — major holidays themselves (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day) are usually blocked off, so plan your date around the actual holiday, not just the season. Reputable companies build their December schedule around these blackout dates well in advance, so booking early still matters even in a slower season.
2. The Pros of Moving During the Holidays
More flexible scheduling. Many people avoid moving in November and December, so moving companies tend to have more open dates. If you're looking for Mount Laurel moving services or movers near Willingboro, you may find easier booking than during peak summer months.
Potential cost savings. Lower demand sometimes means more competitive pricing. It's not guaranteed across every company, but it's worth asking directly — you may have better luck negotiating rates or finding off-season discounts.
A fresh start for the new year. Moving in before January means you're unpacking, organizing, and settling into your routine without delay. It also means your new home is already set up by the time New Year's resolutions and routines kick in — no January move competing with getting back into a normal schedule. For families relocating to Burlington, Moorestown, or Cinnaminson, it's a chance to spend the holidays in a brand-new space instead of waiting it out.
3. The Cons of Moving During the Holidays
Weather challenges. In Burlington County and towns like Mount Holly and Delran, late fall and winter weather is genuinely unpredictable — rain, snow, and icy roads can add real stress to moving day. Even a normally short drive across town can take longer when roads are wet or icy, so building in extra buffer time — both for the crew and for yourself — makes the day go smoother.
Added stress during a busy season. The holidays already come with shopping, events, and family visits. It's easy to underestimate how much mental bandwidth a move takes until it's competing directly with wrapping gifts and hosting family. This is exactly where hiring out packing services, bin rentals, or heavy-item moving takes real weight off your plate.
Limited help from friends or family. During the holidays, the people who'd normally help you load a truck are busy with their own plans. Professional movers mean you're not depending on whoever happens to be free that weekend.
4. Tips for a Smooth Holiday Move
Book early— even with more open dates, lock in your preferred date as soon as you can, especially if your move falls right around Thanksgiving or Christmas week, when even a slower season still has a handful of in-demand dates
Stay organized— label boxes clearly so unpacking doesn't compete with your holiday plans
Protect your belongings— use weather-resistant packing materials for gifts, decorations, and anything fragile
Keep essentials handy— pack a bag with clothing, toiletries, and holiday items (stockings, gifts) so you're not digging through boxes on the day itself
Local movers who've worked through a few NJ winters already know to bring the right equipment for wet or icy conditions — ask about this directly when you book.
5. Balancing Your Move With Holiday Travel and Plans
If you're traveling to see family over the holidays, build that into your move timeline early rather than trying to fit everything into the same week. A move sandwiched right before a flight or a multi-day family visit is when things tend to go wrong — items left unpacked, last-minute scrambling, nobody home to receive deliveries.
If your schedule is tight, consider splitting the move from the settling-in: get the truck unloaded and the essentials unpacked before you leave for any holiday travel, and save full unpacking and decorating for when you're back with more time. A partially settled home beats a half-packed one you're leaving for a week.
6. Why Choose Local Movers for a Holiday Relocation
Moving during the holidays doesn't have to be the stressful version. Keep It Moving Services handles relocations across Willingboro, Mount Laurel, Cinnaminson, and the rest of Burlington County year-round — including the slower winter season, when our scheduling is usually more flexible to begin with.
Our crews already know which Burlington County streets get tricky in bad weather and plan routes accordingly — the kind of detail that only comes from working these towns through every season, not just the easy ones. We offer bin rentals, packing help, and heavy-item moving as add-ons to any local move, so the holiday season doesn't have to mean doing everything yourself on top of everything else going on.
According to the American Trucking Associations' Moving & Storage Conference, the moving industry's slowest months are consistently November through February — which is exactly why off-season movers tend to have more flexibility on both scheduling and sometimes pricing.
Before booking any mover for a holiday relocation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's consumer protection page is worth a look — it covers your rights and what a licensed company is required to carry, which matters just as much in December as any other month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do movers work on holidays?
Most moving companies operate through November and December, though the holidays themselves — Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day — are typically blocked off. Outside of those specific days, scheduling a move during the season is usually easier than in summer.
Is it cheaper to move during the holidays?
Sometimes. Demand is lower in the off-season, which can mean more competitive pricing or more room to negotiate, though it's not guaranteed across every company. It's worth asking directly when you request quotes.
What's the biggest risk of moving in winter?
Weather — rain, snow, and icy roads can slow down a move and require extra precautions. A mover experienced with NJ winters will plan around it, but it's smart to build in flexibility around your date if the forecast looks rough.
Should I move before or after Christmas?
It depends on your situation. Moving before gives you a fresh space for the holidays themselves; moving after avoids competing with shopping, travel, and family visits for your time and attention. Neither is objectively better — it's a scheduling preference.
How do I keep gifts and decorations safe during a holiday move?
Pack them in clearly labeled, weather-resistant boxes or bins, and consider transporting anything irreplaceable (heirloom ornaments, wrapped gifts) separately rather than in the moving truck if you're especially concerned.
Can I get last-minute movers during the holiday season?
Often, yes — the holiday season's lower demand means more last-minute availability than you'd find in summer. Request a free estimate as early as you can regardless, since major holiday dates themselves do book up.
Will my move take longer because of the holidays?
Not necessarily because of demand, but weather-related delays are more common in winter than other seasons. Building in a buffer day around your move, especially for longer-distance relocations, is a reasonable precaution.
Is moving during the holidays a bad idea?
Not necessarily — it has real trade-offs (weather, holiday-season stress) but also real advantages (scheduling flexibility, potential savings, settling in before the new year). The right call depends on your specific timeline and priorities.
Ready to plan your holiday move? Get a free estimate and let Keep It Moving Services handle the heavy lifting while you focus on enjoying the season in your new home. We got you
