Busiest day to move in 2023 is NOT the best time for movers looking to save money

Friday 25th August is set to be the most popular day to move home in 2023 with four times more households than average planning to move on that day. 5,500 moves are expected on this date, making it the busiest day for removal companies. But you might want to avoid moving on this date if you're looking to save money.

Post updated: August 1st, 2024

4 minute read

Busiest day to move in 2023 is NOT the best time for movers looking to save money

Friday 25th August is set to be the most popular day to move home in 2023 with four times more households than average planning to move on that day.

We have analysed more than 600,000 removal quotes collected by our partners at reallymoving and found that over 5,500 moves are planned to take place on Friday 25th August, making it the busiest day for removal companies. 

August also remains the most popular month to move for the 11th year, which is not surprising given that homemovers want to be moved and settled by the time the children go back to school.  Nearly a third of moves happen late summer/ early autumn. Unsurprisingly the data also reveals that January and February remain the least popular months to move house.

Friday is also a popular day to move house with almost a third of households choosing to move with the weekend ahead. With work on a Monday it’s no surprise that Sundays are the least popular day. While moving on a Friday may seem ideal there are reasons why this may not be the best day to move house.

When you look at the analysis, this translates into a whopping 60,000 homeowners moving in the month of August alone and 154,000 homeowners moving on Fridays over the course of the year.

Why you could save by moving mid-week

While it may seem sensible to move on a Friday or the August bank holiday weekend, moving at the same time as large amounts of other people can put pressure on the professionals helping you move, the conveyancers handling the transaction and can mean a greater risk of delays.

Furthermore analysis by reallymoving shows that 1 in 5 removal companies are willing to offer mid-week deals and negotiate on price to encourage movers to move at a less busy time.

Our CEO Paula Higgins comments on the data “With the long summer bank holiday weekend it’s no surprise Friday 25th August is set to be the busiest day to move. A long weekend gives movers the opportunity to get settled and sorted before families return to school and work. But, in a cost of living crisis, we wanted to point out to homebuyers that there are savings to be had by avoiding the busiest day. With the average 2-bedroom house move costing over £500, it would be wise for households to consider moving at a less busy time so they can negotiate a discount on their removals quote.”

Rob Houghton, CEO of reallymoving, adds: “Moving on the busiest day of the year isn’t for the faint-hearted, especially with the August bank holiday also happening that week, pushing more moves onto the remaining four days. Ensure your conveyancer and everyone in the chain knows you’re working towards that date and book your removals firm well in advance, so you only need to confirm as soon as you exchange. It’s best to ask them to come to your house to assess the volume of your belongings. This ensures you have the right sized van and number of team members on the day of your move.”

What to do if you’re moving in August

For those already set to move in August, prepare for delays as removals firms are put under added strain with so many house moves taking place, especially on the bank holiday weekend. But don’t despair, there are things you can do to ensure your move goes smoothly and to plan:

  • If you’ve not yet decided on a date for your move, suggest an alternative day of the week, avoiding the August bank holiday weekend. Savings are possible, as we know 1 in 5 removal firms are willing to negotiate on price. See our guide to house removals costs.
  • If you have to move on a Friday, ask your conveyancer to order the mortgage money from your lender the day before completion so it can be transferred first thing on the day of the move.
  • Tell your conveyancer and insist that it is written in the contract that you should receive the keys by 1pm. Otherwise you could be stranded without keys to your new abode until Monday.
  • If you’re going to be moving this August bank holiday, remember things are busier. Get quotes for removals firms as soon as possible and appoint them after exchanging contracts.
  • Choose a removals firm you trust and have rapport with. Talk through what would happen if a delay occurred. For example, do they have emergency storage? Be aware of the different things that may impact the cost of your move, like access or extra services. Here are our top tips for choosing a reliable removals company.
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Moving can be extremely stressful, don’t forget to check out our Moving House Checklist to ease the pressure and help your move go to plan.

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