Moving can be stressful, but if you choose the right time of year to move, it can make your move easier.
The best time to move to New York City depends on many factors, but generally, the best time to move will be in the summer.
This article will explain when the best time to move to New York City is, when the worst time to move is, some things you can look for to benefit your move, and what you need to know about the moving process.
This article explains moving times and information in terms of apartments, but this information applies to the real estate market too. The availability for buying a home is the same as the rental timeline, and so does all the moving information.
Contents
When Is The Best Time To Move In New York City?
The best time to move in New York City depends a lot on what is important to you in an apartment, although most people move during peak moving season.
The best time to move for low prices is different than the best time to move in good weather.
This section will break down the best time to move based on weather, prices, availability, and annual events.
When Is Peak Moving Season?
Peak moving season is between May and September, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This season is when the weather is best, and there are a lot of apartments available for rent. However, most people are moving, so the available places will go fast, and it may be hard to find movers or moving supplies.
During peak moving season, you need to sign a lease quickly when you find a place that you like. Otherwise, it will be off the market before you know it. The fast timeline is one of the downsides of peak season, but there are so many units available that you are likely to find multiple that you are interested in.
Best Weather for Moving
Summer almost always has the best weather for moving. There is nice, sunny weather, and it is not too cold.
The nice weather is part of the reason that the peak moving season spans the summer months.
If you are hiring movers, make sure to book far enough in advance, as many other people will be booking movers in the summer too. Moving in the last minute in New York is a challenge, but you should be find a few local movers to help you.
If you are moving on your own, try to move on a day that is not scorching hot, so the move is not more difficult than it needs to be.
Consider Holidays and Events
You should consider any holidays that you celebrate when planning your move. Many people celebrate at least one holiday in late December. If you try to plan a move at this time, it may put extra stress on you that will make your move harder.
It might also be harder to move during the holiday season if management companies have limited hours or closings. If this happens, you might have less flexibility in your move. Your move in date will have to work around any closures, and it may be inconvenient for you.
You should also consider events like school for children. If you have school-aged kids, moving in the summer might be the most convenient time.
Best Rental Prices
Rent prices are highest in the peak season, although this does not mean that you can not find a reasonably priced apartment.
You will just pay a little more for an apartment than what you would pay in the off-season.
Around October is when rental prices begin decreasing, and February is the cheapest month to find an apartment. If you want to have the lowest rent prices, moving in the winter months is your best option.
Best Property Availability
Most apartments are on the market in the summer months, with the highest amount in July. If you are looking for specific features in an apartment, this is the best time to start your apartment search.
Even though you will have a higher apartment cost, you are more likely to find an apartment that suits you.
If you have a family and need to find a larger apartment, you will find more options in the summer months.
However, you need to remember that apartments tend to cost more in the summer, which may not be practical for a big family. The cost of living in New York City is high, so make sure you find an apartment at the right price so you can still afford other basic needs.
When Is The Worse Time To Move In New York City?
The worst time to move will depend on a few things like weather, prices, and availability.
You will be hard-pressed to find a cheap apartment in the summer months.
But, you may not find an apartment that suits your personal needs in the winter months.
You need to consider what time of year makes the most sense for you to move.
Moving In Bad Weather
While winter has the cheapest rent prices, there is a chance that you will be moving in bad weather. There is a lot of wet, snowy weather in NYC winters. If you are moving on your own, it may be easier to move between late spring and early fall when you know the weather will be nice.
On the other hand, if you are hiring movers, you may not care what the weather is like, as long as there is no blizzard. If you have small load or not that many items and furniture, small load movers might be able to help you move even in light snow.
However, if there is very bad weather that would make it dangerous to move, most movers may cancel.
Benefits To Seek When Moving
There are some benefits and incentives that landlords may offer to get a tenant in their apartment.
Many landlords offer these benefits in the winter months, but you can find them in the summer, too, especially if an apartment has been on the market for a while.
One of the most common offers is a month or two of free rent. If you can get this deal, your landlord will usually include the free months discount in the list price, and you will need to ask your landlord how the discount will be applied. a few thousand dollars annually.
Some other common deal sweeteners include a gift card, waiving any fees that you have when you sign the lease, or even a flat-screen television. Landlords offer these items because they want someone to occupy their unit and have a move in date that is not too far out.
The longer units are on the market, the more likely they are to lower prices, which is not what landlords want, so they are more likely to offer incentives to get a tenant.
How Does The Moving Process Work?
Once you figure out when you want to move, you will want to start looking for apartments. It can be an overwhelming process given the enormity of the Big Apple, but start with a list of features that you want in an apartment and consider if anything would be a deal-breaker.
Do you want a new apartment? What about a parking spot? Do you need one bedroom or can you be happy in a studio apartment?
Decide Where to Live in New York
Are you thinking on moving to Upper West Side? Do you prefer a move to NYC’s Upper East Side? You should also consider the neighborhood that you are going to live in. Staten Island will have the lowest rent prices for larger apartments.
On the other hand, New Yorkers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens pay the highest rent prices.
When choosing an area to live in, you should consider the transportation options, the entertainment and food nearby, and how much a year’s rent will cost. You can use your yearly housing cost to decide whether or not an apartment is right for you and your budget.
Finally, if you have children, figure out where they will be going to school and if you will be close enough to their school to make it easy for them.
If you are transferring them to a new school, make sure to check school enrollment deadlines and requirements, so you do not have any problems getting the kids into school.
How Much Can You Afford?
Determining how much you can pay in monthly rent can be hard. A good rule of thumb is that your annual income should be equal to or higher than forty to fifty times one month’s rent. This requirement is what landlords use to determine if a tenant is a good fit or not.
There will also be fees that you need to pay when you move in as well. In addition to the first month’s rent paid before you move in, you will almost always need to pay a, usually refundable, security deposit equal to one month of rent.
There could also be broker’s fees or fees that management companies require for your move in. These costs are all on top of any moving van that you rent or moving company that you hire.
If you move in the winter, you may be able to get some of the benefits mentioned earlier in the article, like a free month of rent or no deposits or fees. You may also be able to sign a longer lease and get a lower monthly price.
For example, if you sign an eighteen-month lease instead of a twelve-month lease, your landlord may lower the monthly cost.
Be Ready to Move
Once you find an apartment, you will want to have everything ready, so you can get approved and sign a lease before anyone else does.
Being ready is especially important in peak season when competition among renters is high.
First, make sure your credit score is high, as this is one of the most important factors that landlords consider, in addition to your annual income, which we explained in the section above.
Your move date will need to be soon after you sign the lease, usually within about two weeks, so make sure you have time to pack, hire moving companies, and get your payments in order.
In the winter, you may have a little more flexibility with your move date, but it will still need to be in the near future.
Conclusion
When you move to New York City, you need to figure out the best time to move depending on prices, availability, weather, and any other events like summer vacation for children. When looking for apartments, look for any incentives that landlords offer, like a free month of rent or other discounts or add-ons.
Once you decide when to move, make sure you will qualify financially for the apartments that you look at. When you find one that you like, be ready to sign a lease and move quickly. Otherwise, the landlord will choose someone else to move in.
Sources:
- flatrate.com/blog/best-time-of-year-to-move-to-nyc/
- brickunderground.com/blog/2013/01/moving_to_nyc_everything_you_need_to_know_before_relocating_here
- propertynest.com/blog/rent/when-best-time-year-rent-apartment-ny/
