Tag: Summertime Household Goods Moves

Relocating employees often face the prospect of summertime household goods moves. Families with children prefer to move while schools are not in session. Moving during the summer means children will not miss any classes, and the move will not disrupt schoolwork. Also, many home buyers and sellers believe that spring and summer are the best seasons for real estate sales. As a result, over 70% of all moves occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend.

During summer, most moving companies are extremely busy with full schedules. Also, transferees often compete with others who move during this timeframe. College students, seasonal workers, and many other people prefer to move when weather is usually warm and pleasant. As a result, they compete with transferees for space in moving company vans and trucks for summertime household goods moves.

Best Practices for Summertime Household Goods Moves

Companies should plan ahead for summertime household goods moves. Best practices for companies that need to move relocating employees during summer include:

1. Contact your Relocation Management Company (RMC) as early in the process as possible.

Best practice is to integrate your company’s pre-decision process with your RMC. This allows the RMC to have visibility for any potential summertime household goods moves.

2. RMCs should provide companies with options to obtain the lowest cost for moves.

Best practice is to provide multiple bids for summertime household goods moves. However, the RMC will not be able to obtain multiple bids if time does not permit. The busiest week for moves is the last week of June. Companies should be aware that contacting an RMC to arrange moves without enough notice may prevent them from obtaining competitive bids. As a result, the RMC will not be able to find lower costs for the move. Generally, the ability to obtain multiple bids will save companies a significant amount for each move.

3. Best practice is to provide flexibility on dates for summertime household goods moves.

Flexibility on dates helps the moving company with their scheduling. It is also beneficial for transferees since they have many things to take care of related to their relocation. To obtain the lowest cost bids on moves, transferees should provide alternate pickup and delivery dates. Moving companies try to meet preferred dates or nearest alternative dates for relocations.

4. Timing can be a significant issue for some transferees.

Critical delivery dates due to expiring leases, home sale closings, and company requirements to be on site in a new location may require an extra-cost service. Companies that need a transferee to be in a new location by a specific date must provide enough time for them to make the move.

Transferees that are given very short notice for their summertime household goods moves often face significant issues in terms of cost to move and space for their goods on moving company vans and trucks. Last minute requests for space may result in a moving company providing space but only for a specific size such as 10,000 pounds of goods. Transferees with 2,500 pounds of goods may have no choice except to pay for the extra unused space in order to meet the due date set by the company. Best practice is to provide a quote that covers only the space needed for the goods. As a result, transferees would not pay extra for space they cannot use.

What Should Employers do About Summertime Household Goods Moves?

Employers should engage their RMC as early in the relocation process as possible, preferably at the pre-decision stage. An easy way to ensure this engagement starts as early as possible is to create an Application Programming Interface, or relocation API. An API provides a framework for different computer systems to communicate and share information. Employers with a relocation API will have their internal Human Resource Information System (HRIS) integrated with their RMC’s relocation technology. RMCs with industry-leading relocation technology solutions have designed their platforms to quickly and easily integrate with each client’s HRIS.

Employers should work with a qualified and experienced Relocation Management Company (RMC). RMCs provide guidance and insight as to best practices for obtaining multiple bids and arranging for summertime household goods moves. RMCs can help clients and transferees understand how to communicate important dates and other information relating to summertime household goods moves with moving companies.

Conclusion

Global Mobility Solutions’ team of corporate relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients understand how to leverage the multiple bid process to save on summertime household goods moves. Our team can help your company follow industry best practices to communicate early and incorporate flexibility. We can also help your company understand options that are available for relocating employees facing a summertime move.

GMS was the first relocation company to register as a .com. The company also created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation^® technology platform.

Learn best practices from Global Mobility Solutions, the relocation industry and technology experts. GMS is dedicated to keeping you informed and connected. Contact our experts online to discuss your company’s interest in learning best practices relating to summertime household goods moves, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.