Holiday Moving in Colorado: Tips for a Stress-Free Winter Relocation

Life doesn’t always wait for a convenient time. Job transfers, home closings, lease expirations, and military PCS orders don’t care about your holiday plans. If you’re facing a move during the holiday season—Thanksgiving through New Year’s—you’re not alone, and it’s absolutely manageable with the right approach.

At iHaul iMove, we’ve helped families navigate holiday moves across Colorado Springs for over 18 years. While moving during the most wonderful time of the year has its challenges, it also comes with some surprising benefits.

The Upside of Holiday Moving

Before you assume a holiday move is all bad news, consider these genuine advantages:

Financial Benefits

• Off-peak pricing — The holiday season falls squarely in the off-peak moving window. Rates are typically lower than the summer rush.
• End-of-year deals — Many moving companies offer holiday specials and year-end promotions to keep crews busy during slower months.
• Tax advantages — If your move is work-related, closing on a new home before December 31 can offer tax benefits for the current year. Consult your tax advisor for specifics.

Scheduling Benefits

• More date choices — During summer, you might wait weeks for your preferred date. During the holidays, you’ll likely get the exact day and time you want.
• Year-end closings — Many home sales close in December as buyers and sellers rush to complete transactions before the new year.
• Time off work — If you have holiday PTO, you can use a few days for moving without burning additional vacation time.

Book Early: While holiday season is off-peak, popular dates around Thanksgiving and Christmas weekends fill up faster. Call 719-357-5865 to secure your preferred date.

Planning Your Holiday Move Timeline

The key to a successful holiday move is careful scheduling around the festive calendar. Here’s how to navigate the major holidays:

Thanksgiving Week

• Best moving days: Monday-Wednesday before Thanksgiving, or the following Monday-Tuesday
• Avoid: Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday (traffic congestion from shoppers)
• Tip: If you’re moving the week before Thanksgiving, plan a simple, potluck-style holiday dinner at the new home. Paper plates are perfectly acceptable during a move.

December / Christmas Season

• Best moving days: Early December (1st-15th) or between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26-30)
• Avoid: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (most moving crews are off)
• Tip: If you’re moving in early December, set up a small tree and a few decorations immediately. Even a modest display makes the new house feel festive and welcoming.

New Year’s Week

• Best moving days: December 26-30 or January 2-5
• Avoid: New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
• Tip: A January move right after the holidays is actually ideal—you’re fresh from vacation, motivated for a new start, and the post-holiday blues can be offset by the excitement of a new home.

Packing Around the Holidays

One of the trickiest aspects of a holiday move is packing while simultaneously celebrating. Here’s how to balance both:

If Decorations Are Already Up

• Remove and pack decorations early. The sooner they’re down and boxed, the sooner you can focus on packing the rest of the house.
• Use this year’s packing as next year’s organization. Wrap ornaments individually in packing paper, use egg cartons for small ornaments, and label each box by room or tree section.
• Consider skipping full decorating. If you’re moving in December, minimal decorations at the old house and quick decorating at the new house is a perfectly reasonable approach.

Holiday Gifts and Moving

• Ship gifts directly. If you’re exchanging gifts with out-of-town family, have items shipped directly to recipients rather than packing and then mailing them.
• Keep gifts in a designated “do not pack” area. The last thing you want is a wrapped present ending up in a random moving box.
• Gift wrapping supplies can be packed early—you can always use gift bags from the store instead.

Holiday Food and Kitchen

• Use up perishables. In the weeks before your move, cook through your freezer and pantry rather than buying new groceries.
• Plan simple holiday meals. A catered meal, restaurant dinner, or contributions from friends and family reduce the pressure on your kitchen.
• Pack the kitchen last. Keep basic cooking essentials accessible until moving day.

Winter Weather Considerations

Holiday moves in Colorado come with weather variables that summer moves don’t. Here’s how to prepare:

Snow and Ice Prep

• Clear walkways and driveways before movers arrive. Apply ice melt the night before if freezing temperatures are expected.
• Have a snow plan. If a major storm is forecast, discuss contingency dates with your moving company.
• Protect floors. Snow, ice melt, and moisture get tracked in during winter moves. Lay down floor runners and have towels ready at both homes.

Cold Weather Protection

• Electronics — Let all electronics warm to room temperature before plugging them in. Cold electronics can develop condensation that damages components.
• Plants — Transport houseplants in your personal heated vehicle. Even a few minutes of exposure to freezing temperatures can kill tropical plants.
• Liquids — Any water-based items (cleaning supplies, paint, beverages) can freeze and burst in an unheated truck during extended loading times.

For a comprehensive guide to cold-weather relocations, see our detailed winter moving playbook.

Keeping Holiday Traditions Alive During a Move

A move doesn’t have to mean sacrificing every holiday tradition. Here’s how to keep the spirit alive:

Simplified Celebrations

• One special meal. You don’t need a five-course dinner. Choose one signature dish and keep everything else simple.
• Favorite decorations only. Unpack just a few meaningful decorations at the new house—the family stocking, a small tree, or a string of lights in the living room.
• Holiday music. A Bluetooth speaker and your favorite playlist instantly transform even a half-unpacked room into a festive space.

Creating New Traditions

• First meal in the new home. Make it memorable—order from a new local restaurant, try a new recipe, or have pizza on the floor surrounded by boxes.
• Explore your new neighborhood. Colorado Springs offers incredible holiday events: the Festival of Lights at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Broadmoor’s holiday light display, and downtown holiday festivities.
• Housewarming party. Combine your holiday celebration with a housewarming. Friends and family will be happy to see the new place, and bringing a dish to share lightens your hosting burden.

Holiday Moving Tips for Families with Children

Kids can struggle with holiday moves more than adults. The combination of leaving friends, changing schools, and disrupting holiday routines feels enormous.

• Maintain at least one tradition. Whether it’s baking cookies, watching a specific movie, or driving to see Christmas lights, keep one anchor tradition intact.
• Let kids decorate their room first. Having their personal space set up quickly provides comfort and ownership.
• New home, new stocking. Let each child pick a new ornament or decoration specifically for the new home. It becomes part of the story.
• Plan a friend reunion. Promise kids they can have old friends visit the new home after the holidays. Having something to look forward to helps.

Make Your Holiday Move Merry

Moving during the holidays may not have been your first choice, but with planning and the right support, it can be a positive experience—even a memorable one. Years from now, your family will tell the story of “that time we moved on Christmas week,” and it’ll be a good story.

With 900+ five-star reviews and a team that genuinely cares about your family’s experience, iHaul iMove is ready to help you settle into your new Colorado Springs home in time for the holidays.

Whether you’re relocating within Colorado Springs, moving from Monument or Castle Rock, or making a long-distance move, call us at 719-357-5865.

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