Key Takeaways: Planning summer employee relocations during the peak season doesn’t have to be overwhelming. These 10 expert-backed strategies from TRC Global Mobility help HR professionals stay ahead of demand, reduce stress, and ensure a seamless experience for relocating employees.
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Start early: Initiate domestic moves 30–45 days out and international moves 60–90 days ahead to secure resources and manage logistics.
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Set expectations clearly: Align with employees and hiring managers on realistic timelines, especially around start dates and housing.
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Prioritize critical moves: Segment relocations by urgency to maximize efficiency and minimize disruption.
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Prepare for shipping delays: Household goods capacity tightens in summer—provide notice and consider storage or alternate shipping methods.
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Book housing in advance: Temporary housing fills quickly in metro areas; flexibility with location or amenities can help secure options.
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Plan for travel disruption: Anticipate delays with flexible itineraries and backup plans to avoid cascading relocation issues.
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Act early on international assignments: Visa and customs delays spike in summer; fast-track immigration steps and documentation.
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Use technology for transparency: Centralized platforms like TRC’s ReloSource provide real-time updates and reporting for HR and employees.
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Support the whole family: School search, partner support, and family-friendly housing reduce stress and improve relocation success.
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Review and refine policies post-season: Use surveys and data to identify bottlenecks and evolve your mobility strategy.
Summer is the traditional “peak season” for corporate relocations. With schools out, business planning cycles underway, and warmer weather aiding logistics, May through September accounts for a large portion of employee relocations each year, especially in the United States. However, the spike in demand for household goods shipments and temporary housing can pose significant challenges for HR and mobility professionals.
TRC Global Mobility has nearly four decades of experience helping organizations navigate these pressure points. As a 100 percent employee-owned company, every member of our team is personally invested in our clients’ success. Our guidance is shaped by real-time data, an unmatched supplier-partner network, proprietary ReloSource technology, and ongoing feedback from clients and relocating employees.
Here are ten practical, proven tips to help you navigate the peak summer employee relocation season with confidence.
1. Initiate the Relocation Process Early
Why it matters: Van line capacity, temporary housing, and destination services become increasingly scarce as summer heats up. Delaying a relocation initiation, even by a few days, can significantly reduce options, increase costs, and result in a more stressful experience for employees.
Actionable Tip: As soon as a relocation is under consideration, engage your relocation management company (RMC). Early coordination enables us to place holds with household goods carriers, source housing options, and schedule immigration and tax consultations as needed. We recommend initiating U.S. domestic moves at least 30–45 days in advance and international moves 60–90 days in advance, if possible.
2. Set Clear, Realistic Expectations with Employees and Hiring Managers
Why it matters: Employees and hiring managers may assume they can carry out a relocation on their preferred schedule with no constraints. During peak season, that’s not always realistic.
Actionable Tip: Help employees understand seasonal limitations and prepare them for potential scheduling trade-offs. TRC Relocation Counselors communicate these realities empathetically, offering regular updates so transferees feel supported, not blindsided. Including hiring managers and internal stakeholders in planning discussions is just as important. Setting shared expectations around start dates and dependencies ensures alignment across teams.
3. Triage and Prioritize Your Relocations
Reasons it matters: When flexibility is possible, try to schedule moves before or after the busiest summer season. This can reduce the chance of service disruptions, decrease stress, and reduce costs.
Actionable Tip: With TRC’s help, segment relocations by urgency and business need. Prioritize new hires with fixed start dates, revenue-generating roles, or international assignments requiring longer lead times. We help clients create scalable relocation calendars and allocate internal and external resources accordingly.
4. Anticipate Household Goods Shipping Constraints
Why it matters: The household goods industry faces labor shortages, rising costs, and logistical bottlenecks, especially in summer. Our partners go the extra mile to create a great customer experience, but there are far more constraints during the summer.
Actionable Tip: Provide as much notice as possible, especially for larger shipments. Consider containerized or storage-in-transit options if delivery timing is uncertain. TRC works closely with top-tier van line partners to provide creative, compliant shipping solutions that protect your employees’ belongings and peace of mind.
5. Reserve Temporary Housing Early—and Be Flexible
Why it matters: In peak season, high-demand metro areas like San Francisco, Boston, and New York can see temporary housing inventory dry up quickly. Prices rise, and housing options and location choices become increasingly limited.
Actionable Tip: Book temporary housing as early as possible once relocation dates are confirmed. Be open to a broader geographic radius or slightly different amenities. For instance, expanding the search area by just a few miles may double the housing options. TRC’s temporary housing partners offer flexible, fully furnished units, and we work to secure the best possible match, even in supply-constrained markets.
6. Plan for Travel Disruptions and Back-Up Itineraries
Why it matters: Summer travel surges result in more frequent flight delays, cancellations, and lost baggage issues. Last-minute bookings can also drive up relocation travel costs.
Actionable Tip: Build in buffer days, avoid tight scheduling between travel and home closings or lease starts, and consider refundable or flexible fares. TRC’s team helps coordinate move-related travel and troubleshoot disruptions in real time to keep your relocation on track.
7. Flag International Assignments Early to Account for Immigration and Customs Delays
Why it matters: Immigration processing slows down during peak season, compounded by embassy backlogs, global holidays, and summer shutdowns in Europe and Asia.
Actionable Tip: Don’t wait to initiate visa applications or tax consultations. For household goods shipments, ensure all documents are complete and culturally appropriate for the destination. TRC works with a vetted network of destination service providers (DSPs) and immigration partners to stay ahead of country-specific lead times and regulatory changes.
8. Leverage Technology for Visibility and Communication
Why it matters: With a surge of concurrent moves, tracking every detail manually is nearly impossible, and employees can feel abandoned if updates aren’t timely.
Actionable Tip: Manage expectations and reduce anxiety by providing updates on the move’s progress. Ensure your RMC offers a centralized technology platform that allows HR to monitor move statuses and access reports. Employees should have access to a self-service portal or mobile app that provides checklists, messages, and contact information. TRC’s ReloSource platform keeps stakeholders in sync and automates key updates to reduce friction and increase transparency.
9. Offer Family-Focused Services That Ease Summer Transitions
Why it matters: For families, summer moves often revolve around the school calendar. Disruptions to education, partner employment, or childcare can cause significant stress and increase the risk of failed relocations.
Actionable Tip: Consider authorizing family-friendly benefits, such as school search, partner career support, and area orientation. TRC’s family-focused relocation services aim to address the emotional and logistical complexities of family moves. For example, temporary housing with separate bedrooms or full kitchens can make a world of difference in family comfort and satisfaction.
10. Conduct a Formal Post-Season Review and Policy Checkup
Why it matters: Each peak season uncovers new stress points. Without reviewing what went right and what could have gone better, you miss an opportunity to improve future experiences. Involve employees in the planning process: Encourage feedback and suggestions to foster investment and gain valuable insights.
Actionable Tip: Survey employees on their relocation experience. Use TRC’s ReloSource reporting tools to review cost variances, timeline delays, and supplier performance. Schedule a mid-year policy checkup with your TRC Client Services Manager to discuss program refinements, emerging trends, and market benchmarks.
Bonus Tip: Stay Flexible and Lean on Your RMC
Despite the best planning, summer relocations don’t always go exactly as expected. Disruptions happen, and that’s when having a relocation management partner that can adapt, problem-solve, and advocate on your behalf matters the most.
TRC’s employee-owners are empowered to take ownership of every client and employee experience. During peak season, that means faster decisions, better communication, and fewer surprises.
Final Thoughts
Managing summer employee relocations isn’t easy, but it’s entirely controllable with the right strategy and support. By starting early, prioritizing strategically, and relying on expert guidance, you can reduce stress for your employees and yourself, control costs, and protect your business operations. TRC Global Mobility is always here to help you deliver a better relocation experience under any conditions.
Need help navigating your summer moves? Contact TRC today to discover how our proactive solutions can help ease peak-season pressure.
