We've moved a lot of Austinites. From West Campus students to Westlake families, downtown lofts to Lakeway ranches, the city has its own rhythm — and it has a few specific quirks that ruin moving day if you don't plan around them. Here are the five tips we wish every Austin customer knew before booking.
1. Avoid the Last Saturday of the Month
Austin leases turn over on the same day a staggering percentage of the time. The last Saturday of every month is the busiest moving day in the city — every truck is booked, every elevator is reserved, every traffic light downtown takes twice as long. If you have flexibility, schedule your move for a weekday or for the second or third weekend of the month. You'll get better availability, sharper crews, and a calmer day.
2. Reserve the Elevator (Yes, Really)
If you're moving in or out of any building above three stories — most downtown high-rises, condo towers along South Congress, the Domain residences — call the building manager 7–10 days ahead and reserve the freight elevator. Most buildings require it, and most charge if you show up without a reservation. Many also require a certificate of insurance from your moving company; we send those at no charge, just give us the contact email.
3. Plan Around the Texas Summer
Austin in July and August regularly hits 100°F, and a non-air-conditioned moving truck in direct sun can hit 130°F inside. Three things to know:
- Anything wax-based (candles, vinyl records, makeup) will warp or melt. Move those in your own car.
- Books left flat in a box for 8 hours in summer heat will start to glue together. Unpack books night one.
- Schedule your move for the earliest crew slot available — start at 7 or 8 AM, finish before peak heat.
Tip the crew with cold water, not hot coffee. We mean it.
4. Account for Austin Traffic
Hourly moving rates include drive time between origin and destination. A move from East Austin to Cedar Park looks like 18 miles on a map and takes 25 minutes at 6 AM — and 75 minutes at 5 PM. If your move is going across town, ask your crew when they recommend starting to beat the traffic window. We build estimates around realistic Austin drive times, not Google Maps' best-case numbers.
5. Hire a Crew That Knows the City
This sounds obvious until you've watched an out-of-town crew try to navigate I-35 access roads or get a 26-foot truck up a Travis Heights driveway. Local Austin crews know which streets to avoid in which weather, which apartment complexes have impossible loading docks, and which neighborhoods enforce parking permits. Hiring locally isn't sentimental — it's faster and cheaper than the alternative.
Diligent Movers has been moving Austin since day one. Our crews live here, drive here, and deal with the traffic and the weather every day. If you're planning a move in or out of Austin, we'd love to give you a free quote — and walk you through anything specific to your address before you book.