May is officially National Moving Month, and the data backs it up. Approximately 15% of all annual U.S. moves occur in May, tying with August as the single highest-volume moving month. Over 60% of all moves happen between May and September, compressing roughly 11 million relocations into a five-month window.
Strategy playbook
May Playbook: Moving Season Momentum
May is National Moving Month, military PCS season opens, and Memorial Day launches summer projects. This playbook captures the momentum that carries you through October.
Last updated: Mar 2026
Strategy
Executive summary
Pivot messaging from spring cleaning to moving season. Shift partnership focus from real estate agents to moving companies. Implement surge pricing on weekends and high-demand days. Every truck should be running every day at maximum capacity — if a truck sits idle in May, something is wrong with your marketing or scheduling.
Military PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves begin May 15 and run through August 31. The Department of Defense books approximately 200,000 household goods shipments each summer. Military families need pre-move decluttering to meet weight allowances and post-move disposal at new duty stations. Operators near military installations should actively pursue this segment.
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer and triggers outdoor projects, garage cleanouts, and pre-party cleanup. It's also a popular weekend for yard sales — which generate cleanup work afterward. Run a promotional campaign and implement weekend surge pricing.
College move-out hits in late May. Students leave behind furniture, appliances, and packing materials. Near-campus operators can partner with university facilities management for bulk disposal contracts or offer student-focused cleanout packages.
Home renovation spending remains robust — projected at $524 billion by early 2026. 48% of homeowners plan renovation projects, and May is when outdoor projects (decks, patios, landscaping) generate peak debris volume.
KPIs
Numbers to watch
May is a capacity management month, not a demand generation month. If you're not at full utilization, the problem is scheduling or routing, not marketing. Track jobs per truck per day as your primary operational metric and windshield time per route as your primary efficiency metric.
Primary
Booked jobs
30–45 for the month
Primary
Revenue vs. average
110–130% of monthly baseline
Primary
Weekend/
15%+ above weekday rates
Secondary
Moving company partnerships
3+ active cross-referrals
Secondary
Jobs per truck per day
4–5+
Secondary
Utilization rate
100% — no idle trucks on any workday
Channels
Execution channels
Fast
Memorial Day Weekend Campaign
“Memorial Day weekend is here — and it's the perfect time to clear out the garage, yard, or basement before summer. Our crews are running all weekend with extended hours. Call [phone] or book online: [link]. Slots fill fast — book by Friday.”
What to doHide details
- Send campaign by Wednesday before the weekend
- Offer a time-limited incentive: 'Book Friday–Monday and we'll add free yard sign placement' or 'Memorial Day pricing — book before Tuesday'
- Deploy on email, SMS, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and GBP simultaneously
Mistake to avoid: Running Memorial Day ads that are indistinguishable from every other service company's holiday marketing. Be specific to junk removal: 'Make room for the grill' or 'Clear the patio before the cookout' converts better than generic 'Memorial Day Sale' messaging.
KPI: Memorial Day weekend bookings (target: 20%+ increase over standard weekend) and campaign revenue
Fast
Military PCS Targeting (Near Installations)
“PCS orders? We help military families declutter before the move and clean up after arrival. 15% military discount on all services. Fully insured. Same-day available. Thank you for your service. — [Business Name], [Phone]”
What to doHide details
- Post in military spouse Facebook groups and base community pages
- Register with installation family support centers as a preferred vendor
- Offer 10–15% military discount — it costs less than your standard customer acquisition and generates loyalty
Mistake to avoid: Ignoring the military segment if you're more than 30 miles from a base. PCS moves are concentrated — if you're not near an installation, this channel has minimal volume. Only invest time here if you're within 20 miles of an active military base with family housing.
KPI: Military family bookings (target: 3–5 per month if near a base) and military discount redemptions
Reliable
Google Ads — Moving Season Keywords
“Moving This Summer? We'll Clear Out Everything You're Not Taking. Same-Day Service. Book Online or Call Now. Locally Owned, Fully Insured.”
What to doHide details
- Add moving-specific keywords: 'pre-move cleanout,' 'moving junk removal,' 'move-out cleanup [city]'
- Maintain full peak-season budget — May search volume is higher than April
- Create a separate ad group for moving-related terms with dedicated copy
Mistake to avoid: Running the same spring cleaning ad copy from March and April through May. The customer psychology shifts from 'I want to organize my home' to 'I need to clear out before I move.' Copy that doesn't match the intent underperforms — update your ads for moving season.
KPI: Leads from moving-related keywords (track separately) and cost per booked moving-related job
Reliable
Moving Company Cross-Referral Partnerships
“We specialize in the junk removal side of moves — the stuff movers won't take. When your customers have old furniture, broken appliances, or garage junk they don't want at the new place, send them our way and we'll send overflow moving leads back to you.”
What to doHide details
- Finalize agreements with 3–5 local movers: you refer overflow moves, they refer pre-move and post-move cleanouts
- Exchange marketing materials — leave your cards at their office, they leave theirs at yours
- Set up a simple tracking system: 'How did you hear about us?' captures referral source
Mistake to avoid: Approaching movers as competitors instead of partners. You're not competing for the same job — movers transport belongings; you remove what's being left behind. Frame the partnership as complementary services that improve both companies' customer experience.
KPI: Referrals received from movers (target 3–5 per month) and referrals sent to movers (reciprocity matters)
Compounding
Storage Facility Partnerships
“We partner with storage facilities to provide fast, reliable unit cleanouts. Whether it's an abandoned unit, a downsizing customer, or someone moving out of state — we handle same-day disposal with no hassle for your team. Can we set up a referral arrangement?”
What to doHide details
- Contact 3–5 storage facilities in your market about partnering for unit cleanout services
- Offer to be their preferred vendor for abandoned unit cleanouts and tenant-requested disposal
- Leave marketing materials at the facility office for customers who are downsizing
Mistake to avoid: Expecting storage facility partnerships to generate volume immediately. These are slow-burn relationships — the facility manager needs to trust you before recommending you to tenants. Focus on delivering excellent work on the first 2–3 jobs and the referral volume will follow.
KPI: Storage facility partnerships activated (target 2–3) and jobs from storage referrals per month (target 2–4 by month 2)
Budget
Budget scenarios
Sweat Equity Only
$0
Email/SMS moving season and Memorial Day campaigns to past customers (free)
Contact 5 moving companies for partnerships (free)
Post 3–4x per week on all social platforms with moving-themed content (free)
Register as a preferred vendor at military base and storage facilities (free)
Deploy yard signs after every job (free, using existing signs)
About this budget
May demand is strong enough that partnership-driven and organic channels generate meaningful volume. If you have 3+ active referral partnerships and 100+ past customers, free channels can produce 20–25 jobs this month.
Smart Starter
$1,000–$2,000
Everything above
Google Ads at $25–$40/day with moving-season keywords ($750–$1,200)
Google LSA at $10–$15/day ($300–$450)
Facebook moving and Memorial Day ads at $10/day ($300)
College move-out geo-targeted ads if applicable ($100–$200)
About this budget
May's high demand and strong conversion rates make this the most efficient spend tier. Your cost per booked job should be lower than April despite higher ad budgets — search volume is up and intent remains strong.
Growth Mode
$3,000+
Everything above
Google Ads at $60–$80/day ($1,800–$2,400)
Facebook/Instagram video ads showing truck-loading time-lapses ($500)
Nextdoor promoted posts in 5+ neighborhoods ($300)
Military community advertising if near base ($200)
Sponsor a Memorial Day community event ($200–$500)
About this budget
Only if you're running multiple trucks and consistently scheduling 3+ days out. At $3,000+ monthly spend, you should be generating 40–60 leads and booking 25–35. If your booking rate is below 50%, invest in sales training before adding more marketing spend.
Workflow
How the work moves.
A practical sequence for turning this resource into an operating decision.
Step 01 / 04
Moving Season Pivot + Partnership Push
Transition all messaging to moving season and activate mover partnerships
- Update all ad copy across Google Ads, Facebook, Instagram, and GBP from spring cleaning themes to moving season angles: 'Moving This Summer? We Clear Everything You Leave Behind'
- Contact 5 moving companies in your market to propose cross-referral partnerships: you refer overflow moves to them, they refer pre-move and post-move cleanouts to you
- Send 'Moving Season Is Here' email to full customer list: 'Know anyone moving this summer? We handle the junk so they can focus on the move — refer a friend and get $25 off your next job'
- Review April performance data and adjust May marketing spend: increase budget on top 2 channels, reduce on underperformers
- If near a military installation: register with the base family support center as a preferred vendor and post in military spouse Facebook groups
- Expected outcome
- Moving season messaging live across all channels; 2–3 mover partnerships initiated; referral-focused email sent
- KPI focus
- New leads from moving-related keywords and moving company partnership responses
Step 02 / 04
College Move-Out + Route Optimization
Capture late-May college move-out demand and tighten routing for maximum daily jobs
- If near a university: contact campus facilities management about bulk move-out waste disposal contracts — universities generate massive volume in a 2-week window
- Post geo-targeted Facebook ads within 10 miles of campus: 'College Move-Out? We'll Haul Away Everything You Can't Take Home — $99 Student Special'
- Audit routing efficiency: map all jobs from the past 2 weeks and identify clusters — are you spending more than 20 minutes between jobs? Tighten zones to reduce windshield time
- Follow up with mover partnerships from week 1 — finalize referral terms and exchange marketing materials
- Post 'Moving Tips' content on social media: '5 Things to Throw Away BEFORE the Movers Arrive' — educational content that positions you as the solution
- Expected outcome
- College move-out pipeline activated if applicable; routing tightened to 4–5 jobs per truck per day; mover partnerships finalized
- KPI focus
- Average windshield time between jobs (target under 20 minutes) and daily jobs per truck
Step 03 / 04
Memorial Day Prep + Surge Pricing Activation
Prepare Memorial Day promotional campaign and activate weekend surge pricing
- Implement weekend surge pricing: 10–15% above standard rates for Saturday and Sunday bookings starting this week — update your load-based booking tiers and quote templates
- Build Memorial Day campaign: 'Memorial Day Weekend Special — Clear Space for Summer' — schedule email, social media posts, and GBP updates for Thursday delivery
- Print additional yard signs for Memorial Day weekend deployment — every completed job should have a sign in the yard for maximum neighborhood visibility
- Pre-schedule Memorial Day weekend routes for maximum efficiency — Friday through Monday should be planned by Wednesday
- Send personalized texts to your top 20 past customers: 'Memorial Day weekend coming up — if you've been thinking about a cleanout, this is a great time. Want me to reserve a spot?'
- Expected outcome
- Surge pricing live on weekends; Memorial Day campaign pre-built; yard signs stocked for deployment
- KPI focus
- Weekend booking rate at surge pricing (target: no decline in volume vs. standard pricing)
Step 04 / 04
Memorial Day Execution + June Pipeline
Execute Memorial Day campaign and build June pipeline during the highest-demand week of May
- Launch Memorial Day campaign: email blast Wednesday, social media posts Thursday–Saturday, GBP updates daily through the weekend
- Deploy all trucks Friday through Monday with maximum crew — Memorial Day weekend is the second-highest demand weekend of Q2 after July 4th
- Deploy yard signs after every Memorial Day weekend job — neighborhoods are full of people doing outdoor projects who see your signs
- Send 'June Is Our Busiest Month' email by Thursday: 'June schedule is filling — book now to secure your preferred date'
- Begin building June content with heat-season and renovation angles: 'Too Hot to Haul? Let Us Handle It' for southern markets; 'Renovation Season Is Here' for all markets
- Expected outcome
- Memorial Day weekend fully booked; 5+ June jobs pre-booked; surge pricing validated
- KPI focus
- Memorial Day weekend revenue vs. a standard weekend and June pre-bookings count
FAQ
How should I price jobs during peak moving season?
Full standard rates with weekend and same-day surcharges. May demand supports 10–15% weekend premiums and 15–25% same-day premiums without reducing volume. Moving costs across the industry jump 20–30% in peak months, and customers expect pricing to reflect demand. The key is consistency — publish your weekend surcharge on your website and quote it confidently. Customers who need Saturday service will pay the premium.
Is it worth targeting military families for PCS moves?
Only if you're within 20 miles of an active military installation with family housing. If you are, it's an excellent segment — PCS moves are concentrated May through August, families need pre-move decluttering to meet weight allowances, and military communities share vendor recommendations aggressively. Offer a 10–15% military discount and register with the base family support center. If you're not near a base, skip this segment entirely.
Should I expand my service area in May?
If demand consistently exceeds capacity in your current area and you have the crew and fleet to support expansion, May is a viable window. Launch marketing in the new zone 2–3 weeks before accepting jobs so you have a pipeline. However, if your current service area still has capacity, tighter geographic focus produces better routing efficiency and more jobs per truck per day. Expand when you've maximized your existing territory.
How do I build moving company partnerships quickly?
Skip email outreach — visit in person. Show up at the moving company's office with your insurance certificate, a stack of referral cards, and a clear pitch: you handle the junk movers won't take, and you send them overflow moving leads in return. Movers are busy in May and won't respond to cold emails, but a 5-minute face-to-face conversation with proof of insurance closes the deal. Aim for 3–5 partnerships by mid-May.
What should I do about college move-out season?
If you operate near a college or university, contact campus facilities management about bulk disposal contracts for move-out week. The average student generates 640 pounds of waste annually with massive spikes during move-out. Offer per-building or per-load pricing. If you're not near a campus, this is a non-factor — focus on residential and moving-related demand instead.
Resources
Related Resources
Strategy
April Playbook
The busy season ignition — the foundation May's momentum builds on.
Strategy
June Playbook
Peak season arrives — everything May's volume prepares you for.
Feature
Route Optimization
Maximize jobs per truck per day during high-volume months.
Academy
Expanding Service Area
When and how to grow your geographic coverage during peak demand.
May Demands Full Capacity — Run It on ScaleYourJunk
Dispatch, load-based booking, CRM, and route optimization built for junk removal — so every truck runs every day at maximum efficiency.
Included in Starter ($149/mo) and Growth ($299/mo). Annual billing is available.
No contract
Cancel anytime
Free onboarding