Many people automatically schedule long-distance relocation for the summer months because they'll enjoy better weather, the kids will be out of school, and they've got visions of combining their move with a leisurely road trip. However, household moving during the summer months does not come without its own set of problems. Other families with school-aged children are moving as well, and the summer months are when most active-duty military families relocate, meaning that moving companies may be overtaxed. Following are four strategies designed to help you keep your cool during your upcoming summer move.

Move in the Middle of the Month

Most people move during the last week of the month or during the first to accommodate rental agreements, leases, and even the terms of some home purchases. However, if you can swing it, plan your move for the middle of the month. Renting moving trucks and hiring packers for this time period will be easier. If that's not possible, scheduling your move for the middle of the week may make it easier to schedule vans and packers and will save you from the stress of driving to your new location in weekend traffic. Avoid Memorial Day weekend and the last weekend in July at all possible costs -- they're traditionally the busiest moving days of the year!

Plan that Road Trip For After You've Moved

Plan on rewarding yourself and your family with a relaxing road trip after you've made your move and are settled into you new home. Although you should definitely do as much as possible to enjoy the drive during your move, it's not the time for camping, taking side trips, or otherwise dawdling along the way. Getting to your new home as soon as possible will provide you with more time to get settled and to enjoy the rest of the summer.

• Make your reservations for lodging as soon as you know exactly when you'll be making your move. Room rates tend to soar during summer in most parts of the country, and you can often save significantly by making reservations in advance.
• Restaurants close to highways are frequently crowded to capacity during peak hours in the summer, so planning meals a little before or after normal meal hours will save you the stress of dealing with a crowded environment.

Use a Climate-Controlled Moving Van

Electronic items can warp in the back of traditional moving vans, candles can melt all over everything, wine can literally cook, and leather upholstery may sweat if exposed to prolonged periods of high heat. Fine art and paper products are also vulnerable to damage if placed in hot moving van interiors. If atmospheric humidity is an issue, items made of wood may warp during the trip, and mold and mildew colonies may develop on fabrics. Keep in mind that even if temperatures aren't exactly scorching, heat can build up in enclosed areas such as moving vans and reach temperatures that are higher than those outside.

Be Prepared to Beat the Heat After Arrival

Many people who move during the summer completely forget that they won't be arriving at an air conditioned location. Furthermore, the doors will be open for quite some time as the movers move your stuff in, meaning that the outdoor heat will also gain access to your home interior. Turning on the air conditioning unit is not advisable until after the movers have finished and you can close the doors, but you don't necessary have to suffer. Running a couple of electric fans will help keep air circulating, and placing bowls filled with ice directly in the path of the fans can significantly cool down a hot house.