Second Home Relocation Services
For years, your second home has been an escape—a place to decompress on weekends, host family during summers, or retreat during the holidays. But circumstances change. Maybe you’re retiring and want to make your beach house your primary residence. Maybe the commute to your Poconos cabin has become impractical and you’re ready to sell. Maybe you’re the opposite—finally buying that shore house you’ve dreamed about and need to furnish it from your main residence.
Second home moves present unique challenges that differ from typical residential relocations. You’re often splitting belongings between two locations, furnishing a property from scratch, or merging two households into one. The logistics are more complex, the distances are often longer, and the emotional considerations around these lifestyle properties run deep.
At LiteMovers, we’ve been handling second home relocations throughout Pennsylvania and beyond since 2007. Whether you’re moving to the Jersey Shore, the Delaware beaches, the Poconos, or making your Florida condo your new home base, we understand the particular needs of these transitions.
Types of Second Home Moves We Handle
Making Your Vacation Home Your Primary Residence
This is the most common scenario we see. After years of weekend visits and summer stays, you’re ready to relocate permanently to your second home. Maybe the kids are grown and there’s no reason to stay in the suburbs. Maybe you’ve retired and want to live where you’ve always been happiest. Maybe rising property values make selling your primary residence financially smart while your vacation property becomes your full-time home.
These moves involve more than just transporting furniture. You’re transitioning your entire life—kitchen equipment, clothing for all seasons, home office setup, hobby supplies, everything. And you’re leaving behind the home that may have been your family’s center for decades.
We approach these moves with the patience they require. Our concierge moving services can coordinate every detail, from packing your main residence to setting up your new permanent home.
Furnishing a New Second Home
You just closed on your dream beach house. Congratulations! Now you need to furnish it. Some pieces will come from your primary residence—maybe that guest bedroom furniture you never use, the extra TV, kitchen items you’ve duplicated. Other things you’ll buy new. And somehow you need to coordinate getting everything there.
We can help plan and execute these furnishing moves, transporting items from your main home, receiving deliveries of new furniture, and getting everything set up so your first weekend at the new place feels like home rather than a construction zone.
Selling Your Second Home
Sometimes life circumstances change and that second property no longer makes sense. Maybe it’s become too much to maintain from a distance. Maybe the area has changed. Maybe you simply don’t use it enough to justify the expense.
Clearing out a second home for sale requires deciding what comes back to your main residence, what gets donated or sold, and what needs to be disposed of. It’s essentially a scaled-down version of an estate cleanout—with the added complexity of the property being hours away from where you live.
Seasonal Transitions
Some clients maintain two fully functional homes and move seasonally between them. Snowbirds heading to Florida for winter. Families who spend summers at the shore. Retirees who split their year between Pennsylvania and warmer climates.
These moves involve transporting seasonal wardrobes, personal items, and sometimes vehicles. We can coordinate regular seasonal moves so the transition between your homes is seamless.
Common Second Home Destinations
New Jersey Shore
From Cape May to Long Beach Island, the Jersey Shore has been Philadelphia’s beach playground for generations. Many of our clients maintain shore houses that have been in their families for decades—properties passed down through generations, each summer creating new memories.
Shore house moves present specific challenges: narrow beach town streets, limited parking, older construction with tight doorways, and the logistical reality of island communities with bridge access. We’ve navigated moves in every major shore town and understand the particular constraints of each.
Delaware Beaches
Rehoboth, Bethany, Dewey, Lewes—the Delaware beaches have become increasingly popular, especially for families from the Pennsylvania suburbs. These communities offer a slightly quieter alternative to the Jersey Shore with their own distinct character.
Poconos Mountains
The Poconos have drawn Philadelphia-area families for decades. Whether it’s a ski cabin, a lakefront cottage, or a mountain retreat, these properties offer year-round escape from suburban life. Poconos moves often involve steep driveways, gravel roads, and properties that may be partially inaccessible during winter months.
Pennsylvania Wine Country
The Brandywine Valley and Chester County countryside have attracted weekend homeowners who want rural tranquility within an hour of the city. These properties often include historic structures, estate grounds, and the kind of pastoral setting that made this area famous.
Florida
The Pennsylvania-to-Florida pipeline is well established. Many Philadelphia-area residents maintain condos or homes in Florida, and eventually, some decide to make Florida their permanent residence. Our Pennsylvania to Florida moving services handle both temporary relocations and permanent moves.
The Logistics of Second Home Moves
Distance and Timing
Most second homes are 1-4 hours from your primary residence. That distance affects scheduling, pricing, and logistics. A move to Long Beach Island is a different operation than a move to Sarasota.
For shorter distances (under 2 hours), we can often complete moves in a single day with our standard crew. Longer distances may require overnight stays for our team or coordination with partner carriers for the most efficient service.
Access Challenges
Second home properties often present access issues that suburban homes don’t:
Beach communities: Narrow streets, limited parking, potentially restricted access during peak season. Some communities require permits for moving trucks during summer months.
Mountain properties: Steep driveways, gravel roads, limited turnaround space. In winter, some properties may be accessible only with four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Condo buildings: Elevator reservations, loading dock scheduling, service entrance requirements, move-in fees, and time restrictions.
Island locations: Bridge weight limits, causeway closures during storms, ferry schedules if applicable.
We assess these factors during our initial consultation and plan accordingly. Proper planning prevents moving day surprises.
Splitting Household Contents
Second home moves often involve dividing your belongings—some things stay at your main residence, some go to the second home. This requires careful planning and clear labeling to ensure items end up in the right location.
We recommend creating a detailed inventory before moving day, clearly marking what goes where. Our crew can work from this inventory to ensure everything arrives at the intended destination.
Coordinating New Purchases
If you’re buying new furniture or appliances for your second home, we can coordinate delivery timing so everything arrives together. There’s nothing worse than getting to your new beach house to find the furniture didn’t arrive, or worse, was delivered with no one there to receive it.
Special Considerations for Second Homes
Seasonal Property Preparation
If you’re making a seasonal property your year-round home, there may be systems that need upgrading. Many shore houses and Poconos cabins were built for three-season use—winterizing may require work beyond the move itself. While we’re movers, not contractors, we can coordinate timing with any work being done to the property.
Insurance and Property Protection
Vacation properties often have different insurance requirements than primary residences. Before making a second home your primary residence, check with your insurance provider about coverage changes. The same applies to valuable items being moved—our coverage protects items during transport, but your homeowner’s policy kicks in once they’re delivered.
Items Requiring Climate Control
Beach and mountain environments present different challenges for sensitive items:
Salt air: Coastal environments can be hard on electronics, artwork, and fine furniture. Items stored in non-climate-controlled shore houses may have suffered more than you realize.
Humidity: Shore properties are notoriously humid. If you’re moving items that have been in a climate-controlled suburban home to a damp beach house, consider what may need additional protection.
Temperature extremes: Mountain cabins without year-round climate control may have exposed contents to temperature swings that affected their condition.
Our team can advise on what items may need special consideration given the environments involved.
Valuable Items at Second Homes
Second homes often contain valuable items that require special handling:
Art and collections: Many clients keep significant artwork at vacation properties. Our art collection moving services ensure these pieces are transported properly.
Wine collections: Shore houses and mountain retreats often have wine collections that have been carefully curated over years. Our wine cellar moving services protect your investment.
Antiques and heirlooms: Family vacation properties often hold antiques that have been there for generations. Our antique moving specialists handle these irreplaceable pieces with appropriate care.
Watercraft and recreational equipment: Kayaks, paddleboards, bicycles, and other recreational items often need to be included in second home moves.
Storage Solutions for Multi-Home Living
Managing belongings across multiple homes often involves storage—either temporarily during a transition or permanently for items that don’t fit either residence.
Our storage solutions include climate-controlled options for items that need protection from temperature and humidity extremes. Whether you need short-term storage during a move or long-term storage for items you’re not ready to part with, we can accommodate.
Areas We Serve for Second Home Moves
We handle second home relocations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region:
Primary residence areas: All of Greater Philadelphia including Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, the Main Line, and Bucks County
New Jersey Shore: Cape May, Wildwood, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, Ocean City, Margate, Ventnor, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Long Beach Island, Beach Haven, Surf City, Barnegat Light, and all shore communities
Delaware Beaches: Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Lewes, Milton
Pennsylvania Mountains: Poconos (Stroudsburg, Tannersville, Lake Harmony, Jim Thorpe, Lake Wallenpaupack), Brandywine Valley, Chester County countryside
Long Distance: Florida (all major destinations), Pittsburgh, and other locations by arrangement
Planning Your Second Home Move
Second home moves benefit from advance planning—more so than typical residential moves. Here’s what we recommend:
2-3 months before: Contact us for an initial consultation. If you’re making a permanent move, begin the process of deciding what goes where.
1-2 months before: Finalize your inventory. Coordinate any work being done at the destination property.
2-4 weeks before: Confirm timing and logistics. If moving to a seasonal community, check local regulations about moving truck access.
1 week before: Begin packing non-essential items, or schedule our professional packing services.
Get Started With Your Second Home Move
If you’re planning a second home relocation—whether you’re making your vacation home your permanent residence, furnishing a new property, or selling a place that’s served your family well—we’d love to discuss your situation.
Call us at 610-755-5535 any day between 8am and 6pm. We’ll talk through the specifics of your move, including distance, access, timing, and any special items requiring particular care. There’s no obligation—just an honest conversation about how we can help.
You can also request a consultation online and we’ll respond within one business day.
Related Services
- Pennsylvania to Florida movers – Long-distance relocation specialists
- Snowbird moving services – Seasonal relocation support
- Empty nester downsizing – Right-sizing your primary home
- Concierge moving services – Full-service coordination
- Storage solutions – Climate-controlled options available
LiteMovers: Second Home Relocation Specialists Since 2007
PA PUC A-8916211 | USDOT 2173383 | Licensed & Insured
Serving Philadelphia, the Shore, Mountains, and Beyond
Call 610-755-5535 for Your Free Moving Consultation
