Fastest growing ZIP codes 77494, 77449 prepare for busiest annual moving day in Katy
Jun 25, 2014
By Alex Endress
As Katy’s hot housing market continues to produce the top U.S. ZIP codes per move-in traffic, moving businesses in the area are warming up for what they project will be their most active day of the year.
An Atlanta-based company that mines data for small businesses — Welcomemat Services — has found the nation’s first-ranked zip code for movers to be 77494 in Fort Bend, with 77449 in Harris coming in at No. 11. Through May 2014, these two ZIPs boasted 596 and 476 household move-ins, respectively. The results come from an internal number-crunching moving software, which compiles the number of new residents in a given area. Welcomemat CEO Brian Mattingly said the findings aren’t surprising, citing a U.S. Census statistic that asserts Houston is the second-fastest growing city in the U.S.
“Good schools, easy access to great health care, and a low cost of living all contribute to a high livability score in Katy and West Houston,” Mattingly said. “No state personal income tax also makes living in Texas attractive.”
When new residents move in, Welcomemat provides them with gift packets via mail containing discounts and free offers for local businesses. The service tracks the demographics of those who use these offers, and provides this data to the local businesses for strategic marketing.
While summer is the most popular moving season, the last Saturday in June is historically the busiest moving day of the year, according to the moving company Two Men and a Truck. This year, that day falls on June 28.
“Some of it is due to apartment leases ending, and some of it is due to parents wanting to get settled before the school year starts up,” said Two Men and a Truck CFO Jeff Wesley.
Local franchisee Roger Daniel in Northwest Houston said his group begins preparing for their busy season well in advance of June. Sometimes they begin recruiting new staff as early as January to get ready for the rush.
“Staffing is always an issue,” Daniel said. He said his group adds around 35 new seasonal employees during June, July and August, bringing his count of workers up to 50. “We refuse to send new people out on a job without being properly trained first. This is hard manual labor in the summer heat. Out of every seven you hire, you may keep one who can consistently do that labor in these uncomfortable conditions.”
During peak times, Daniels also rents out up to three additional trucks to supplement his fleet of 12.
He advises that before choosing a moving service, people should check with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to make sure the company they hire provides workers’ compensation in case of an accident on the premises. Otherwise, an injured worker may choose to sue the homeowner of the site where they were injured.
“People don’t usually think of that,” Daniels said.
Six other Texas ZIP codes hold a spot on Welcomemat’s list of the top 50 move-in areas. Those are located in McKinney (75070), Pflugerville (78660), Frisco (75034), League City (77573), Fort Worth (76244), and Cedar Park (78613).