Everyone knows that moving is stressful. Whether it is your first or tenth time, packing and taking your belongings to a new place can be nerve-wracking. But adding more stress than usual is that many people move during the winter season. With snowstorms, ice, and freezing temperatures ordinary at this time of year, things can get tricky when moving from one home to another.
With that said, you may be wondering what you need to keep in mind when moving during the winter season so that your move goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some suggestions to make this transition more manageable and convenient for your new home.
1. Consider the Weather
While you cannot control the weather, you can plan your move around it. Winter weather can be unpredictable and change quite fast. In the months and weeks that lead up to the movement, make sure you keep checking the weather patterns. If your desired route usually has issues with the weather, ask your mover to check it out. If you are shipping cars across the country, make sure you also know what the weather is like on the other side. On the eve of the moving day, assess the weather situation, and if things look bad, you could always postpone the move.
2. Set Up Utilities Before Moving
You do not want to move to an apartment building where no utilities are set up, especially during snowy and cold conditions. If the neighborhood you are moving to is quite cold, set up utilities such as heating systems before moving. You could do this a day or two before moving.
3. Seek Help
Moving out is never easy, especially if you have lots of households. Usually, winter has shorter days, so you have less time to pack and unpack your stuff. Doing all this alone or with a few family members may be impractical. Ask a few friends to tag along or hire professionals to help with the move. Your budget, the distance, and the size of the households could determine what you pay the professionals.
4. Prepare the Home
It is prudent to create a viable and safe environment before moving. Before you begin packing stuff, make sure it is already safe to do so. Winter conditions are tricky with all the snowfall and cold. Make sure you do away with all the snow around your home to create enough space for hauling the furniture. All walkways should have no ice to avoid slipping and falling while carrying households.
5. Secure Belongings from Weather
Not every household item is to be exposed out to the bare open. Endeavor to secure some things from harsh and cold weather. Understand that breakable items like glass and dishware could break or crack when exposed to extreme weather conditions. You could double-wrap such things in thick blankets to help keep them warm. You could also load them last in the truck and unload them first to reduce their exposure to the harsh winter environment.
6. Prep Your Car
Service your car if you are moving to a distant place. Confirm everything is working perfectly in the vehicle to avoid mishaps during the move. Pack warm coats, hats, and blankets if the car breaks down. If you do not want to move while driving your vehicle, you could always get a carrier that will ship your car across the country. Get a reliable, affordable, and quick carrier that will take good care of the vehicle while moving.
7. Slot in Extra Travel Time
Driving during winter is not easy because of the snow and ice. It is not as easy as driving on clear roads. It would help if you slotted in extra driving hours since the slow process. If the movers are to meet you at the new premises, keep in touch with them but also understand that they may run in late due to the weather.
8. Set Up New Home
Just like the previous home, make sure your new home is ready. Clear all the ice and snow, and make the walkways free of debris that may cause injury or slips. You could put down some protection on the floors to protect them as you load things into the new home since there are shorter days in winter, time your unpacking times. If the movers arrive late in the evening, you could leave your things in the container and unpack them in the morning. If the movers have to go, ensure sufficient lighting, especially the security lights outside, to ease the process.
Bottom Line
As much as you may want to move during winter, it may not be an easy process because of the weather conditions. However, if you follow these tips, it should be easy and seamless.
