What You Need to Know About Winter Moving
Does the idea of moving on a freezing cold day sound a little crazy to you? We’ll admit, winter weather doesn’t always provide ideal moving conditions, but it can actually be a good time to move.
Good Reasons for Moving in Winter Months
The winter months are often a less busy time for moving, so you’ll have an easier time booking movers, securing elevators in the building, and it can be cheaper than moving in peak season. These can all make your move much easier, but there are definitely a few things you’ll want to consider before booking a move in winter.
Things to remember when moving in winter
Winter moving can be tricky, but with some smart planning it can be easier than you think. Here are a few of the most important things to consider when planning to move during the winter.
Be flexible
Winter weather can be extremely unpredictable, so be prepared for anything. Keep an eye on the weather in the weeks leading up to your moving date. If a storm happens to blow in on the day you’re supposed to move, you may need to reschedule.
Be prepared
Moving day is always pretty busy, so you want to make sure you’ve got everything ready to roll by the time moving day rolls around. You should ideally have everything packed and ready to go before your movers show up, so you’re not running around at the last minute. Taking the time to pack early will save you tons of time on moving day.
Get your home ready
If it happens to snow on moving day, you’ll have a bit more prep work to do before loading out and loading in. Grab your snow shovel and clear a wide path from your home to where the truck will be parked. Salt or sand any slippery surfaces well—you definitely don’t want anyone to slip while they’re carrying something heavy or breakable. If it’s raining snowing heavily, you might want to consider putting up a tarp or tent over the path to keep your items dry. You can also put plastic covers down on the floors inside your home to keep things clean while everyone is coming in and out.
Protect your items
In the event of heavy snow or rain on moving day, you’ll want to pack your items a bit differently as well. Moving boxes secured with packing tape should be sturdy enough to withstand a little rain. However, if you’re expecting a pretty heavy downpour, it might be worth looking into plastic totes for moving instead of cardboard boxes. (You might be able to rent these.)
If you’ve got artwork to move, it should be wrapped in plastic or covered with trash bags to keep water out. Any clothes and textiles can also be packed in trash bags to protect them from the rain. Wood or fabric furniture can be wrapped in heavy blankets or tarps to protect them from light rain. Furniture can also be shrink-wrapped in plastic, which is a good idea if you expect very heavy amounts of rain.
Give yourself extra time
When the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s smart to plan for delays. Snow, ice, or heavy rain could all cause delays in travel time, and will definitely affect how long it takes to load up the truck and move everything in at your new place. Give yourself plenty of extra time to complete the move—it’s better to finish earlier than you expect than it is to have to pay for extra time at the end of a move.
