Moving In Winter – How To Make Your Relocation Easier

Are you considering moving during the winter months???

A lot of people will tell you that moving during the winters is extra hard and not a good idea. But we are here to tell you that if handled correctly, moving in winter months can be a great thing.

The wonderful holiday season in December and the subsequent months that follows make winter such a great period for moving. Compared to summer, the number of people moving in winter is relatively low. You can take advantage of this and get a lot of benefits and save tons of money on your moving costs.

Here are a few benefits of moving during the winter months:

1. Because of winter being off-peak moving season, moving company’s prices are lower.
2. Moving companies are less busy during these months, which means lots of availability to choose a moving date that suits you the best.
3. More moving companies availability means you can shop around for a better price.
4. Moving in summers can be harder on the body. All that lifting and loading during 100 degree June weather can be insane.

So you see, moving in winter is not all bad. If handled correctly, you can make your move a great one during winter months just like any other season of the year.

The biggest thing you need to remember here is to Keep an eye on the Weather! As long as you do that and you won’t have any issues.

Check out some of our  simple tips on how to have a successful winter move:

Get Your Old House Ready for Moving Out

Clear Snows around Walkways: ensure walkways, sidewalks, and driveways are snow free. Consider using sand or salt to prevent icy and slippery situations. Also, ensure the spot where the movers van will be parked is free of snow.

You can do all the snow clearing a night before the move and check again in the morning before the move. Snows can slow down the truck loading pace and slippery ice may lead to falls and probably damage to some property.

Cover Your Carpets: you can use large pieces of cardboard or plastic sheeting to make sure high traffic areas are shielded from sand, water, and snow. Check to see if your floor can withstand heavy duty tapes (you may try the tapes in a corner spot first), if it worked, tape plastic sheet to the floor.

You may use cardboards for carpeted areas using small tacks to hold it firmly to the floor. It’ll do a lot of good if you experiment with the tapes before the movers arrive.

Be Prepared For the Snow: keep shovel, sand or salt handy, you may need any of them at any moment during the move. It’s important to be prepared for any snow scenarios during the move. The moving van or your car may get stuck during the move or in case it starts snowing all over again.

Have Hot Liquids on Hand: as the movers help you move and begin to feel the effect of the cold thin air, handing them a cup of hot liquid would be a superb act of kindness. Hot coffee, tea or chocolate would be perfect for you, your family and the movers.

Monitor the weather: you need to keep an eye on the weather few days before the move up until the moving day. It’s easy to be carried away in the frenzy of the move and forget about the weather.

Prepare Your New Home for Moving In Winter

Get Your Utilities Running: ensure all the utilities you will need for the cold weather has been fully set-up and running in your new home before you move in. Ensure your new home has sufficient heat and light. You can leave the heat and hydro turned on for few days before you move in to ensure the house is warm before your final arrival.

Clear The Snows Around Walkways: if you’re making a local or short distance move, you should visit your new home and clear the snow off the walkway a day before you move in.

However, if you’re making a long distance move, you may call your agent or property manager to help you clear the walk way or find someone who can get the job done. If the walkways are covered with ice while you arrive at your new destination, unloading may become more difficult and may result in delay or even minor injuries.

Create a Suitable Parking Area for the Moving Van: Snow on the ground can cause an issue when it comes to parking your truck. Ensure that there are no obstructions around the area where the moving van will be parked and the main entrance of your new home. You may have to negotiate with one of your neighbors in order to find a suitable spot for the van.

Obstructions may slow down the unloading process and the movers may request extra charges if the distance between your home and where the truck is parked is considered an extra workload.

Tip: Be sure to check the weather to get the latest updates in your area. Getting the latest weather updates before you move will prevent you from been caught up in a storm or bad weather while in transit. Keep checking throughout the move, and pay attention to weather updates till you arrive at your new home.

What Should You Do When The Storm Blows In?

Have a Plan B: Make sure you have a backup plan. If the storm blows in on your moving day, ask the movers about their safety moving policy.

Also, find out if your move can be postponed. You may have to call your landlord or real estate agent, to give you few more days for the snow to clear before you move. But some movers specialize on moving during winter and may decide to take a risk. If the weather is not clear and safe enough for you and your family don’t make any move.

Monitor Your Travel Route Carefully: discuss with your movers and decide on a moving route. Monitor the route carefully and call local authorities along the route to find out about weather conditions and traveling vehicle safety.

You may opt for more than one route, especially on a long distance move. Monitor weather updates on both routes and travel on the safest.

Travel with an Emergency Contact List: ensure you have all necessary emergency contact phone number as you travel including highway patrols, roadside assistance, and reports on highway situations.

Also, give your traveling plan and route to a reliable friend, colleague or family member who is not traveling with you. Instruct him or her to call just to check on you from time to time as you travel.

If you are planning to spend the Christmas holiday with your family in a new home or start the new year in a new town, moving in winter could be your best bet. You wouldn’t have to bother about sweating out under the hot sun as you move to and from the moving truck for any reason. Also, you and your family will have a peaceful and quiet relocation under the cold weather as there are less activities on the road.