Planning on moving in winter? You’re on the right track.
However, you need to be aware of possible winter moving issues so you can prevent them before they happen.
Many realtors agree that winter is a great time to buy a house.
But moving in winter? Not so great.
You’ll have to contend with everything that the weather throws at you. From storms and heavy rains to blizzards and frigid temperatures, the winter season can pose the most daring challenges to your moving plans.
But it’s not all that bad. With proper planning and knowledge of what’s expected of you, you can easily pull it off.
Here are six tips to make your winter moving as easy and stress-free as possible:
Keep an Eye on the Forecast During Winter Moving
This may sound obvious, but it’s very important. If you are planning on moving during the winter months, it’s imperative that you keep an eye on the weather forecasts throughout the week.
The weather in the winter months can be very unpredictable, and Mother Nature can wreck even the best-planned move.
Checking the forecasts on a regular basis can give you insights into what to expect on your moving day.
Light rain is not likely to cause any problem. However, heavy rains might pose challenges, and even cause damages to your stuff. If the weather forecasts consistently show heavy rains and blizzards–the kind that can make driving unsafe, consider rescheduling.
Besides, moving your properties is not worth risking your safety. And moving companies are also likely to have a more flexible schedule during the winter due to the imminent weather fluctuations.
Prepare your New Home for the Winter Moving
Before the moving day, it’s important to check with the rental property manager or your agent to ensure the place is ready for winter moving.
Here are the things to do:
Ensure There is Enough Parking Space for the Moving Truck
The first thing you should do is to ensure a parking space is available for the moving track.
Even if you are not moving during the winter months, it’s vital to check in your new home before the moving day to ensure everything is in order, and that there is enough space for the moving track.
If the driveway and walkways are not clear or are covered with snow, you may have to negotiate with your new neighbors or hire someone to help clear the way.
Ensure the Heats and Lights are Working
Ensuring the heats and lights are working is a task you don’t want to forget to check, especially if you moving in winter.
Your goal is to ensure all utilities are well set up and fully functioning.
One way of doing that is to turn on the heat sources a few days before your visit. This way, you’ll be able to confirm that all utilities are fully functional and be satisfied that your new house will be warm when you move in.
Protect Your Belongings from Harsh Weather
Wood-made objects can warp if exposed to extremely low temperatures, so be cautious to insulate these items during the move.
Other cold-sensitive items such as electronics should be kept indoors and transported in a heated car to prevent damage.
Keep in mind that frigid temperatures can make some objects brittle and breakable. To add an extra layer of protection, double wrap fragile items like glass and dishware.
If you’re moving in the rain, note that rain can ruin boxes and cause damages to your stuff. Be sure to tape any cracks or seams with masking tape to prevent water from leaking through.
It’s advisable to invest in a mattress cover to prevent mattresses from getting intact with rain, as mattresses are difficult to dry out. You’ll also want to use trash bags to cover other items that can be damaged by rain.
Hire a Babysitter and or a Petsitter
Moving with kids and pets is hard.
But you know what’s even harder? Moving during the winter with a bunch of kids and helpless pets around.
The last thing you want is to be trapped by kids and pets when you should be overseeing the movement of your properties to and from the truck.
With that in mind, it’s prudent to hire a babysitter for the day to take care of your kids and pets on the big day.
If you’re unable to hire a babysitter, you can move during school days. As for the pets, you can approach a friend to take care of them on that particular day or consider dropping them off at a pet boarding or a daycare center.
Hiring a pet sitter can save you time and stress while allowing you to focus on the task at hand.
Check in With Your Movers a Week, and a Day Before the Moving Day
As mentioned earlier, winter weather can be very unpredictable.
As such, there are many winter issues such as heavy rains and blocked roads that might threaten your move.
Checking in with your movers a week before the moving date has always been a rule of thumb. However, in winter, it’s an astute move to confirm and confirm again a day before the moving day to ensure you and the movers on the same page.
Nothing would be more frustrating than turning off your heat and doing all the heavy work in winter only for your movers to fail to show up.
Start Your Move Early
One interesting fact about winter is that days seem shorter than the norm.
And since daylight hours are fewer in winter, it’s advisable to move earliest possible. That way, should you encounter hiccups on the road, you’ll have enough daylight hours to figure out what to do before it gets dark.
Also, it gets colder at night. This should give you a more convincing voice why you don’t want to move at night.
Summing Up
Moving in winter is not only dangerous but stressful too.
You are likely to encounter many setbacks which might not only threaten your move but also pose safety risks.
However, with proper planning and experienced professional movers, you can make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.
If you’re in SF Bay area, California and are planning on moving in winter, we’d love to help. Get in touch with us and learn how we can make your winter moving smooth and stress-free.