When it comes to heavy rain, hail and snow falling outside, it’s the type of weather which makes you want to sit inside by the fireplace and curl up with some hot cocoa… not thinking above moving during winter to a new home!
Moving your house is always stressful, but moving in freezing cold temperatures, with constant rain and snow everywhere on the sidewalks can make moving in winter even more difficult.
Despite this, it doesn’t have to be a struggle. Winter is actually one of the best times to move to a new home. The slow season for removalists usually means you can receive a rather nice discount for both local home moves and interstate home moves.
Here are 7 tips to survive moving during winter
1. Flexibility Is Key
Winter usually brings with it unpredictable weather. While it can be clear one day, the next it can be pouring down with rain or snowing. There may also be strong wind gusts, hail, and wild weather. Keep an eye on weather forecasts in the weeks leading up to your move.
If you notice there is going to be a large storm forecast for the day which you are planning to move, it may be a good idea to contact your removals company and ask to reschedule your moving day. While your moving date may not be flexible with your schedule, removal companies generally will be able to accommodate your request during the winter season. After all, they probably want to be out in a huge storm even less than you do!
2. Prepare Your Home In Advance
Moving during winter means you need to do a lot of preparation before you think about loading a box onto a moving truck or your car.
First, you need to ensure a safe environment to move in. Winter conditions can make moving dangerous if you are unprepared. You don’t want someone slipping over and injuring themselves, or breaking your fragile and irreplaceable items.
Start by shoveling away any snow so that you can create a path from your front door to the moving truck. Make sure that it is wide enough to be able to carry your larger furniture. Something a lot of people overlook, which can be dangerous, is to make sure there is no ice on the sidewalks and walkways. An easy solution is to use anti-ice or a deicer on the sidewalks and any steps.
It’s also a good idea to think about creating a sheltered path which covers any exposed areas. Either a walk through tent or a tarp will provide significant cover from any rain. However, if it’s snowing, be sure to make sure the covers can resist the weight of the snow, or that they are angled so that it will slide off.
Inside your home place down some plastic or old sheets to keep your floor protected. This will help keep your home free from scratches, or stains from people that are constantly coming in and out bringing in the snow, water, moisture and dirt. It will also prevent you from having to spend a lot of time and money on excess cleaning once you have packed.
On moving day, there are thousands of things to worry about. Scrubbing mud out of your carpet shouldn’t even cross your mind!
3. Create an “Essentials” Box
When you move to a new home, it’s a good idea to have a box which contains all the essential items you will need right away – things like toiletries, tablets/laptops and chargers. But considering how freezing it can get during winter, it may be a good idea to prepare some additional items to help keep you warm and cozy in your new home. Include some cocoa or hot tea (as well as making sure your kettle or microwave is easily accessible). Additional blankets, extra clothing layers, dry and woolen socks, and a small portable heater are also highly recommended.
4. Keep Your Items Protected From The Weather
It’s important to take care when packing your items to protect them from the freezing weather. Things which may break, such as glass and dishes are especially vulnerable during extreme temperature changes.
They are known to crack or even break if the temperature drops too fast. To keep them safe, double wrap the items in thick blankets, which will help add an extra layer of protection from your cozy house through the freezing cold on the way to the removals trucks.
All professional removalists will already have thick moving blankets which you can use. Also, consider loading these fragile and breakable items right at the end, and then unloading them first when you reach your destination. This will reduce their exposure to the cold.
5. Plastic Bins & Ziplock Bags
Use airtight plastic bins to store as many of your items in as possible, especially towels, sheets, and comforters. This will prevent any mould or mildew from forming. For your clothes, use giant Ziploc bags to keep everything secure and dry. Also, don’t forget to bring some old towels to wipe off all the water and snow from your boots before setting foot in your new home.
6. Wrap Your Electronic Items In Layers
Pack all of your electronic items in your car with you, as they are extremely fragile in cold weather. Smother them in extra blankets to add extra warmth. Wait until right before you are leaving before you load your electronics. That way you can protect them from the elements as much as possible.
7. Take Care of Your Pets
Pets and moving often cause problems, even in perfect weather conditions. After all – they find it scary moving from the place they have spent most of their lives and are now going somewhere new and unfamiliar. If possible, keep your pet with a relative or friend on moving day to take care of them, preferably in a familiar place. Don’t forget to pack their winter items in an easy to reach box. Dog snow boots are an essential item!
Something which is easy to overlook when moving during winter is to update all of your personal and new address details. Make sure you don’t forget anything by checking out AFRA’s handy moving links.
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