The process of moving house is tough enough as it is, even without your “eagerness” to put your survival skills to the test by organizing and executing a winter move.
But while battling your way through sub-zero temperatures and snowy/icy climatic conditions would not normally rank as your favourite wintertime pastime, moving in the winter months offers some good advantages that you will almost certainly make your wintertime relocation worthwhile.
Besides pointing out the well-known pros and cons of moving in the winter, the main purpose of this very guide is to give you some ultra-useful tips for moving in the winter – essential pointers that will point you in the right direction.
And of course, the right direction for anyone who’s chosen to undertake a house move in the middle of winter by force of circumstances is to pay attention to the following fundamental winter moving advice in order to avoid unpleasant slips along the way.
Learn the top 10 cool tips for moving in the winter, including a number of bonus winter moving tips at the end.
1. Find a reliable removal company
The first thing you should keep in mind is that moving cross country in the winter is anything but a joke. The most serious problem of a winter move stems from the unpredictability of the weather and the higher chance of having adverse climatic conditions on your scheduled moving date. And when the climate decides to turn against you, then the only thing that can guarantee a successful relocation outcome is to hire the quality services of a reputable removal company.
As far as your decision to rely on experienced professionals to take care of the most difficult stages of your house move, here are the 3 principal benefits of moving in the winter:
You will be able to find top rated removal companies much easier compared to a summer move;
Your removals will most likely be able to accommodate easily your desired moving date thanks to their considerably less busy work schedule;
And most importantly, a winter move often means considerable cost savings for you because removal companies will be more willing to lower their standard relocation rates in order to secure more moving jobs during the height of the off-peak season. Follow this link to ask for an obligation-free moving price calculation.
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When moving in the winter, snow-less is always safer.
As mentioned above, moving in winter is about making the right choices in the right moments. Naturally, weather forecasts can predict decently what the general conditions will be like in a week’s time or so, but nobody can actually control the weather, so a well-organized pre-move preparation becomes more than crucial. Instead of trying to control something that cannot be controlled, why not concentrate on managing something that can surely be managed – your own time?
Regardless of the season you’re moving out, you must create a moving calendar, populate it with customised move related tasks, and set time frames for each job. However, when moving in the middle of winter, you are strongly advised to add extra time to each deadline as delays in inclement wintertime weather are much more common.
3. Clear the snow to make your move safer
Our moving in the winter tips continue with moving day safety in mind. Due to the highly probable accumulation of snow and formation of ice during the cold months, a winter house move gladly offers a number of unique challenges that should be approached with the utmost attention they deserve.
Understandably, to guarantee the safety of all participants in the move should be your top concern. Before the arrival of your move-out/move-in day, check the area around your home and ensure that all walks, paths and sidewalks leading to or originating from your residence are free of snow and/or ice, and are clear of any obstacles as well. You may have to salt or sand the outside perimeter of your home to make things safer for everyone.
4. Protect the interior of your soon-to-be-old home
You must have figured it out by now – moving in the winter comes down to providing a good level of safety during all relocation stages. The moment you have secured the outside area, it’s time to think about protecting the interior of your home too. Be mindful that too many feet will be present on moving day and each pair will introduce fresh helpings of snow, sand, and water. So, it’s never a bad idea to take sensible preventive measures to avoid witnessing a real mess inside your house or apartment.
Place protective covers of thick cardboard or durable polyethylene over some strategic interior spots that will inevitably get the highest traffic of professional and non-professional removal men. This way, you can be sure that your hardwood floors won’t get damaged and your expensive carpets won’t be ruined in a failed attempt to keep property damage at bay.
5. Monitor the weather conditions and act accordingly
As long as you’re following closely your personalised moving calendar and keeping a watchful eye on the weather, you may even get to experience the fun of a winter move.
A proven way to keep unpleasant surprises to a minimum is to always be at least one step ahead in your winter moving preparations. And to do just that, you need to have a pretty good idea of what the weather conditions will be in the days leading up to your moving day. Moreover, passive observation won’t do you much good, so you are recommended to fine-tune your actions based on what Mother Nature has in mind for the time period that matters the most in your case.
For instance, if a severe winter storm is expected to hit your city around the time of your scheduled move, reconsider your available options and choose the course of action that will prove to be the safest one under the fast-changing circumstances. Speak with your removal company about rescheduling your move in case of adverse winter conditions.
6. Mind what you wear on moving day
Our winter moving guide also includes useful advice on how to move in the winter and keep yourself warm and safe at the same time. In fact, there is one big winter moving trick you should use to ensure that the coldness outside won’t really affect your own relocation, and that the latter will go as planned.
The thing to take into consideration is how you dress for the occasion. Select warm clothes that won’t restrict your movements in any way but be careful not to overdress drastically as that can only cause you to sweat more than is good for your health. Wear your most comfortable pair of shoes, preferably with anti-slip soles, to protect your feet and have excellent traction when you need it the most. Additionally, don’t forget to keep your fingers safe and at the same time maintain a good grip on whatever it is that you’re carrying around with the help of thick work gloves.
Let’s not forget that hot beverages such as tea, coffee and hot chocolate will also help you keep the cold away.
7. Protect your items against the cold
It can be a big moving mistake to assume that packing for a winter move is no different than preparing your belongings for a summer move. The main difference, of course, is the much lower temperature outside – a fact that will indisputable affect some of the more temperature sensitive items you’re moving to your new home.
Avoid packing liquids as some of them may freeze and break the vessels that contain them. Cover valuable wooden furniture pieces with additional blankets or pieces of bubble wrap to protect their surfaces. Sensitive electronic devices and musical instruments are also at risk in sub-zero temperatures, so take adequate measures to keep them protected. Unfortunately, extreme cold might cause delicate glass pieces to crack or even break during the transit.
Another thing to keep in mind is that moving house plants in the winter borders the realm of impossible missions, so think twice before endangering your leafy companions in such a direct way.
Regardless of the season you’re moving house, don’t neglect the needs of your pets.
Most pets don’t really enjoy unfavorable to harsh winter conditions, especially when the expected result is a move to a strange home with a brand new acclimatisation process in sight.
If at all possible, a good wintertime strategic move is to arrange the transportation of your pets before moving day, so that they won’t have to go through additional stress. Another more realistic moving day scenario is to leave them temporarily at a friend’s place or have them looked after and supervised inside a heated room in your own home, away from the controlled chaos that is about to ensure.
An important thing to keep in mind is that your selected removal company is not allowed to transport pets from one home to another, so the actual transportation of your animal friend is your sole responsibility.
No winter moving advice is complete if it fails to include recommendations on how to have your new home ready for your arrival. If you’re moving only a short distance, it’s a good idea to visit your residence beforehand and make sure the paths leading to it are safe – snow- and ice-free and clear of any major obstacles. As described above, you should protect the interior areas against the onslaught of moving feet that are about to arrive soon.
Also, regardless of the distance you’re about to move to, don’t forget to have your essential utilities switched on and running in to your new home. Take care of this fundamental task at least 10 days before you’re scheduled to move in just to be on the safe side. After all, wintertime is not the best time to go without electricity, heating or water even for one single day.
10. Prepare your car for winter conditions
Make sure you include pre-move risk assessment in your moving calendar.
Once you have secured a reliable moving partner to transport your furniture and the rest of your household belongings to your new home, it’s time to think about how exactly you will cover the relocation distance yourself. And if using your own vehicle to reach the final destination seems like the most logical option, then you should include some addition time in your busy moving calendar to prepare your car for the journey ahead of you.
As you have probably realized by now, moving in the winter months is not something to be underestimated in any way. First of all, take your car to be checked by an authorized car mechanic as having your vehicle break down in the middle of your relocation trip would the last thing you’d want to experience.
Then, double check if you have at least the most fundamental items on the road with you, such as tyre chains, shovels, ice scrapers, extra fuel, tow rope, a torch, additional blankets, a charged mobile phone, and most importantly – extra cash for emergencies.
Bonus winter moving tips
This winter moving guide offers final advice on how to make your winter move safer and easier so that you don’t encounter any real problems in your (forced) decision to move house during the coldest months of the year.
Despite the number of benefits a winter move can offer you (the greatest one being the lower price, of course), you may need to reevaluate the relocation situation carefully, especially if there’s a higher risk involved due to adverse climatic conditions.
Have at least two back-up plans in case you have no choice but to abandon the primary plan due to worsened weather conditions or other unexpected winter related problems.
Winter days are much shorter and darkness falls much quicker, so schedule your car drive for an early start.
Ultimately, moving in the winter is all about providing a good level of safety for everyone, so ask yourself, again, what safety measures you have taken to avoid painful personal injuries and costly property damage.
Drive safely.
Have you ever had to move in the winter? How did it go?
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The process of moving house is tough enough as it is, even without your “eagerness” to put your survival skills to the test by organizing and executing a winter move.
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