Winter moving may not be officially an extreme sport, but we believe it deserves to become one. After all, moving in freezing temperatures sounds like a thing that will make your heart beat faster. And yet, no matter how crazy it may seem, changing your home in winter can be a good idea.
For instance, if you have to sell your house fast, it’s likely that you won’t have to book professional movers in advance in winter. Moreover, many moving companies decide to lower their prices during the winter months to attract more customers.
The second advantage of winter moving is that cold weather significantly decreases packing time. During summer, we’re much lazier, whereas winter conditions make us move faster.
Once you consider all that, moving in the winter suddenly doesn’t sound like a bad idea, however, to make your winter move more comfortable, we’ve prepared a quick guide.
Below, you’ll find nine useful winter moving tips. Before you begin, though, we recommend you make yourself a cup of hot chocolate. Ready? Let’s get started, then.
Pack Everything in Advance
Packing everything in advance is a great idea, no matter the season. It speeds up the whole process and ensures you keep your schedule. However, when it comes to winter, this advice becomes even more relevant.
What does in advance mean, though? The best idea is to start preparing as soon as you set a moving date. Doing that will ensure there aren’t any delays, making your life and movers’ job much easier.
Prepare Your Old House
If you’ve never moved out before, you should keep one thing in mind – moving day is a huge mess. The moving crew and your family are constantly going in and out, and if you wish to avoid cleaning the floors before you leave, we recommend you take extra time to prepare your home.
Lay down plastic sheets to protect your floors from dirt and melting snow, and turn off your heater to avoid paying unnecessary costs. You should also try and move your boxes as close to the front door as possible.
Watch the Weather
The main reason why people prefer moving in summer rather than winter is, of course, the weather. Nobody likes to move items in and out in cold temperatures and snow falling on their heads.
Still, you can make your job slightly easier and pick a moving day that’s relatively warm. To achieve that, though, you need to keep an eye on the weather. You can also consult with the moving company and come up with the best plan for both parties.
Hire a Professional Moving Crew
Speaking of moving company, you should make sure always to pick the best one possible. Hiring the right crew is crucial, especially when moving in winter.
When deciding which company to choose, always consider all possible options. Check online opinions and look at what they can offer you. Chances are, you’ll be able to find a crew that will help you clean up your old house and set up a new one at a considerable price.
Protect Your Belongings
Another possible problem is that some items are more vulnerable to winter weather than others. For example, breakable and fragile items, such as plates or glasses, can crack or break because of a lower temperature.
A good idea is to double-wrap such items in blankets and bubble wrap to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Also, when it comes to electronics, it’s best to move them last.
Take Care of Your Kids and Pets
As great as children and pets are, they can make moving day much worse. A dog or kids running around take your mind off the moving process, so it’s best to arrange for someone to look after them.
Clear a Path
Moving in the winter can get dangerous. With ice and snow covering the ground, it’s easy to slip and break something. To ensure it doesn’t happen, you should prepare a safe path for the movers.
Shovel off the snow and dust your front yard with sand and salt. It will protect the moving crew and you from ending in a hospital. It will also ensure your things get to your new home or at least the moving truck in one piece.
Make Sure Your New Home is Ready
The last thing you want to experience is unpacking in a cold and dirty house. That’s why you should prepare your new house for your arrival. It will make your life easier, more comfortable.
Warm the home and clean it before moving in. Keep in mind that without the necessary space, the moving crew will have to leave some of your things outside, and it’s probably something you wish to avoid, especially during the winter.
Be Flexible
The most important rule of moving during the winter is flexibility. Weather conditions can cause road closures, extending your travel time, and making your car trip more dangerous.
You should also have a backup plan in case of a snowstorm or other extreme conditions. The case might be you’ll have to postpone your move, so ensure you’re ready for such a possibility.
Conclusion
As crazy as moving in the winter sounds, it’s not an impossible task. Sure, many things make a winter move more challenging, but certain benefits are worth considering when choosing a time of year for your moving date.
As mentioned above, professional moving companies usually charge for a move in the winter. It makes such an operation a risk worth taking, especially if you’re looking for a way to save yourself some money.
Also, keep in mind that there are many things you can do to keep the entire operation safe for you, your home, and the movers. With the tips we’ve mentioned above, you’ll be able to ensure your winter move goes smoothly.
And with that being said, we wish you good luck on your big day. After all, moving to a new home is a significant step in every person’s life. It doesn’t matter whether it takes place in the summer, fall, or winter.
