The first thing to know about moving in winter is that you can do it. In fact, it may even be to your benefit as many moving companies’ winter rates are lower due to lower demand. By moving during the winter, you’ll have more freedom and flexibility with scheduling and can get a pretty sweet deal. And really, moving during the summer’s sweltering heat isn’t all that much better. You’ll be all the more cozy curling up in your new home after manning your move from the snow.
But there are some things that are important to keep in mind when planning a move for the colder months.
1. Make sure both sites are safe
Moving, especially with an expert moving company, can be smooth sailing, but one bad accident can make it nearly impossible. Especially during winter when snow and ice make innocent walkways into potential death traps, it’s important to scour both your current home and your new abode for danger zones.
Before you start moving, clear your walkways as much as possible, look out for icy spots, and warn your movers about any small steps or uneven ground that may cause trouble. This will not only keep everyone safe, but also make sure your movers can do their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible
2. Protect your floors
Close your eyes and picture your new home: fireplace glowing, cookies baking in the oven, TV ablaze with your favorite show. Now picture the floors. Is there mud and snow all over them? Probably not. Ice and snow can be easily tracked into the house, and when it starts to melt, not only can the dirt and mud tracked in with it get messy, but water damage can be fatal to wood floors or leave you with that gross wet carpet smell. This is easily prevented by laying down protective flooring, but make sure you remember to do this before the moving starts, because even a little bit of water can do a lot of damage.
3. Check your utilities
Ah, nothing like settling into your dark, 20 °F, internet-less house for the night, right? When you finish your big day of moving, the last thing you want to deal with is making calls to the electric company to deal with an outage or miscommunication. We recommend making sure your utilities are up and running at least 2 days before your move, giving you plenty of time to manage any mishaps before you could find yourself spending your first night in your new place freezing your butt off in the dark.
That being said, during the moving process itself, you may want to turn your heat down a few notches. With movers going in and out all day, you’ll be paying to heat the whole neighborhood. By keeping your heat down just for the day, you’ll be saving a good chunk of change–maybe even enough to justify that nice housewarming gift you were considering for yourself.
4. Be Flexible
The good news, as we said earlier, is that your moving company is likely to be more flexible during the winter months because it’s a less busy time. The not-so-good news is that you might need it. It’s important to track weather conditions leading up to your move as a particularly bad storm may change your plans or make your move more difficult. Discuss the possibility of winter hindrances with everyone involved in your move and have a plan to put into action if, by chance, the weather is not cooperative with your original moving schedule.
It’s also important to keep in mind that with shorter days and fewer hours of light, a winter move gives you less time to get everything done. A move that may take one day in the summer could stretch into two during the winter, which is another thing you should consider when organizing your move. Be sure to keep your expectations realistic. As much as possible, try to stay flexible in the event that the move needs to be rescheduled altogether because of inclement weather.
5. Be Organized
Arguably, this is the most important part of a move no matter the time of year, but in winter it’s especially important to make sure you’ve thought of everything before the moving begins. It will not only make the experience less stressful for you and your movers, but it will probably save you a whole lot of time and money in the long run. With so many things to think about, here are a few to keep in mind.
Before you move
- If you don’t need it, don’t move it—look through your belongings while you’re packing and trash or donate the clutter.
- Sort your belongings as far in advance as possible
- Make sure all boxes are clearly labeled
- Double pack fragile items and be careful with expensive tech and other favorite possessions
- Have a plan for where everything should go in your new home
During the Move
- Make sure you have everything that you intend to take with you in your personal vehicle like medications, changes of clothes, priceless or irreplaceable items, phones and computers, and paperwork associated with the move and your new home
- Know what your movers can and cannot do when it comes to potentially hazardous materials such as certain paints, chemicals, or cleaning supplies
- You never know when you’ll need to dig your way out of a snowy situation, not only for foot traffic but also in case your vehicle gets stuck.
- Bring salt or sand should, shovel, or even a snow blower in case you need to dig your way out of a snowy situation.
- A space heater accessible may also be good to have on hand in case temps get super low and you need to provide supplemental heat near an entrance or cold zone.
- Board your pets–moving is hard enough without fido getting in the wa
Regardless of whether you’re moving one street over or halfway across the country, moving is a lot of work. Do as much as you can in advance to make the process easier on everyone—your future self most of all.
6. Make sure you’re working with a professional moving company.
In dicey conditions, experience makes all the difference. Elite Moving & Storage serve more than 3,000 families each year, many of which are repeat customers and referrals. We are competitively priced, licensed and insured, and have maintained an A-rating with the Better Business Bureau for the last 10 consecutive years.
We know that moving can be pricey, but especially if you’re moving in the winter, you shouldn’t try to cut corners with your moving company. An experienced moving team will not only make your experience easier, but will ensure your move is successful and, most of all, safe. Your piece of mind is worth the extra expense, so contact us today or visit our website for a free virtual quote.