Moving during the winter is easily the most stressful time to move. While you can save money moving during the off-season, weather and road conditions can complicate things a bit.
Fortunately, if you prepare accordingly beforehand and stay flexible, you can navigate a winter move with no problems at all.
Read on for nine winter moving tips to stay safe, warm, and stress-free.
1. Confirm with Movers One Week Before
It’s not uncommon for snow or even heavy rain to get in the way of your move. The fact is weather can be unpredictable during the winter. From the snow and sleek roads to high winds, the weather poses plenty of obstacles when moving in the winter.
Check the weather a few days before to make sure it will be safe for you and your movers to be on the roads. If the weather looks questionable, confirm the moving date with the movers. If on the off chance you need to postpone your move until the weather clears up, be flexible for the sake of safety. Fortunately, winter is a slow season for professional movers, so finding a day that works for you shouldn’t be an issue.
2. Schedule an Early Morning Move
The days are shorter during the winter, which means your professional movers will have less time to pack and haul your belongings. The best way around this is to schedule the start of your move as close to sunrise as possible. This way, your movers will be able to make take care of final logistics before full daylight.
In addition, organize and prioritize your boxes so the hauling process from the house to the moving truck is more streamlined.
3. Clear Your Driveway
Ice, snow, and rain can be extremely dangerous on their own, but add a half dozen people moving around heavy boxes and furniture, and you have a recipe for disaster. Make sure to shovel your driveway and clear away as much ice as possible before any moving starts.
If there are areas where black ice has formed, put up a warning sign or block off the walkway completely so everyone is acutely aware of dangerous spots. The last thing you want to deal with is an accident or injury on moving day. If it’s snowing on moving day, keep your shovel handy and clear the driveways as you go.
4. Keep An Emergency Kit Handy
In the event that slip-and-fall does happen, have an emergency kit ready to bandage up any scrapes or cuts. An emergency kit can also be helpful if you get a paper cut or something fragile breaks and cuts your hand. Be prepared for anything.
5. Use Weatherproof Materials to Pack Your Belongings
Cold weather can make fragile items like plate-ware even more susceptible to breaking. To avoid this, double wrap your fragile items and use blankets whenever possible. It may also be helpful to place these items in the moving truck (or your car) last to ensure they come out of the vehicle first.
Even if it isn’t snowing on the day of your move, it’s a safe call to wrap your belongings in weatherproof material, just in case. Buy or rent weatherproof crates to keep your belongings dry.
6. Protect Your Floors
You and the movers will be walking in and out of your home, tracking snow, ice and dirt throughout. To prevent this, put down cardboard, tarps, and plastic at the entryways and create a path through the house to encourage people to walk on the covered areas.
7. Stay Warm
Even though you will be moving around, standing out in the cold can lead to sickness quickly. Make sure you and the movers always have something hot to drink, and take breaks to warm up throughout the day. Everyone will be much more productive if they have a chance to warm their hands and have a snack.
8. Make Sure Your Car is Ready For Winter Driving
Before moving day, take your car to the mechanic to fix any engine or fluid issues. Have your tires checked or replaced, and make sure you have everything you would need in case of an emergency (including chains).
9. Turn On Utilities
After a cold day outside hauling your belongings in and out of the moving truck, the one thing you will want to do is warm up in your new home. But you can’t do that without utilities! Check and triple-check that you have set up your utilities at your new home before you arrive. The simple act of turning on the lights and heater will make your first night much more comfortable.
Ready to Move Now?
Whether you’re relocated for a job or you’re moving to a new neighborhood in town, Moving Forward Professional San Francisco Movers can help you relocate quickly and efficiently. Call today for your free quote.
Fortunately, if you prepare accordingly beforehand and stay flexible, you can navigate a winter move with no problems at all.
Read on for nine winter moving tips to stay safe, warm, and stress-free.
1. Confirm with Movers One Week Before
It’s not uncommon for snow or even heavy rain to get in the way of your move. The fact is weather can be unpredictable during the winter. From the snow and sleek roads to high winds, the weather poses plenty of obstacles when moving in the winter.
Check the weather a few days before to make sure it will be safe for you and your movers to be on the roads. If the weather looks questionable, confirm the moving date with the movers. If on the off chance you need to postpone your move until the weather clears up, be flexible for the sake of safety. Fortunately, winter is a slow season for professional movers, so finding a day that works for you shouldn’t be an issue.
2. Schedule an Early Morning Move
The days are shorter during the winter, which means your professional movers will have less time to pack and haul your belongings. The best way around this is to schedule the start of your move as close to sunrise as possible. This way, your movers will be able to make take care of final logistics before full daylight.
In addition, organize and prioritize your boxes so the hauling process from the house to the moving truck is more streamlined.
3. Clear Your Driveway
Ice, snow, and rain can be extremely dangerous on their own, but add a half dozen people moving around heavy boxes and furniture, and you have a recipe for disaster. Make sure to shovel your driveway and clear away as much ice as possible before any moving starts.
If there are areas where black ice has formed, put up a warning sign or block off the walkway completely so everyone is acutely aware of dangerous spots. The last thing you want to deal with is an accident or injury on moving day. If it’s snowing on moving day, keep your shovel handy and clear the driveways as you go.
4. Keep An Emergency Kit Handy
In the event that slip-and-fall does happen, have an emergency kit ready to bandage up any scrapes or cuts. An emergency kit can also be helpful if you get a paper cut or something fragile breaks and cuts your hand. Be prepared for anything.
5. Use Weatherproof Materials to Pack Your Belongings
Cold weather can make fragile items like plate-ware even more susceptible to breaking. To avoid this, double wrap your fragile items and use blankets whenever possible. It may also be helpful to place these items in the moving truck (or your car) last to ensure they come out of the vehicle first.
Even if it isn’t snowing on the day of your move, it’s a safe call to wrap your belongings in weatherproof material, just in case. Buy or rent weatherproof crates to keep your belongings dry.
6. Protect Your Floors
You and the movers will be walking in and out of your home, tracking snow, ice and dirt throughout. To prevent this, put down cardboard, tarps, and plastic at the entryways and create a path through the house to encourage people to walk on the covered areas.
7. Stay Warm
Even though you will be moving around, standing out in the cold can lead to sickness quickly. Make sure you and the movers always have something hot to drink, and take breaks to warm up throughout the day. Everyone will be much more productive if they have a chance to warm their hands and have a snack.
8. Make Sure Your Car is Ready For Winter Driving
Before moving day, take your car to the mechanic to fix any engine or fluid issues. Have your tires checked or replaced, and make sure you have everything you would need in case of an emergency (including chains).
9. Turn On Utilities
After a cold day outside hauling your belongings in and out of the moving truck, the one thing you will want to do is warm up in your new home. But you can’t do that without utilities! Check and triple-check that you have set up your utilities at your new home before you arrive. The simple act of turning on the lights and heater will make your first night much more comfortable.
Ready to Move Now?
Whether you’re relocated for a job or you’re moving to a new neighborhood in town, Moving Forward Professional San Francisco Movers can help you relocate quickly and efficiently. Call today for your free quote.
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