Moving in the Winter: Tips and Preparations For Your Cold Weather Move

Buying a house is one of the most exciting moments for a person or family. Often, you have spent time saving up, planning, searching, and working hard towards reaching your real estate goals, and when you do it's a rewarding experience all around. However, as exciting of a time as this may be, planning for moving day can be stressful for even the most experienced of movers, especially in the cold winter months. 

While moving during the winter can be even more taxing than any other season, it’s entirely possible to have a smooth transition from one home to another during the colder season. It's all about planning and preparation. Having everything set up in advance will alleviate most of the stress and pressure you have to deal with and make your move a seamless experience for all involved. To give you a helping hand, here is a list of useful tips for a simple and stress-free winter move.

 

Pack in Advance

Don’t wait until the very last minute to frantically pack your things. For an easy move, you should start packing in advance! Ensure that all of your boxes, totes, and furniture are winter-proofed and well organized. Label your boxes, double pack and pad the fragile items using a generous amount of bubble wrap, and be as careful as you can when handling them. Once moving day comes, have your boxes prepared in an orderly fashion so you know exactly where to put them in your new home.

 

Ensure Your New Home is Prepared

Ahead of your big move, make sure to double check on the utilities, particularly the heating unit, in your new place. The last thing you want to deal with on the first night in your new home is having to unpack all your blankets to stay warm with a broken heating system. Alternatively, you should set up all account services for heat and hydro, internet and telephone so that once you make your move, you can settle in easily. 

 

Cover Your Floors

Cleaning up after a long, exhausting day of moving is less than ideal. Luckily, you can make the cleaning process a little easier by laying some tarp or sheeting on the floors of your new home; it’s a simple and foolproof way to protect your flooring while your movers are trudging in and out of your home with wet or muddy boots. This is particularly important if your new home features carpeted areas. 

 

Clear Driveways

Safety should always be your number one priority. Winter conditions, such as ice and snow, can be relatively dangerous. To make it easy for you and your movers, make sure that all walkways, driveways, and paths are clear.

 

Child and Animal Care

No matter the season, moving with young children and animals can make an already hectic day feel even more overwhelming. Set up child care for the day, or board your animals with a friend or boarding company. Once the move is over and the doors are closed, bring the family back together to help with unpacking and setting up.

 

Keep a Close Eye on the Weather

Moving week is already hectic enough and with the addition of the unpredictable and harsh weather that winter brings things can feel even more overwhelming. Pay attention to the weather for the upcoming days and weeks. If, for example, a snowstorm happens to fall on the day or week of your move, you’ll be prepared for the circumstances or put a plan in place to delay the move.

 

Dress Accordingly

After a lot of planning and preparation, moving day has finally arrived! With your mind in all different directions, you might forget to dress appropriately for the winter. It’s most likely freezing, windy, and a tad bit slippery outside, so be sure to throw on your winter coat, slip on your winter boots, put on a hat, and warm your hands up with winter gloves!

 

Calm Down

Don’t be afraid to take a deep breath and calm yourself down if things are getting overwhelming. Moving in itself is already exhausting to deal with, but it should never take a noticeable toll on you. Relax, take a deep breath, and rest when you need to.

 

Contrary to popular belief, moving in the winter isn’t much different than other seasons. Sure, there are a few more inconveniences and potential hazards, but it’s far from impossible if you’re well prepared!