Moving in winter may sound dreary, but it has some advantages. For instance, more date availability and potential cost savings. However, it can bring complications like severe weather and delays. If you decide to move during the winter months, it’s important to take precautions. We’ve compiled a list of tips that will make moving long distance in winter simple and stress free.
Benefits of Moving in the Winter
- Potential cost savings due to non-peak season pricing
- More date availability due to slower season
- Moving in-between school semesters
What to do when Moving Somewhere Cold
If you’re moving to a cold state for the first time, you may need to invest in cold-weather equipment, tools and items to make handling winter a bit easier. Here’s a list of items we recommend:
- A Heavy-duty down coat
- Waterproof snow boots
- A durable snow shovel
- And electric blanket
- Waterproof ice scraper glove
- Emergency tire traction
- Snow melting mats
- Window insulator kit
- Emergency radio
- Space heater
- Draft guards for doors
- Boot, show and glove dryer
- Firestarter’s
- Windshield Cover
Is It Cheaper to Move in the Winter?
It can be! Moving during winter can actually save you money on your move! Peak season for the moving business occurs from late May until early September. Once the back-to-school grind begins, demand for moving services declines. Because of this, consumers will see lower rates in the winter which leads to cost savings. If you’re getting a quote in the summer, be sure to let your move company know you plan to move in the winter, so you’ll get an estimate with the correct rates. Remember, your quote will only be valid for 30 days, so you’ll need to book your move to lock in rates.
Snowy Weather
How do you move on a snowy day? First, ensure your destination is safe for unloading. Winter weather can prove challenging. Once you and your move crew arrive at your destination, it’s important to make sure it’s safe to unload your goods into your home. Clear snow to form a path, apply salt to streets and sidewalks and clear any debris, like tree branches, to make a safe route from the moving truck into your home. Second, protect your floors. Most moving companies will protect your floors, but it’s a good idea to clarify beforehand with your move coordinator. Laying down cardboard will help protect your floors since ice and snow will quickly turn to watery, muddy slush in your home. Floor protection will also keep anyone walking in and out of your home safe from slipping and falling. It’s also a good idea to keep plenty of old towels handy to help keep things dry.
Preparing for the Snow
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Plan for Delays
The good news about moving during winter months is that it’s considered non-peak season by moving companies. This means the demand for moving services is lower, so more trucks and crews are available, which makes it easier to book within your preferred dates. However, winter weather can be unpredictable. Be sure you monitor the weather during the week of your delivery and keep close communication with your move coordinator. Unexpected delays may occur, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead in case things don’t happen as scheduled.
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Stay Organized
Though moving companies are typically less busy during winter months, staying organized is still important especially since you’re probably juggling holiday planning and family trips among everything else. Use our Residential Move Guide to help you stay on track in the weeks leading up to your move and ensure you’ve accounted for every detail.
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Keep Warm Clothes Handy
When you begin packing, leave a few winter clothing items out so they will be easily accessible. Keep a heavy coat, hat, gloves, scarf and a sweatshirt in a bag so you’ll know exactly where it is and won’t have to dig through boxes when you’re traveling to your new home.
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Turn on Utilities Before You Arrive
Be sure to turn on the utilities in your new home in advance, so you don’t arrive to a cold home with no power. We recommend getting everything turned on about two days before your move.
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Create a Cozy Box
Create a “cozy box” and keep it handy during your move. When you arrive at your new home, you’ll be ready to warm up and get cozy. Here’s what we recommend packing.
- A small space heater – Plug it in and turn it on high as soon as you arrive, so you can start warming your home while things are being unloaded.
- Hot chocolate or apple cider – Pack a few Styrofoam cups and instant packs of hot chocolate or apple cider mix. These are easily made with hot water, so you can enjoy a warm beverage before unpacking your kitchen.
- Hand warmers – We recommend keeping a few instant hand warmers in the box to hand out to the move crew.
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Be Mindful of Packing
If you’re moving during the winter, we recommend you have your items packed by a professional moving company. Temperature and humidity changes can damage wood furniture, musical instruments, china, glass and electronics. The more adverse weather conditions, and the longer the trip and the more likely you are to have problems with these sensitive items. Pack teams are trained to ensure your items are properly prepared for this type of trip, and their expertise will greatly minimize potential damages.
If you need to pack your own items, consider these tips:
- Use plenty of bubble wrap to pad and insulate china and ceramics, so temperature changes aren’t as sudden in the moving truck.
- Give away houseplants before moving day or, alternatively, have them travel in the warm family car with you.
- Pack musical instruments, electronics, antiques, valuables and wooden furniture in the family car instead of on the truck.
- Alternatively, leave sensitive items in climate-controlled storage nearby until the weather improves.
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Service Your Car
Winter weather can be taxing on your vehicle. Before you move, we recommend taking your car to a nearby dealership and have it checked out and prepared for long-distance travel and enduring winter weather. This will help reduce the chance of something happening while you’re on the road, causing delays during your relocation.
Moving during the winter can be challenging, but we hope these tips will help you feel more prepared. If you are planning to move, Dependable RELO can help! Call us today at (844) 350-4285 and schedule a free estimate.