Considering moving during winter? Though moving into a new house in the winter can be a hassle due to cold or snowy conditions, the lower off-season prices make winter one of the best times to move for those on a budget. Get ahead of the chills by checking out these winter moving tips!
Plan Ahead
Winter weather can bring enough stress to home relocation as it is, so don’t create more issues for yourself by procrastinating. Planning for your move can be as simple as keeping things organized, getting ahead of your packing schedule, and properly communicating with relevant parties. Setting expectations and having a game plan for your moving day timeline will help things feel less overwhelming and much more manageable.
Here are some things to handle in the days and weeks leading up to moving day:
- Winterize your car
- Make a plan for moving with your pets
- Keep track of transferred vs. not-yet-transferred utilities
- Label, organize, and pack your belongings properly
- Confirm details and dates with friends, relatives, and movers
- Pre-load your car, van, or moving truck
Hire a Winter Moving Company
For many people, hiring a reputable moving company is the right decision to help make moving in winter less stressful and overwhelming. This is especially true if it’s a cross-country move or if you’re moving with kids. Whether you need help with heavy lifting, can’t take time off work, or don’t want to deal with freezing weather, seeking out a moving company that operates during the off-season is a perfect solution.
Keep an Eye on the Weather
When moving in cold weather, start looking at live forecasts about a week ahead to stay proactive in the face of unpredictable snow, rain, or sleet. As moving day approaches, checking the weather daily will help you keep up with any trending forecast changes. Though you may get lucky and move on an unseasonably warm day, if any surprise blizzards or snow storms pop up, you’ll want to know about them and inform anyone you’re working with as soon as possible—including moving coordinators or, for those moving out of apartments, landlords.
Double-Pack Your Belongings
When packing for a winter move, you may not realize that your personal belongings will need an extra layer of protection from cold weather. Long exposure to extreme cold increases susceptibility to breaking or malfunctioning—especially when moving long distances. For furniture like chairs and couches, a simple tarp may be enough protection against winter precipitation like snow or light rain. But for packing dishes, china, TVs, and other breakable items, it’s a good idea to double-wrap everything in a thicker material like newsprint, blankets, or towels to ensure proper insulation and prevent cold weather damage like cracking. You can also move particularly sensitive items in your own car to keep a closer eye on them during the move. If you use self storage while moving, consider renting climate-controlled storage to help protect your temperature-sensitive items.
Sort Out Your Utilities
When you move into a new apartment, condo, or house, it can take some time to get all the essential utilities—like heat, water, and electricity—set up and transferred. It’s best to handle these details ahead of move-in day to avoid spending your first night in a freezing home. This can include talking to your landlord, calling utility companies, creating new online accounts, and setting up methods to pay your bills—all of which can take a week or more. A great tip for winter moves is to switch off your heat during the actual unloading process on move-in day to save money as well as avoid strain on your home’s furnace.
Stock Up on Winter Essentials
If you live somewhere that sees a lot of snow during the winter months, you already know it’s a good idea to keep extra winter equipment on hand. But packing extra hats, gloves, snow shovels, and ice scrapers is also helpful if you’re moving in the winter months—especially if you’re moving a longer distance away or relocating out of state.
A few helpful winter essentials to stock up on before your move include:
- Winter hats, gloves, coats, scarves, and mittens
- Pocket hand warmers
- Snow shovels
- Car ice scrapers or snow brushes
- Extra blankets or winter jackets
- Jumper cables
- First-aid kit
- Ice melt or sand
Clear Your Walkways
During the wintertime, ice, snow, and slush create unsafe conditions for walking—not to mention moving heavy furniture, lifting boxes, and packing your belongings into a truck. Moving in the snow is never fun, especially when handling delicate items that can be damaged if dropped. Clear snow from your driveway and surrounding walkways the day before or morning of your moving day, depending on if there’s additional precipitation in the forecast. Providing a clear path and thoroughly salting it will help increase the likelihood of a safe move!
Cover Your Floors
Unsurprisingly, moving in snow can lead to slush, ice, and moisture making a mess on your brand-new or new-to-you floors before you even have the chance to settle in! Protect your floors while moving belongings in from outside by covering them to help maintain their condition and keep your indoor space clean on the first day in your new home. Start by choosing footwear with proper traction to help prevent slips. Then, place large cardboard sheets in carpeted areas to catch and soak up water from shoes, boots, or furniture. For hardwood floors, you can cover them with either large rubber mats or cardboard sheets—just be sure to secure them so your walking path is more stable.
Take Your Time
Relocating in winter often means dealing with slushy or slippery conditions, and for your and others’ safety, it’s important to take your time. Finishing a move as quickly as possible is not worth the risk of falls or injuries. Manage the cold by planning time for breaks, and consider creating a comfortable warm-up area by keeping a space heater running in a closed-off storage room or bathroom. Additionally, if you’ve hired winter movers or are getting help from friends and family, providing warm drinks like hot cocoa, coffee, or cider is a great way to show appreciation and support.
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Planning on relocating during winter? Extra Space Storage offers convenient self storage with climate control throughout the country to help protect temperature-sensitive belongings from severe cold. See our cost of temperature-controlled storage and find climate-controlled storage units near you!
