5 Tips For Moving In The Winter
Winter can be a great time to move because it may be cheaper and easier to hire movers or rent a moving truck. However the following are issues you need to avoid before they occur:
1. Hire Professionals
Due to safety which is a requirement when moving, it is recommended that you hire a professional moving company for your move during winter. This is because it is possible to find yourself in dangerous situations when you are carrying large and heavy items and having the ground, the walk board into the truck and the truck floor itself get slippery in the winter as a result of the snow, rain or ice.
Driving your moving car or truck during the winter conditions may also be difficult and dangerous.
2. Have Your New Home Ready for the Move
Before your moving day, check with the rental property manager or real estate agent of your new home to ensure that the place is ready for you. Ensure that all utilities like the heating and lighting have been properly set-up and are functioning fully.
Have the hydro and the heat turned on a few days before your arrival so that you can make sure that everything is functioning and the house will be warm for the day you are moving in. This is important because during winter the days are darker and shorter and the cold winds are blowing. The snow should be cleared from the walkways in front of your new home.
It is a good idea to visit your new place before you move in to ensure that the walkways are free of ice and clear. The parking area and the lane-ways should also be clear so that there is parking available for the moving truck.
3. Prepare Your Old Home When Moving Out
It is important that you prepare your old home before you move out by clearing the snow so that the walkways, sidewalks and driveways are free of snow. This will ensure that the areas are free of ice and will therefore not be slippery.
The parking area should be cleared leaving ample room for the movers. The inside of the house should be protected using large pieces of plastic sheeting or cardboard so that areas are protected from water, snow and sand. The floors can be tapped with plastic sheets and cardboard used for carpeted areas.
The night before you move, you can shovel a path leading from the road to the house, or if there is enough time on the morning of the move you can shovel the path. For added safety, some salt can be spread on the pathways to make them less slippery. This will make moving less stressful as well as reduce the time that you and the movers will be out in the cold.
4. Check The Weather And Stock Up On Supplies When Moving
Stocking up on winter supplies is necessary in case the moving truck or your vehicle becomes stuck when it starts to snow. Hot liquids should be available like hot chocolate, coffee and tea. The weather should also be checked well in advance before the moving day.
When a winter storm threatens your move, ensure you have a back-up plan in case you have to reschedule your move. If you have hired movers, you can talk to the company and see their policy in terms of winter conditions. Movers who are used to the winter weather may not be willing to postpone the move.
However, if the movers postpone the move, speak to your landlord or real estate agent to allow you to stay a few extra days. You should also know your travel route by contacting the local authorities to determine if the highways are safe and open to travel on. The car you are going to use should be winterized, have all fluids topped up, and brakes and tires checked.
Make sure that you have all the important and necessary phone numbers with you. This numbers include the highway patrol and roadside assistance. Pack a box of winter essentials when moving that include paper products for the home like toilet paper, a warm change of clothes, some snacks as well as easy to prepare food items.
This box should be loaded last and unloaded first. This will enable you have access to these items immediately you arrive. When driving in winter, the truck should be driven slower, extra room should always be left between the truck and vehicle, in case there is a vehicle in front. This is because trucks require more room and time to stop when in bad weather.
Extra caution should be used when traveling across overpasses and bridges. The tank should be kept full because a half-full tank may lead to water condensation along the fuel line.
5. Board your pets
Boarding your pets is a good idea during your move because pets can be a hazard when they get under the feet of people carrying heavy furniture and boxes. This tends to be worse when in a small apartment. The pets may also get out due to the fact that the doors are open and people keep moving in and out. Your pet may also find it difficult to adjust to a new home and will therefore have emotional trauma. It is therefore necessary to move your pet last to your new home.
Finally winter moves can be quite challenging, but if you follow these tips your move will be successful. You will also save money because the professional moving companies are less busy during the winter months, so the rates will be lower and you will end up saving money as compared to moving at any other time of year like spring and summer.
