Start early
When it comes to moving day the days could always be longer. This means that it is even more important to start the day early during the winter to make the most of the limited hours of daylight. You don’t want to be in a position where you are having to carry large heavy boxes in the dark with wet slippery roads.
Weather
It is important that you keep an eye on the weather forecasts because that way you know what sort of conditions you are going to be dealing with. This way you can better prepare for the move and minimise the chances of having unforeseen problems arise.
Car Preparation
Knowing that you have a trustworthy and reliable car at any time of the year is a comforting thought but it really is a gift during a cold, winter’s moving day. Make sure you carry out your basic car checks such as oil, tyres, antifreeze and windscreen wipers. Then as an extra safety measure make sure you have a torch, shovel, blanket, and some drinks in the car just in case you get stuck or breakdown.
Protect your floors
When you arrive at your new home, the last thing you want is to ruin your carpets or flooring. On moving day there’s constantly going to be people walking in and out of your house with wet, muddy shoes so it is crucial that you lay out some plastic sheets or cardboard to protect your floors. You should do this at yout old home and your new home. Not only does it protect your floors but it is also safer for you and your removals team. It can supply a rougher surface to stand on with more drip in some circumstances.
Heating & utilities
Make sure that as soon as you arrive at your new home that one of the first things that you do is switch on the heating. It is important that you are able to keep yourself and the removals team warm during the winter. To be even more proactive you could make sure that the heating and utilities are functioning a couple of days before you arrive at your new home so that way you are walking into a warm house. This will save you time on the day of the move and help ease a little bit of the stress.
Clearing driveways/walkways
If it is snowing or there is ice, it is absolutely essential to clear all of the essentials spaces needed for the moving van and/or car. To save time on moving day it is better to do this a few days in advance that way it can be done to a higher standard and you can put down grit/salt to ensure that it doesn’t freeze over again. You should never carry large objects whilst walking on ice as this can be extremely dangerous and can often lead to injury.
Essentials box
Having an essentials box on moving day is good to have on any day throughout the year but in winter there are a few extra things that you need to add to it. Make sure your kettle is easily accessible because you are going to be needing a lot of hot drinks to make sure people aren’t getting too cold. Also, make sure that you have some blankets just in case there is a problem with the heating or to keep the children warm if they aren’t moving about much. Apart from the few things that are specific to winter just make sure you have basic toiletries, food and snacks and some entertainment such as DVD’s if you have any children.
Dress smart
This may seem very obvious but it is essential that you and your family are layering up because you are constantly going to be going between different temperatures like outside, car, and inside for example. Make sure you are wearing clothes that you are comfortable in and that allow you to move around easily. Also, shoes with a sturdy grip are very important as they can help to minimise the risk of you slipping and damaging your belongings or hurting yourself.
Protect your belongings
When you are moving house during the winter it can feel like you are fighting the elements and the last thing that you want it to move in and realise that a lot of your belongings have been ruined. Try to avoid using boxes and containers with open tops because if it is raining or snowing then the contents of the box are most likely going to be damaged. Wrapping your belongings is a good way to prevent any damage. If you want to be extremely safe then it might be worth investing in plastic boxes with wheels that way you know nothing is going to get wet, crushed or damaged and can be easily moved around.
Have a backup plan
In the winter months if there is one thing that is unreliable and troublesome its the weather. You need to be keeping an eye on the weather because if there are severe conditions then it is possible that you won’t be able to carry out the move on the day that you planned. So have a backup plan ready just in case that things don’t go your way. If you have a backup plan then you will definitely save yourself a lot of stress.
Are you conisdering moving in the Winter?
Moving in the winter makes it even more stressful and even more of a task to move all of your belongings, contact us on 01745 770555 to find out how our professional house moving team can help.
