Moving in Winter Weather

Everything You Need to Know About Moving in Winter Weather

While moving houses or relocating your office might not sound appealing and you would ordinarily avoid dealing with moving boxes and furniture in snowy weather, sometimes it can’t be helped.

Sometimes moving in the winter can be a positive thing. For starters, moving companies such as Lamanna Moving & Storage in the Albany, NY areas, are less busy in the winter months, so you might have a much easier time booking them. Moving in the winter can also be cheaper than during the peak season. These are both things to consider when planning a move.

Things to Remember When Moving in Winter

Winter moving can be tricky, but with some smart planning it can be easier than you think. Here are a few of the most important things to consider when planning to move during the winter.

• Be Flexible
  Be prepared for anything! Given that winter weather can be extremely unpredictable, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast weeks in advance of your scheduled moving day. If the forecast calls for a snow storm on moving day, you may need to reschedule.
  
  
• Be Prepared
  Moving day is always busy and chaotic, so you want to make sure you’ve got everything ready to roll as best you can by the time moving day rolls around. You should ideally have everything packed and ready to go before your movers show up, so you’re not running around at the last minute. Taking the time to pack early will save you tons of time on moving day.
  
  
• Get Your Home Ready
  Snow happens during the winter. If it happens to snow on your scheduled moving day, a little more prep work may be required. Make sure your home’s (both the home you’re moving out of and the one you’re moving into) driveways are as clear of snow as possible. You don’t want to be trudging through snow with boxes and furniture all day and neither do your movers.
  
  Salt or sand any slippery surfaces well – you definitely don’t want anyone to slip while they’re carrying something heavy or breakable. If it’s raining or snowing heavily, you might want to consider putting up a tarp or tent over the path to keep your items dry. You can also put plastic covers down on the floors inside your home to keep things clean while everyone is coming in and out.
  
  
• Protect Your Belongings
  In the event of heavy snow or rain on moving day, you’ll want to pack your items a bit differently as well. Moving boxes secured with packing tape should be sturdy enough to withstand a little rain. However, if you’re expecting a heavy downpour, it might be worth looking into plastic totes for moving instead of cardboard boxes.
  
  If you’ve got artwork to move, it should be wrapped in plastic or covered with trash bags to keep water out. Any clothes and textiles can also be packed in trash bags to protect them from the rain. Wood or fabric furniture can be wrapped in heavy blankets or tarps to protect them from light rain. Furniture can also be shrink-wrapped in plastic, which is a good idea if you expect very heavy amounts of rain.
  
  
• Give Yourself Extra Time
  When the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s smart to plan for delays. Snow, ice, or heavy rain could all cause delays in travel time and will affect how long it takes to load up the truck and move everything in at your new place. Give yourself plenty of extra time to complete the move—it’s better to finish earlier than you expect than it is to have to pay for extra time at the end of a move.