Updated on June 1, 2023
Depending on the part of the country you are moving to or from, moves during the winter months can come with their own unique set of challenges. The biggest challenges are the unpredictable weather and the cold temperatures. Plus, if you are moving around during the winter holidays, you may have the added stress of planning for family gatherings and holiday shopping while planning for a big move. So what do you do? You expect the best but prepare for the worst. While moving during the snowy season of winter or during the hectic holiday season is not optimal, you can be prepared with the following tips.
Successful Winter Moving Day Tips
Tip #1: Be Flexible and Plan to Be Patient
We recommend creating a flexible moving plan if you live in an area with frequent snow or ice. It is normal to try and get your things moved to your new home as quickly as possible, but you will need to have some flexibility built into your schedule so you can slow down and work as the weather allows. This will require some patience as circumstances outside your control will likely delay your timeline.
Tip #2: Gather Winter Supplies
You will need winter-specific supplies if you intend to move in the snow. Here are some of the things we recommend you add to your winter moving supplies:
- Salt, sand, or ice melt
- Snow shovel
- Tire chains for your vehicle
- Rugs or mats
- Cardboard
- Plastic tarps
- Ice scraper
- Warm beverages
- Emergency survival kits
- Space heaters
Another tip: make sure not to pack away winter accessories like gloves, scarves, wool socks, snow boots, and hats. Everyone must wear appropriate winter clothing and gear on moving day to stay warm and safe. Extremities like your head, hands, and feet will need extra protection to keep warm. Consider offering everyone on your crew “hot hands” packets to place in their pockets to warm up frosty fingers.
Tip #3: Protect Your Flooring
Use rugs, mats, long pieces of cardboard, or tarps to create protected walkways in your home. Place absorbent mats at the entryways so everyone has a place to clean their shoes or boots off. Wet and muddy shoes can stain the carpets in your home, causing an unnecessary mess to deal with before you vacate the property.
Tip #4: Create A Staging Zone
Instead of moving your boxes and furniture from each room, across the house, outside into the inclement weather, and then coming back inside to clean off your shoes and do it all over again, consider creating a staging zone near one of the home’s entry points. The door closest to the portable storage unit would be ideal. Gather as many of your boxes and pieces of furniture as will fit in the staging area. Once that room is complete, you can carefully load those items into your container. Then, when that batch is loaded, you can come inside and have a hot coffee, tea, or cocoa to warm up before filling the staging room again. This method will also allow you to spend less time outdoors in the freezing temperatures.
Tip #5: Clear Your Outdoor Walkways
Don’t try to carry furniture or boxes on icy walkways. Instead, take the time to shovel snow out of your walkways and salt the frozen areas. Doing this will make your move go by quicker and reduce fall risk. A hard fall on a driveway can cause significant injury and delay your move.
Tip #6: Wear the Proper Attire
Wear warm clothes to protect against hypothermia and proper footwear for walking on slippery ground. Boots or sneakers with good traction will give you a better chance of avoiding injury. A good coat, hat, earmuffs, and gloves should be available to everyone working outdoors in freezing temperatures. We recommend wearing moving gloves with rubber grips—regular cloth mittens or gloves do not allow you to get a good hold on boxes and furniture.
Tip #7: Protect Your Items
If it is actively sleeting or snowing, you must ensure your furniture and boxes don’t get wet. You can use plastic sheeting, garbage bags, or tarps to cover your things and keep them dry as you load them up. Reinforce your cardboard boxes with heavy-duty tape, and use plastic tubs for items you do not want to be affected by moisture.
Tip #8: Make Sure Your Utilities Are Left On
You don’t want to forget to leave your utilities on after you move out of the home, but in an area where temperatures reach freezing, it is essential to have running heat for you and anyone helping you move. You also want to ensure that the utilities are turned on in your new home before you arrive so you can get the heat running immediately.
Tip #9: Make A Plan for Your Children and Pets
Arrange for a trusted friend or family member to look after your children and pets while you are working. It can be dangerous for pets and small children when people come in and out of the house. For example, doors get unintentionally left open, and small children and pets can slip outdoors in freezing temperatures. If you cannot have someone sit for you, consider creating a safe zone for your children and pets and check on them often.
Tip #10: Leave The Moving and Driving To The Professionals
1-800-PACK-RAT uses all-steel weatherproof containers so your items stay dry and safe in even the snowiest of regions. Our drivers are trained professionals who will transport your units with ease. Skip the icy roads, and let us take that job off your hands!
The average moving day usually passes by without incident or injury, but moving in winter can be a bit more physically challenging than most people realize. Use the tips above to make protecting yourself and everyone involved with your move a top priority. On moving day, protecting yourself and your loved ones is even more important than protecting your belongings.
If you are planning a local or long-distance move this winter, give 1-800-PACK-RAT a call! Our moving and storage services are tailor-made to help you achieve a smooth and stress-free move. Our portable moving and storage containers offer affordability with a predictable cost, convenient options, and tons of flexibility that will simplify your move. Delivery dates and storage dates can all be easily scheduled and rescheduled using our MyPackRat portal. Every customer automatically receives a My PackRat account offering 24/7 access to manage your order, schedule dates, view payment history, get packing/moving tips, and more. We can also help find professional labor services in your local area you can trust to pack and move your belongings safely and securely, even in the snow.
Whatever your moving and storage needs may be – 1-800-PACK-RAT can make it simple! See what we can do for you today with a free quote!