Hot weather, heavy traffic, and high moving costs are among the top reasons people choose not to relocate in the peak moving season, which usually lasts from May through September. Still, moving in the cold season has its own challenges, too. The good news is that these challenges are easy to deal with if you wisely plan your relocation. Long story short, here are 11 top tips for moving in winter to help you prepare.
Moving in winter: tips for a smooth and stress-free relocation
1. Planning makes perfect
While it’s important to carefully plan your move regardless of the time of the year, planning becomes critical in the cold season. In addition to so many tasks to handle — from updating your address with the CRA and service providers to surviving the big day — there’s one more factor to keep in mind: the weather. It’s not a secret that the weather can get really tough in winter.
Plan every step of your move, taking into account the fact that the process may be substantially slowed down due to the snowy or stormy weather. Also, be always prepared to reschedule your move if a large storm is expected.
If you’re driving your car to your new home, plan two routes. Choose your primary route based on road conditions, the availability of fuel stations, and snowplow schedules. Also, take your time to research which areas on your primary route can have road closures due to icy or snowy conditions. Plan another route for the case when your preferred route becomes difficult to navigate.
Finally, make a list of things you’ll need to get everything going smoother, such as a supply of hot drinks, portable chargers, snacks, mats to protect floors and areas at the entrance of outside doors, snow shovels, sand, and other winter moving essentials.
2. Keep away from holiday dates
When moving during winter months, avoid dates around Christmas and New Year’s Day. Many people take time off during the holiday season, so moving companies may have fewer crew members available. If you still decide on moving close to the holidays, book movers far in advance.
Another reason to steer clear of moving during the festive time is heavy traffic. Combined with inclement weather, it increases the chances of delayed deliveries.
Lastly, moving during the holiday season can adversely affect your comfort at the new home. The thing is that many providers operate on reduced hours or have limited staff on hand during this time, so setting up utilities, internet, and other services might take longer.
3. Ask professional help
Not many people have much experience moving large furniture and driving a truck in snowy conditions. If you’re one of them, consider hiring professional movers to help you. Long-distance movers have the experience and necessary equipment to pack, load, and transport your possessions safely.
Besides providing you with peace of mind that your belongings are transported safely in harsh weather through highly trafficked areas, professional movers have a lot more to offer.
Moving companies can assist you with packing and unpacking all household items, loading and unloading your belongings at your destination, dismantling and reassembling furniture at your new home, and storage solutions, among other basic services. In addition, movers usually offer professional packing materials such as boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and packing paper.
Most companies can also help you safely transport your pets and specialty items such as pianos, artwork, antiques, and large appliances. If you have concerns about driving your car in the snowy weather, you can leave it to professionals as well — movers typically offer vehicle shipping services.
Last but not least, you might want to hire movers for a cross-border moving service. They will professionally handle customs paperwork and shipping logistics and safely transport your belongings to another country.
4. Pack and bring important supplies
Snowfalls and bitter cold temperatures you can experience in Canada can make the moving process really challenging. From staying warm to handling slippery pathways, there are many small issues you can easily overcome if you’re properly prepared.
Make sure you are well-stocked with essential winter supplies on your moving day. To keep yourself and your family warm, prepare thermos bottles with hot chocolate and pack warm blankets. Emergency kit essentials such as a flashlight, first-aid supplies, extra warm clothing, and snacks will help you stay safe in case of delays, power outages, or other emergencies.
Finally, it’s important to keep the walkways safe in icy weather conditions, so make sure you have salt, sand, and a shovel on hand to quickly clear ice or snow.
5. Use thickly layered clothes
While relocation is already a stressful process, freezing temperatures make winter moving even more demanding. One of the risks you shouldn’t overlook is getting cold or even frostbitten. Yes, it’s easy not to notice that it’s cold when running back and forth from your house to the truck or giving your place the final check. But you don’t want to spend your first day in the new home in bed with a nasty cold or flu, do you? To keep yourself warm in cold temperatures, wear several layers. The air trapped between the layers provides good insulation, preventing your body heat from escaping.
6. Use a moving container and let professionals handle the driving
DIY moving during the winter isn’t recommended due to the risks created by cold weather and hazardous road conditions. Of course, it would be ideal to hire professionals to pack your household items and dismantle your furniture, keeping your belongings safe and sound. However, if this option is beyond your moving budget, here’s a solution: a moving container.
So, how does it work? A few days before the move date, a moving company delivers shipping containers to your front door so that you have enough time to load your belongings at your own pace. Once the containers are packed, the company picks and drives them to your destination, where you unpack them. As a result, you do part of the moving job on your own, saving on the moving costs.
7. Take care of your movers
It’s challenging to work outside in bad weather, especially if you have to carry bulky or heavy items like pianos or furniture. You can make your movers’ job easier by clearing the paths of ice and snow and sanding walkways. Also, offer your movers breaks to warm up with hot cocoa, tea, or coffee to help them stay warm.
8. Plan for delays
Let’s face it: driving in snow takes longer than driving on clear roads. Therefore, be prepared that your belongings won’t get from your previous home to their destination as scheduled. That’s why keep in touch with movers who will help you unload at your new place and inform them of any changes.
If you’re going to drive your vehicle on your own, choose a route with multiple motels where you can stay in case of a snowstorm or any other conditions that make driving dangerous.
9. Check the weather forecast
Dramatic temperature changes, high winds, and heavy snowfalls are quite common during the Canadian winter. That said, you don’t want the elements to interfere with your moving process, right? For this, you need to be well-prepared.
To know what to prepare for, regularly check the weather forecast. Keep an eye on weather forecasts not just for the day of the move but also for the days leading up to it. For example, if a large snowstorm is predicted a few days before your move, you might have trouble getting to your destination due to road closures or slippery conditions.
10. Protect delicate items
If you aren’t using packing services, read this carefully before you start packing. When packing certain items, you should take special care to protect them from the cold.
Dishware and other glass items can crack or even break if exposed to sudden temperature changes, so make sure you double-wrap them in thick blankets.
Electronics can also be easily affected by the cold, so wrap these in blankets or multiple bubble wrap layers and pack them in boxes. It’s also crucial to prevent moisture from forming inside boxes, so seal them tightly. For freezing temperatures, consider using heated pads or blankets to prevent electronics from freezing during the move.
11. Take care of your car
Regarding your personal vehicle, you have two options — hiring a car shipping service or driving it by yourself. While in the first scenario, your moving company will take care of your car and deliver it safely to your destination regardless of the season, here are some useful tips from the Government of Canada if you plan to drive the car in the winter.
If you’re relocating over a long distance, it’s critical to have your vehicle serviced. This will help you ensure that it’s running properly and avoid unpleasant situations on the road.
Pack everything necessary for driving in cold weather, including tire chains and ice scrapers, to be well-prepared for any situation.
Conclusions
Cold and snowy weather makes moving more challenging but you can improve your experience by following these simple winter moving tips. Of course, the best solution to make your winter move as smooth as possible is to hire professional long-distance or local movers.
The team at Camovers can help — we’ll connect you with the most professional moving companies that suit your needs and budget. Contact us to discuss how we can help and get a quote.
Professional moving companies at Camovers will cope with any difficulties!