How to Make Moving in the Winter Easier and Safer

So you’ve just bought a new house and your closing date falls in the winter months, which means your move date probably will, too. While winter moving allows you to avoid the summer heat and humidity, it does come with its own set of difficulties. If you’re planning on making this move in the winter, keep these tips in mind.

1. Have someone help you with your kids and/or pets

Moving can be difficult and even dangerous for kids and pets. Before the moving day, plan to have your kids and pets stay with a trusted friend or family member so that they are less apt to be injured by moving furniture or falling boxes, or even escape out an open door in a distracted moment.

Since your kids are probably very excited about their new spaces, bring them by the new house for a brief period of time, if possible, before the moving activity begins. This will help them visualize their new space, but then they can be safely out of the way while movers or other friends and family are doing the heavy lifting and moving. Remind them that they’ll get to experience their new space when it’s safe and less chaotic.

In your new home, make note of where special items such as certain toys or anything important to your child are placed. This will help give them a space to be entertained while you’re doing the very important work of unpacking over the next few days and weeks.

Have pets? Keeping pet carriers or crates in a quiet location will help your pet become acclimated more quickly and safely after your “move” is complete.

2. Hire Help

Moving by yourself may seem like the cheapest option, but for a relatively small amount of money, moving companies can do the heavy lifting and help you avoid back injuries. An added bonus…moving companies are faster, less apt to break items (and are insured if they do!) and accustomed to doing this every day. Their experience will help to make your move less complicated and dangerous.

3. Save big items for daylight hours

If possible, schedule your move to take place during the day so that you don’t need to worry about having enough lighting to see where you are going. This is also safer than moving at night when you can’t easily “see” any obstacles in your way, or patches of ice and snow.

4. Be well-stocked with food and drinks

While your movers are doing the heavy lifting, you’ll spend a lot of time carting boxes around, opening up cupboards, putting together furniture…the list goes on! Make sure that you have plenty of water and sports drinks available to keep yourself hydrated while working. Having a crockpot handy with a simple warm meal can help take the edge off of the winter chill. Similarly, hot tea or coffee that you can offer those helping you move will be greatly appreciated. Moving day is hard work and will feel like a long exhausting day.

4. Make Sure Your Driveway and Sidewalks are Clear

Check the weather forecast a few days ahead of time to help you prepare for any snowy, cold conditions. On the morning of the move, clear your driveway of any snow and make sure your entranceway is free of ice. The last thing you want to happen is for you or your movers to slip and fall.

Know where your shovels and snowblower are; as you know, our Minnesota winters can give us some surprises, including unexpected snowfalls or sleet.

5. Heat, Electricity, and Water Services

Before your moving day, verify service activation with utility companies – such as the electric company, gas company, and water company – and ensure that services will be turned on in your new home on the day of your move. You may even want to ask them to have someone come out and turn on the heat a day or two before you move in to help get things started. Of course, if your new home is currently occupied, they are likely using the utilities, so simply transferring the service to you on moving day will help avoid a service lapse, and potentially frozen pipes!

6. Be aware of items that may be affected by the cold.

Electronics, including cell phones and computers, may need special attention. Keep your electronics in a closed box with some type of padding to prevent damage due to temperature changes. Some items may become more brittle in the cold temperatures such as glassware or ceramics. Be sure to wrap these items well and place them in a labeled container when transporting them from house to house.

Enjoy the day!

No doubt, moving is tough work. However, keep focused on the excitement of being in your new space and think ahead to when you can snuggle up on the sofa with hot cocoa and watch a snowfall from your new window! The time and effort will be worth it!

If you have any questions on your move, please don’t hesitate to ask – as a Realtor in the Lakeville, Apple Valley and Burnsville area, I’ve assisted hundreds of families just like yours in navigating the home buying and selling process.

Image credit: Ольга Симонова | iStock | Getty Images Plus