One thing that has been made very clear throughout the last year is that Real Estate is an essential service. People are buying and selling all of the time, moving near or far to meet the needs of their circumstances. Just as people still need to move during a pandemic, people also need to move during the winter months. While it certainly is not the most favourable time to load up moving vans and carry heavy furniture, it isn’t always avoidable. The best we can do is plan ahead, and work as efficiently as possible. Here are some ways that you can plan and prepare for your winter move to ensure a smooth transition into your new home. 

 

Hire The Professionals

If you are able to, hiring a moving company can make the process much easier than if you were to do it yourself. These companies provide the truck, drivers, and labourers to assist with moving everything from the small boxes to the heavy furniture. Fortunately, during the winter months prices drop a bit as the demand usually goes down. If this is an option that interests you, make sure to pack as much as you can ahead of time and follow any COVID-19 protocols that the moving company has in place. 

 

Winter-Proof Your Stuff

Moving in the winter can be difficult because we don’t always know what to expect weather-wise. Transporting items in frigid temperatures, and moving items in less than favourable conditions can be hazardous to say the least. To ensure your furniture is protected, use sheets, bubble wrap, foam padding or plastic to add some extra insulation to any fragile items. Try to arrange to have electronics or any other small fragile items to be transported last, in a car to avoid having them spent long hours in cold temperatures. 

 

Check the Weather

It isn’t always easy to predict the weather, as much as we wish it were. Keep a close eye on the weather patterns in the days leading up to your move. If there is a winter storm predicted, freezing rain, or any other extreme weather expected, you might want to allow for extra travel time or other precautionary measures to ensure you and your belongings arrive safe. Try to be flexible in moving dates in the winter so that if you need to reschedule as a result of poor weather, that it won’t interrupt closing day or any other important dates on your calendar. 

 

Winter Safety

Ensure all walkways, driveways, stairs and paths leading to and from both properties are clear of snow and salted to avoid any accidents, slips, trips, or falls. Clear any icicles that may be hanging on your eavestroughs so that nothing falls and hurts anyone. Lastly, ensure that you have the appropriate clothing and footwear to protect yourself against any extreme cold that may be in forecast.

 

Heat and Hydro

Ensure that your heat and hydro are set up and ready to go prior to moving day. It is important for everyone's safety that moving happens in well-lit areas, and with winter sunlight occurring in quite a limited time-frame within the day, you will depend mainly on lighting from inside the homes. Additionally, to avoid spending any freezing nights, you will want to have the heat set up and adjusted to the appropriate temperature so that you can stay cozy in your new home after all is said and done. 

While a winter move isn’t exactly the first thing on someone's bucket list, it doesn’t have to be a chore. With the right amount of planning, organization,and flexibility, the move can be as efficient as it would be in the warmer months.