Tags: tips, moving, winter,
Buying a home and moving can be two of the most stressful things that you will ever do in your lifetime. Even on the nicest of summer days moving can be an absolute nightmare if you are not fully prepared. But it can be even tougher when you are embarking on a move during the winter months in Canada. Whether it’s the frigid temperatures, ice and snow on the ground or falling from the sky, or the messy slush that you may have to contend with, pulling off a winter-move will come with its own set of challenges.
Here are our tips to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible.
1.Prep your workstation
No matter the project, you need to be prepared. If you were baking a pie you would first get out all of your ingredients, and if you were changing the oil in your car you would get the tools you needed and prepare an area for you to get your hand dirty. Moving into a home in the winter is no different.
Shovel the entire driveway, front walkway, side walkway, sidewalk, and any other entrances to your home. Depending on your residence and the type of items you are moving you may end up having to enter the home from different entrances if the main entrance is not large enough to accommodate the larger items (think sectional couch or king-sized mattress). Put down salt and/or deicer in all of these areas to ensure a slip-free environment while you are walking in and out of your home. The last thing you want is to slip and hurt yourself, or damage one of the items that you are moving.
Prepare the inside of your home to withstand any snow, dirt, and moisture that will be tracked in during the move. Plastic sheets or cardboard boxes can do the trick and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Lay down sheets near every doorway and throughout your home; particularly in any carpeted areas.
2.Take care of yourself and/or your movers
Whether you are moving all of your belongings yourself or you have hired movers to do the heavy lifting for you, be sure to take care of yourselves in the freezing temperatures.
While it may be hard to keep your entire home warm during peak moving hours, be sure to have a warm-room that you or your staff can pop into to warm up, especially if you are taking on the move during one of the colder winter days.
Have warm drinks like coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or apple cider close by and available to help keep everyone warm. Cold bodies will work slower and will be more prone to cause an accident so do whatever you can to keep everyone warm and spirits up.
3. Get started early in the day
With any winter-move, one of your biggest hurdles will be getting the move done while the sun is still shining. The sun shines for hours longer during the summer months than it does during the winter so you will generally have between 8 am and 4:30 pm to do your work.
Get started as soon as the sun rises to ensure that you aren’t working late into the night when the temperatures drop and you risk carrying items in the dark.
4.Be prepared for the new home
Make sure that you are set up with the utility provider in your new home. The last thing that you want to happen on a frigid moving day is to show up at your new home to learn that the utilities are not set up and that you are not able to heat your home or have access to hot water.
5.Have a backup plan
Even the most prepared movers may have to bow down to mother nature if a nasty storm rolls in. Prior to undertaking any move during the winter months, you should be prepared for the need to postpone the move if necessary. If you’ve hired movers, talk to the company to see what their policy is in terms of winter conditions and potential delays.
If the movers do want to postpone, make sure you are prepared and that you have a place to stay the night until you are moved in.
Moving day is going to be a challenge but if you follow these tips you will be ahead of the game and one step closer to enjoying your new home!
