It’s impossible to predict what the weather will be like on the day you move house, especially when your move date falls in the winter months – but you’d be surprised how bad it has to be to stop us getting your belongings from A to B.
We know what it feels like to keep checking the weather forecast in the run up to moving day, but whether it’s rain, wind, snow, hail or ice… we’ve seen it all! When choosing us for your move, you don’t have to worry about a thing because we’ll handle it, whatever the weather.
But if you are planning a DIY move, here are our top tips on how to move safely and effectively even in the worst winter weather conditions.
Prepare for all weather
Preparation is key when it comes to moving house in the winter months. First of all, we’d recommend checking the weather forecast as soon as you wake up on moving day, as things could have changed overnight. It’s also a good idea to tune into your local radio station for traffic reports, check the route on your maps app or check local news websites, in case your planned route has delays.
You’ll also need to make sure you’ve got appropriate clothing and footwear for potentially cold and wet conditions. Waterproof shoes are essential if you’re facing rain or snow, as are waterproof jackets. And if it’s going to be cold, we’d recommend wearing lots of thin layers – this is because you can still work up a sweat when moving heavy furniture and boxes, so you can take off some layers if needed.
Finally, if you’re facing particularly challenging conditions on the day you move house, then always check your insurance policies to make sure they’re valid in these conditions. If not, you may need to increase your cover – it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Protect yourself and your belongings
If you’re navigating a house move in bad weather, you may need to put extra effort into keeping yourself and your belongings safe from the elements.
Winter weather can make pathways and roads slippy, so you might need to recruit some extra people to help you lift your heaviest belongings. It’s not worth the risk of lifting heavy items on your own and then slipping – you could do yourself some serious damage.
To protect your belongings, one of the most obvious things you can do is make sure all your boxes are secured safely and sealed with enough packing tape, so they don’t open during transit. You might also need to rent some furniture covers to keep things like wooden furniture, sofas and mattresses dry.
At Steeles of Stamford, we offer the full range of packing accessories including protective blankets and straps, polythene sofa bags, mattress covers, boxes and tape, so get in touch if you need our help.
Check the access at your new property
In all the chaos of getting your old property packed up and your belongings moved, it can be easy to overlook how it’s all going to get unloaded into your new property.
However, knowing where you can park to give you easy access to your property is key – especially in bad weather, as you’ll need to make sure you’re as close as possible.
When carrying heavy furniture and boxes, you’ll also need to consider any stairs (both inside and outside!) and make sure the walkways are clear, so there are fewer obstacles to contend with.
Look after your new home
Leaving wet, muddy footprints on the floors and carpets of your new home is the last thing you want. You’ve already got enough to do with your unpacking, without adding cleaning into the mix as well!
To avoid this, it’s a good idea to lay down some protective materials in the main rooms you’re unloading into, such as old towels, sheets or cardboard (just make sure you don’t create a trip hazard!). We’d also recommend keeping some cleaning products on hand – like wipes, cloths and sprays – so you can quickly clean any accidental marks.
If you unload all your belongings into one or two main rooms, then once everything is in, you can remove your shoes (or put on some protective covers) to get everything into the correct rooms.
At Steeles of Stamford, we’re experts at moving house in all weather conditions, so if you’re worried about doing it yourself then get in touch today for a free, no obligation quotation.