In an ideal world, people would only ever need to move to a new home when the sun is shining and the temperatures are perfect. Unfortunately, moves sometimes need to happen at less convenient times, like in the dead of winter. There are some upsides of moving in the winter, including more availability for local moving companies in Chicagoland. If you’re moving during the winter, here are some tips to help make the process much easier.
Prepare New Home
You don’t want to move into your new home only to find that there’s no heat or power. That’s not only uncomfortable, but it can be dangerous to go without these basic utilities when the weather is cold. Make sure your utilities are in your name and turned on, and that the home is ready to move into, with no belongings from previous owners or tenants in your way.
Clear Walkways
A major reason people try to avoid moving during the winter is because of the danger from snow and ice on the roads and sidewalks. In the days leading up to your move, be sure to remove snow when it falls, before it can become packed down and turn to ice.
If the home you’re moving into is currently empty, you’ll need to make sure snow is removed there as well, or that you hire someone to make sure snow removal happens quickly. Use salt or sand after shoveling the snow to make sure there isn’t any hidden ice or other slippery areas.
Protect Floors
It’s important to protect the floors of both homes not only to prevent damage to the floors, but to keep the walkways in the house safe as well. You can find inexpensive carpet remnants to place in the high-traffic areas or use them to create walkways throughout your home so that snow and mud doesn’t get tracked throughout the house and create slippery surfaces while moving. You can also use broken-down cardboard boxes the same way.
Watch the Weather
Pay attention to the weather in the days and weeks leading up to your move. In some cases, you may be able to move the date up or back if there’s a big storm or an especially frigid cold front coming in on your scheduled day. If you’ve hired a local moving agency in Chicagoland, ask about their flexibility if you find that bad weather is expected during your move.
Protect Belongings Against Moisture
Make sure your belongings are adequately protected against moisture and extreme temperatures. Moving companies will have materials to provide this protection, but if you’re packing yourself, you may want to consider adding additional insulation to sensitive items and packing moisture-sensitive items in plastic totes and containers.
Dress in Layers
It can be difficult to know exactly how much clothing to wear when the weather is cold. But keep in mind that even though temperatures may be very cold when you start the move, you’re likely to warm up quite a bit if you’re moving around a lot and helping to move large items. Dressing in layers will ensure you’re warm, but allow you to easily cool down as needed.
Start Early
Since there are fewer daylight hours during the winter, be sure to schedule the moving company as early in the day as possible. This will ensure the job gets done without having to work with less light. Contact Wolley Movers Chicago today to schedule your move.
