How To Safely Move In Winter

Image via Pexels
​

When it comes to moving, you can’t always wait until the perfect time of year. While most people would prefer to do the bulk of their relocation -- as well as the work that goes into it -- during a time of year with milder weather, sometimes you have no other choice but to move in the winter. Planning a move during the coldest season isn’t all bad. Since the most popular time for people to move falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there is a lot less competition to schedule the best movers in the winter. Rates for packing, shipping, and storage also tend to be less this time of year. There is always the chance that your particular moving day experiences a winter warm front, though that is certainly a roll of the dice!

If you have to move in winter, it’s important to do what you can to make the process as secure as possible. Freezing temperatures, ice, and shorter days pose risks that can make a routine move a much more difficult affair. Take the following advice into account to ensure your family’s safety.
 
Get the Worm...
 
...as in, “be an early bird.” Winter days are shorter, so you want to take advantage of daylight when you have it. Moving heavy boxes when it is slippery and dark outside is a recipe for disaster. When the big day finally rolls around, schedule your packing and moving appointments early to ensure you can get the job done before sundown. Not only is it safer, but you will also get to enjoy your evening unpacking and relaxing instead of scrambling to finish the move.
 
Salt Your Sidewalks
 
Imagine this: You spend hours gently wrapping your dishes and other breakable belongings in bubble wrap. Moving day arrives and you are carrying a box labeled FRAGILE out into the truck. Everything is going fine until -- whoops! -- you slip on a patch of ice and you and the box come crashing down. You are lucky if you come out of such a situation with those items intact.
 
Salting sidewalks, steps, and any other surfaces you will traverse between the house and moving trucks can help prevent ice buildup and the accidents it can cause. Here’s how to do it yourself:
 

• Shovel away existing snow and debris from sidewalks.
• Apply salt (you can find “ice melt” at the hardware store) to surfaces.
• Let salt sit until existing ice patches dissolve into water.
• Remove remaining salt with brush or broom.
• Reapply as needed.

 
More Tips for Moving Day
 
When it comes to moving, organization is key. Packing things the right way and in an orderly fashion keeps your belongings safe and makes it easier to unpack when you finally arrive at your destination. Use plenty of packing supplies to help create cushions and barriers around delicate items that could bend, dent, or break. If you are worried about the environmental impact of your packing materials, look into eco-friendly options like compostable packing peanuts and boxes made from recycled cardboard.
 
When hiring a moving company, don’t just pick one out of the phone book and hope everything is okay. Look for companies who fully insure their workers so you are not held liable for accident or injury if it happens on your property. Good moving companies also insure your valuables -- meaning if one of their employees breaks something, the company will reimburse you.
 
The most popular time to move is during the summer. However, if you find yourself needing to relocate in the winter, you can take advantage of available moving companies and lower rates when it comes to packing, shipping, and storage. Stay safe when moving in winter by starting early so you can take advantage of daylight while you have it. Remember to salt your walkways and anywhere that might develop hazardous ice patches. Finally, be careful and organized when packing, and make sure any moving companies you work with are fully insured. ​