Tips For a Safe Wintertime Move
If your house is currently on the market (or will be listed soon) then it is very likely that you will soon be enduring a wintertime move. While moving is regularly considered one of the most stressful events of an adult’s life, doing so in the wintertime is one of the few things that will make this even worse. Hiring a Philadelphia mover is cheapest in the wintertime, but some people still prefer to do it themselves. If you are planning on moving this winter, make sure to follow these tips.
1. Check the weather
The first step in ensuring a safe and successful move during rough weather conditions is making sure that you know exactly what the weather is will be like on your moving day and the days leading up to it. In extremely cold or snowy conditions, other precautions will obviously have to be taken into account.
2. Dress correctly
Since you have checked the weather report you will know exactly how to dress appropriately for moving day. On exceptionally cold days you will definitely want to wear layers, as your body will warm up while you are working. This internal heat will definitely lead to a need for fewer clothes as the day goes on.
3. Check the walkways
There are many unsafe aspects when it comes to moving to a new home in snowy and cold conditions. One of the most hazardous areas of this process can be icy or snow-covered walkways. Slipping on a patch of ice can lead to broken items and, more importantly, broken bones as well.
4. Prepare both houses
In the case of both the location you are moving from, and the one you are moving into, it is important that the walls are well protected to avoid unintentional damage. Heavy furniture, large moving boxes, and rolling dollies are all credible threats the paint on the walls of your home. Be prepared by covering the protruding corners of your walls with thick blankets or sweaters to act as a bumper and negate potential incidents. It is also highly recommended that you visit your new residence and turn on the heater the night before you move. The last thing you want to be dealing with is a freezing house while trying to move your belongings inside. Do yourself and anyone helping you a favor and get the house warmed up prior to arriving there.
5. Prepare warm food and drinks
On moving day, it is entirely possible that one, or both, of the residences you are working out of may not have fully functional appliances (especially if they are being moved as well). This is why you should prepare warm food and beverages in advance and use items such as a thermos or insulated lunch box to keep them warm throughout the day.
6. Pack appropriately
As everything from the sidewalks to the roads will be more slippery in rough winter weather then in the summer time, make sure that everything is packed with the utmost care in mind. If any type of accident were to occur, your possessions should be prepared to survive and remain unbroken. Additionally, there are several winter items you should avoid packing in case you need them. These items include large winter coats, blankets, shovels or an ice scraper and should be kept handy so you need them. Imagine looking for something like this after the truck is all packed up!
7. Make sure moving vehicles are ready
You will want to double, and triple, check that whatever car is moving your possessions is equipped for the trip. The car should obviously be well maintained, as the combined stress of the larger load and cold weather can prove too much for some vehicles. Make sure the items you left unpacked (the shovel and the ice scraper especially) are available in the cabin of the vehicle as well.
8. Board your pets
I must stress the importance of this step, whether your move is during the winter months or not. Pets are always a nuisance on moving day, as well as a safety hazard. The worst thing that can happen is a friend who offered to help you move trips over your beloved animal, and it results in your items getting broken, as well as both your friend and pet getting hurt. Do everyone, including yourself, a favor and hire a baby sitter for your animals away from home for the day.
9. Clean up after yourself
Keep plenty of towels on hand and unpacked to clean up the mess you will undoubtedly make in each home. Several trips in and out of a house while it’s snowy is sure to result in plenty of wet slush being dragged into the house. Be ready to clean this up as you go and save yourself the headache!
10. Maintain a back-up plan
Poor weather conditions in the Philadelphia area can often lead to back ups, road closures and several other obstacles for your move. Make sure to create a back up plan in case the route you wish to take is unavailable, or even if the house is inaccessible.
Janis Peterson, REALTOR®, GRI, ABR, SRES, CSP
Main Line Homes Luxury Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Main Line
Suburban Square
6 Coulter Ave
Ardmore, PA 19003
Direct: 610-642-3744
www.mainlinehomes.com
Janis@mainlinehomes.com