Moving house can be stressful no matter the time of year, but especially during the winter.
From bitter temperatures to unpredictable weather conditions, moving house in the winter comes with a unique set of challenges you should be aware of.
In this guide, we’ll cover important tips to help you when moving in the winter.
Tips for moving in winter include, but are not limited to:
- Be flexible
- Protect your possessions from cold weather
- Book your removal company in advance
- Prepare your home for the move
- Consider the shorter days
1. Be Flexible
The first tip for moving in the winter is to be as flexible as possible.
The weather in winter can be unpredictable, particularly when there’s a cold snap in the UK.
Weather forecasts are only predictable up to a certain point in the weeks leading up to a house move. Wintery conditions can include rain, hail, snow and anything in between.
Most removal companies will not carry out a move in heavy snowfall or extremely icy conditions, as it’s a safety risk and access can be more challenging.
That said, it’s crucial to remain flexible and consider the unpredictable weather.
From bitter temperatures to unpredictable weather conditions, moving house in the winter comes with a unique set of challenges you should be aware of.
2. Protect Your Possessions From Cold Weather
When it comes to packing in advance in winter, a tip is to ensure you protect your possessions from cold weather.
While the garage or the shed might seem like a good place to store boxes you’ve filled over the weeks, be mindful that the cold weather can impact them.
For instance, glasses and crockery are susceptible to sudden temperature changes and can crack or break if they’re exposed to extreme conditions.
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that you keep electronics within the warmth of the home up until you’re about to leave before loading these items to keep them protected.
Double-wrapping items in thick blankets can help to protect them. That said, it’s best to keep items susceptible to the cold in the house until you move.
3. Book Your Removal Company In Advance
A tip for moving in winter is to book your removal company in advance.
While this is important regardless of the time of year, it’s especially important in winter when you’ve got more variables to worry about.
Booking in advance will secure your moving date and will free up more head space for you to concentrate on your move.
At Falconer Removals, we recommend booking house removal services 7 to 14 days before your expected move takes place.
This way, you have plenty of time to make the necessary preparations ahead of your house move in winter.
To learn how to choose a moving company, check out our blog here.
Most removal companies will not carry out a move in heavy snowfall or extremely icy conditions, as it’s a safety risk and access can be more challenging.
4. Prepare Your Home For The Move
A crucial tip for moving in winter is to prepare your home for your moving company.
Winter weather conditions can make moving much more difficult and dangerous than moving house in spring, summer, and autumn, so ensuring they have safe access is an essential step.
For instance, if the weather forecast predicts icy conditions, make sure that you grit your driveway to ensure they can access your home safely.
If there’s snow still on your driveway, shovel it away and grit the drive ahead of time in preparation for your movers.
Use a de-icer on any steps to ensure all walkways are safe. The last thing you want to happen is for someone to slip and accidentally fall during your move.
5. Consider The Shorter Days
Lastly, a tip for moving in winter is to consider the shorter days.
Days are significantly shorter in the winter, and before the winter solstice, daylight is nine hours shorter than what we see during the summer solstice.
Depending on when you plan your move during the winter, this can have a big impact on how much daylight you’ll have to play with.
When you take into consideration that you’ll likely have to allow extra travel time for winter driving conditions, the number of daylight hours you have to move house becomes all the more important to think about.
As such, you will need to factor this into your moving day, especially when it comes to booking your moving slot.
When you consider you’ll likely have to allow extra travel time for winter driving conditions, the number of daylight hours you have to move house becomes all the more important to think about.
We hope that this article has given you some useful tips on how to move in the winter.
At Falconer Removals, we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your goods are moved with expert precision and kept in perfect condition. Get a quote from our team today.
For more expert advice on how to pack, move and store your belongings — or other FAQs on how removals work — check out our blog page.
Written by Jemima Thomas for Falconer Removals & Storage.
