Moving During Winter: 4 Tips To Keep Your Items Safe

Moving into your new home can be both exciting and hectic. And doing it during the winter, it’s only natural to be more concerned if your belongings will be safe even in cold weather. Besides that concern, winter is also a time of slippery sidewalks, rising temperatures, and snowstorms, which means that moving during this season can further complicate things.  

This article shares tips to help make your winter move more manageable and safer. Read on to learn more.

• Make An Inventory Of Your Belongings

Packing is tedious and time-consuming, especially if you have a lot of things to pack. So, to help you make packing easier and more organized, making an inventory of your belongings is best. For one, having a list of your possessions allows you to be more efficient since you can track your things when packing while also helping ensure everything is complete once you’re at your new place.

Aside from that, you can even specify how these items should be packed and handled. For example, for delicate items like dishes or glassware, you can indicate that these items should be packed using bubble wrap, or they have to be placed in boxes with padded layers.

• Use Safe Packing Materials

In line with the previous tip, knowing how to pack your belongings is crucial to ensure your items are safe during the move. Aside from possible bumps that can damage your items, you need to double the layer of security when it comes to items susceptible to cracks due to temperature changes.

In addition, it’s recommended to use and keep your items in plastic moving boxes that can come in large sizes. They are more durable, come with secure lids, and are stackable – safer than cardboard boxes that can give way suddenly and are likely to be soaked and break apart when exposed to wet snow.

• Consider Storage Solutions

Moving to a new home means dealing with and sorting out your belongings. And depending on how many items you own, you may have to categorize them on whether they’ll be packed, donated, disposed of, or placed in storage. If it’s the latter, then finding a long-term storage solution for your belongings should be one of your to-do lists.

Besides looking for warehouses, drop off storage containers are also suitable for storing your items. This portable storage solution offers flexibility since you can keep your belongings with you if you have enough space on your property or opt to have them stored in a different facility. 

Some service providers also have storage solutions with temperature control, which comes in handy during the winter. Considering the cold weather may cause wood, glass, and leather to sustain damage, climate-controlled containers that offer good insulation and airtight seals can help keep your household items safe from breakage.  

• Keep Your Home’s Floors Protected 

Winter means snow, slush, ice, and mud. So, if you have no choice but to schedule your house during this climate, you must lay down extra protection for your home’s floorings.  

On a moving day, expect people to go in and out of the house, especially if you hire professional movers to help you move furniture and other belongings. Your old and new home will likely get wet and cause slippage that may cause injuries and your items to fall to the ground and break. Exposure to moisture can also damage your flooring’s materials. 

With that in mind, before doing so, lay down a trail of rugs, tarps, or cardboard that people can walk on to prevent soiling the floor. Find ones with a firm grip on the floor surface that will help them stay in place. You wouldn’t want people slipping and falling in your home while walking in and out.

In addition, it can also help to shovel the path outside to clear the snow to prevent slippage. You can also pour salt on icy trails to melt them.

Wrapping Up

Moving to your new place during the winter can be challenging, but you can ease the stress and minimize the possible risks that come with it by having a plan. It could also help if you have other people to help you during your moving day.

And as a good start, make a comprehensive home inventory before packing your belongings, use safe and sturdy packing supplies, look for climate-controlled storage solutions, and keep your floors protected. 

By following the tips above, you can make your move this winter more efficient and convenient and help ensure your items are safe during your move.