Ideally, most of us would move in the summer, making the most of sunny mornings and long evenings to unpack and set everything out in our bright new home.
Sometimes, however, a summer move just isn’t an option. Maybe your transaction hit a delay or you found your absolute dream property in October so you’re ready to go by January. While a winter move isn’t the end of the world, it does pose a few challenges that the more clement seasons don’t hold, so here are seven useful pointers for getting it right.
Plan well ahead
If you know you’ll be setting up in your new home during the winter, make sure your gas and electricity are connected and on so you’re not shivering in the dark on your first night.
Schedule really carefully
There are simply fewer daylight hours during the winter, even in late February, so work with your removal team to make the most of those precious rays.
Invest in good, sturdy packing materials
Cold, rain, sleet, frost… You need to protect your belongings from the elements so use plastic boxes rather than cardboard, which will just get soggy and break. If you’re moving a lot of electrical items, think about wrapping them in plastic sheeting before they go into boxes so they’re extra safe.
Buy some floor coverings, too
Even if they’re not ruining your electricals, water, salt and dirt will make their way into your new home, so put down sheeting to protect your floors as you all troop in and out.
Have a contingency for delays
If there’s bad weather, it can cause delays on the roads, so keep an eye on the forecasts, especially if you’re moving quite a distance. Be ready to set off earlier than planned or even to reschedule entirely if it’s really dicey out there.
Bring salt for your new garden path
You’ll need to be extra careful if conditions are icy or slushy because this could make your route in between the removal van and your front door slippy. Bring a bag of salt and clear away any fallen leaves that may be on the walkway.
Think about the children
Older children will probably want to help, but youngsters will probably find the whole moving process boring, uncomfortable and – if it’s winter – cold.
Think about whether they should stay with friends or relatives for the day, if possible. If not, plan to have a dedicated warm space for them to hang out and watch films or play games in.
