Moving during the winter can be an easy and cost-effective solution for you and your household if you’re thinking of moving this year, and could bring unexpected benefits when you decide to move during this time.
Whether considering a winter move to save money or for convenience, or out of necessity due to a job opportunity or unexpected change, planning for a winter move is essential to making sure that everything goes according to plan, and that you’ve prepared for anything that could befall you along the way. If you’re wondering if moving during this season is right for you, you might wonder what a move during this season entails and how it might differ from moving during other seasons. To answer these questions and help you plan for a winter move, we’ve got all of the best tips for winter moving and information on how to prepare for a relocation during this season.
How to Find a Winter Moving Company
No matter what season you’re moving during or whether you’re moving locally or long-distance, having the right moving company in Olympia on your side can make or break your entire relocation process – so finding the right professional movers for a winter move is even more imperative to make your relocation run smoothly.
When planning your winter move, knowing what to look for in a moving company will save you stress, money, and time, and will ensure that your move goes efficiently and as quickly as possible while keeping your items safe. Having the right company on your side only matters more during the winter, when you might encounter inclement weather or conditions that inexperienced companies won’t prepare properly for. This also applies to the drivers that work with these companies, as having expert drivers to bring your items to you safely makes a huge difference during this time.
So how do you look for the right professional movers in Washington for you? To find the right company you should look into movers that have experience in the specific type of move you’ll be embarking on – especially for that of long-distance moving – plus any special services you might require. To find the right movers in Olympia, first begin your search by only looking at moving companies with good reviews and good reports of past customer experiences on third-party review sites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, or Google Reviews.
When looking at reviews, never just go off of the reviews presented on a moving company’s website only, as these reviews can be easily moderated or filtered to only show favorable ones. Instead, looking at these third-party sites will allow you to hear real past experiences with these companies from real people. After narrowing down your results, check these companies’ licenses and USDOT numbers with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and ensure that they have the type of experience you’re looking for. From there, contact each and hop around for quotes from the companies you’ve narrowed your search down to. This will not only let you find the best price for your winter move, but will also let you determine who has the best customer service out of the companies you’ve talked to, which makes a huge difference in the quality of your overall experience. From there, you can make your choice!
Want to cut to the chase and work with the best moving company possible for you? See what Olympic Moving & Storage can do for your household or business this season. With the most affordable rates, experienced crews, and the best customer service, you’ll receive your best winter moving experience possible.
How to Plan a Winter Move
Now that we’ve determined how to find the right Washington professional moving company for you, it’s time to get into the actual planning process for your relocation. Once you’ve decided on your moving company and have locked in your moving date, you can start creating a moving schedule and strategy that fits your lifestyle and everyday demands.
Having a schedule and strategy for your packing process is key to lessening the stress you experience during a move, and will keep you organized throughout the process. This will also save you time, as you’ll be able to pack gradually instead of running around at the last minute. Booking your movers well ahead of time and during a more affordable moving season has already saved you money – now you can save yourself stress and hardship too! The following are our best packing and planning tips for winter moving.
- Create a Backup Plan
- Prepare for the Weather
- Safety
- Take Extra Care with Fragile Items
- Slow & Steady
Winter is a very convenient time to move for many due to reduced prices and less congestion on the roads. However, winter is undoubtedly sometimes unpredictable weather or cold fronts that should be anticipated just in case. In the case of snow or low temperatures in your area or in your new area during the course of your move, have a backup plan in place or a course of action factored into your moving plan to keep yourself and your movers safe, or to anticipate any schedule changes.
It can of course be tempting to wear light clothing or to take off your layers while running around on your moving day. After all, coordinating a move or packing your items can work up a sweat. However, you should always take care to dress for the weather and not take a chance of going outside without proper clothing on, even if it’s just to talk to your moving crew briefly. Doing so can end up with you catching a cold, which no one wants – especially in the midst of a move! Dress warmly and keep yourself safe during winter weather.
Before moving into your new home, you should also make sure that your heating and electricity is on and running normally before bringing everything in. Moving into a freezing or dark house in the middle of the winter aren’t exactly ideal conditions, after all!
When moving in the winter, you should take some extra precautions when it comes to laying down mats, tarps, or floor protectors to guard against water, mud, or anything that could cause someone to potentially slip or fall while moving things around your old home or into your new one. Prepare for anything that might happen during moving day with ice scrapes, salt, a first-aid kit, or a snow shovel in case anything happens.
Certain items like antiques or electronics can be especially susceptible to low temperatures and can malfunction or break easily with prolonged exposures. If you’re concerned about the safety of these items, pack them with extra care or keep them on your person or with your personal items that are coming with you on your moving journey instead of having them loaded onto the moving truck.
Slow and steady wins the race is the name of the game when it comes to winter moving. Don’t rush yourself or your movers throughout your moving day, especially if temperatures are especially low or if conditions are snowy, icy, or slushy. Don’t put yourself at risk of injury just to get things to your car faster or to direct people faster – it’s not worth it! Instead, move with safety in mind.
Now that you have the best winter moving tips on your side for your relocation, it’s time to find the right moving company for your move. Looking for the best moving companies in Washington? See what Olympic Moving & Storage Inc.’s expert teams can do for you and your family today.