Living in Canada means dealing with harsh winters. You can’t press pause on life just because the snow won’t stop falling. If you are moving into a new home (or one of our rental communities) this winter, Hazelview is here to help with 5 tips for moving in the colder months.
Hire Movers
If you are moving in the winter, hiring professional movers is the way to go. The best part about hiring movers is that you don’t have to ask your friends and family to help you move. Your best friends will say yes, but that doesn’t mean they want to do it, especially in the winter. Hiring movers means that you can have help packing. Another big reason to hire pros is that your belongings are insured. That will bring you peace of mind. Professional movers have more experience moving, and tend to use heavy duty wrapping and plastic covers so your personal items are less likely to be damaged in the first place. If you’re not used to driving a rented moving van in the dead of winter, in an unfamiliar neighbourhood, hiring professional movers means that you can avoid the stress. One upside to moving in winter is that it’s the off-season for moving companies, so you can expect their lowest prices.
Protect The Floors
You’ve finally found the perfect home for you, make sure you keep it perfect by protecting the floors. Moving in the winter means tracking in dirty, slushy, salty, wet footprints. You may want to lay down some cardboard or plastic sheeting in high traffic areas. You may even want to invest a few dollars in a some disposable shoe booties. Apply furniture sliders to heavy furniture, even after the movers have left, chances are you’ll need to move the dining room table or the sofa from time to time, the sliders make heavy items easier to move, and protect your new floors.
Bring Warm Drinks
On a cold winter day, hot drinks are a lifesaver. You don’t want to make time consuming coffee runs all day long, so fill a large thermos (or two) with your favourite hot beverage and bring some paper cups to share the warmth.
Keep An Eye On The Weather
Moving is hard and moving in the winter is harder. Make things easier on yourself by keeping an eye on the weather. If it’s freezing out and you can’t reschedule the move, dress appropriately. Being cold makes everything more unbearable. Dress in layers so you can adjust your attire with any temperature changes throughout the day.
Winterize Your Belongings
Moving in winter requires taking a few extra precautions to protect your belongings. Place anything that can fit in boxes into reusable plastic containers. It only takes a little snow on your mattresses or upholstered furniture to create a mold problem, so invest in some plastic covers. Investing a few extra minutes before you take your belongings out into the cold, wet world will save you money at the end of the day.
We understand that moving in the winter can be unpleasant. With a little extra planning and these 5 tips for moving in the winter, you can make the experience more manageable.
For information on Hazelview communities for rent across Canada, please visit our website.