Moving to a new home in the winter can bring its own unique challenges. When you live in a cold city like Chicago, you will need to be ready to brave the wind and the cold weather in order to relocate successfully and move everything to your new place. If you’re moving this winter, here are some moving tips that could help to make this process a little bit smoother.
1. Set a Timeframe
Since moving during the winter can bring challenges with transport and planning, it’s important to set a realistic timeframe from the beginning. This is one of the moving tips that could help you to save stress and time in the long run. Rather than expecting everything to go smoothly, factor in some time in case things don’t go to plan. You may hit heavy traffic due to poor weather conditions, or the moving company may not be able to access your home in some difficult circumstances.
2. Book in Advance
Although winter is generally quieter for moving than the summer, moving companies and other services are often busy and can get booked up quickly. As soon as you know when you are going to move to your new place, find a reputable moving company and contact them to book their services. Working with a moving company can help to make the process easier as you can worry less about moving furniture and other heavy items in difficult weather.
3. Pack Your Things Securely
Ensure all your belongings are packed securely to avoid rain and moisture damaging them along the way. You should also ensure everything is secured to reduce the risk of anything being damaged or lost due to strong winds or heavy rain. You may need to start packing ahead of time to make sure everything is securely packed by the time you come to move. Consider working with a moving company that could also support you with the packing process too.
4. Prepare to Be Flexible
The winter weather could mean that you need to change your plans at the last minute. Managing your expectations and preparing to be flexible if needed can help to prevent stress and anxiety during the moving process. If you’re hiring a moving company to help you, make them aware of any last-minute changes and ask for their recommendations if you fall into a difficult situation close to the time.
5. Ask Others to Help You
If you have relatives and friends in the area, ask them to help you on the day of the move. As well as having the support of a moving company, getting others to help too can reduce the stress of the day and ensure things go as smoothly as possible. You can request help from others with lifting heavy items, packing in the days leading up to the move, or looking after any pets or children in order to enable you to get on with other things.
6. Decide What You Can Leave Behind
Before you move, decide what you can leave behind. This can help to reduce your transportation needs, get rid of clutter, and make it easier to move into your new home at the other end. If you have many things to dispose of before moving, start doing this early and rehome and recycle as much as you can.
Making a Winter Move Easier
A winter move in Chicago, IL, can be challenging, but with the right support, you could find that you’ve made the perfect decision for you. Working with a moving company like 2 Guys and a Van can help you to get the support you need for a smoother winter move.
