10 tips to prepare for your Bay City winter move
Though many of us Midwesterners dread the winter, we expect it. We have our late Fall routines of swapping out the lawnmower for the snowblower, winterizing water lines, and battening down the hatches. But if have a move to or from Bay City during the winter months, you’ll want to share some of that focus to winter prep for your winter move. Long before your local movers or cross-country movers get to your house, you will want to be ready for that the big day. Get a hot cup of cocoa and let’s make a checklist of ideas to make sure you are prepared for a moving day that even a blizzard will not ruin!
✓ Dress in layers
During the loading and delivery process, the exterior doors to your home will be open for extended periods of time. It will get very cold in your house! Be sure to dress in layers so you can remain toasty warm!
Bonus tip: Have an extra blanket or space heater in an interior room, like a bedroom, and plan on spending the majority of your time in the room while the movers are working.
✓ Truck access
If your more is just after a substantial snow, you should look for large snowdrifts or snow piles around your neighborhood. Especially if your neighborhood is professionally plowed, many places, such as cul-de-sacs, may have very large piles of snow blocking parts of the street. This can impact how your movers, either local or cross-country can access your house. Document any major snow piles or drifts that were not there when you had your in-home or virtual estimate, and tell your local or cross-country mover right away in order to prevent any problems.
✓ Have driveway and all walkways cleared and salted
The movers will be back and forth to the parked moving truck all day. Ensuring the movers have a safe, clear route is vital to ensure their safety, and the safety of your belongings.
✓ Utilities
Be sure to check the extended forecast, particularly the temperature forecast. If a cold front is coming your way, you probably want to hold off having your utilities, such as gas or water, turned off. Conversely, be sure your utilities are ready at your new home before temperatures drop too low and cause damage. Nobody wants pipes bursting in their new home!
✓ Floor Protection
Movers will protect your home, with items like old cardboard on wood and rug runners to keep your carpet clean. That said, you may want to lay down some extra cardboard or small rugs in front of your exterior doors, to cut back on the amount of salty slush entering your house. Even an old flattened box in your attic can be a nice buffer for cleaning slush off shoes before coming inside!
✓ Pack Strategically
There are certain belongings you will want to pack separately, or pack last. Things like sweaters, socks, boots, gloves, winter hats and your snow shovel may be things you’d prefer to keep with you personally. This way you’re always ready for the cold weather!
✓ Plan for Darkness
The majority of your packing will happen indoors, but don’t forget about the garage, shed, attic and yard! Since winter brings shorter, darker days, please plan ahead to pack those areas when you have plenty of daylight left.
Further, local movers bring a special challenge in the winter. For a lot of customers, your local move happens during one day; your your local movers load, drive and deliver the same day. But with it getting darker earlier, some moves simply can’t be wrapped up on the same day this time of the year. If your local mover is advising you should split your move over two days, this is likely the reason why. It is dangerous for local movers to carry heavy belongings in the dark, so it’s best to move your items over the span of two shorter days instead of one long day.
✓ Take extra care packing breakables
A lot of fragile items, such as wine or snow globes, are often sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Be sure to wrap delicate belongings carefully, try to add additional protection with newsprint, wash rags, towels or bubble wrap.
✓ Keep extra towels handy
Rugs are one of the last things your movers will load on the truck. This means once the local movers or cross-country movers pull away, people entering your house won’t have anywhere to wipe their feet. Lay down a few old towels for people to wipe their feet, cutting down the snow, slush and salt from being tracked into your home!
✓ Expect the Unexpected
Now that your cross-country movers have started heading to your new home, then it is your turn now. But don’t be caught off guard on your journey to your new home. If you have a long drive during the winter, you should be sure you have your emergency kit and supplies ready. We have read the horror stories about highways being jammed up for hours, leaving hundreds of drivers stranded. Don’t let this happen to you! Here are the essentials for your automotive safety kit:
- Bottles of water
- Flashlight
- Towels
- Blankets
- Short handled snow shovel (this will fit well in the trunk, and useful if you get stuck!)
- Snacks, especially ones higher in protein
- Empty, clean bottle or bowl with a lid (for, bathroom emergencies, especially if you have small kids)
- Baby wipes
What’s the recommended way to prep for your upcoming move this winter? Partnering with Corrigan! We’ll hold your hand for every step of the process, resulting in a simple, no-hassle experience from start to finish. Don’t hire a mover who will leave you stranded in the cold. Contact Corrigan today!
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