Moving house or offices are always tricky. But what happens when the weather takes a turn for the worse halfway through your move, or before your move even begins? Don’t let the scorching heat or torrential rain put a damper on your plans with our 7 pro tips for moving in bad weather!
1. Plan for the weather with your removalists
Check the weather ahead of time to see what conditions you might have to prepare for. If it sounds like it’s going to be a challenging move, ask your removalists about what they can do for you when moving in bad weather, and discuss your concerns and any other questions you may have with them.
Can they temporarily store your furniture if they need to? Will they be able to waterproof your beloved homewares during the move? Will they be able to operate their loading equipment safely and effectively during this process? These are the questions that often get asked, and it’s important that you know what options are available to you in the event that it comes up.
2. Dress appropriately for the move
If you’re planning on helping your removalists out with the move, it’s important to ensure you’re dressed appropriately for the weather. If you plan to move during the winter season, keep warm by putting on a thick jacket, a beanie for the chilly weather, gloves, and hand warmers. During the rain,make sure you wear raincoats and have umbrellas on hand. The same applies to summer. Make sure you’re adequately protected from bumps and scrapes, while being cool to avoid heatstroke.
3. Wait it out
If you can wait for a break in the bad weather, you can always postpone your move if it’s raining hard or snowing badly. Don’t forget to follow up with your moving company first to see if that’s an option for them or what alternatives they can offer you. If your moving company continues with the move, ask if you can take quick breaks, especially when the rain is pouring too hard, or if that sun is shining a little too brightly for your liking.
4. Lay down blankets and towels
To stop unnecessary amounts of dust, mud and other pollutants sludgy that get kicked up during bad weather, it’s definitely worth your time to ensure you take some preventative measures to ensure minimal amounts of these pollutants enter your home. More importantly, you want to make sure anyone walking through your new home with an armful of treasured homewares don’t slip and fall after a tiring walk from the truck.
5. Take a few photos.
Consider keeping track of your boxes or other belongings during a move. As a precaution, take pictures of your furniture before moving. If your belongings are impacted as a result of unforeseen water damage, image references will allow for you to provide a more convincing argument if you decide to file a claim for damages. Under Australian law, moving companies must offer rebates/discounts for such a scenario.
5. Unpack as soon as possible.
Remove any protective wrappings and packaging from your belongings as soon as the move is finished. This is to prevent condensation and mold from forming to save you days worth of extra cleaning when you should be settling into your new home.
7. Keep a supply of garbage bags on hand.
You may use trash bags to pack up any last-minute goods on moving day. With their size, these can readily accommodate your clothes, pillows, or any plush toys you may have left out. In addition, they come in handy after a move when you have a lot of cleaning to do; you can use them as receptacles for your wet rags or old towels that you’ll use to clean up your belongings.
Takeaway
Even the most regular relocations can be challenging when unpredictable weather gets thrown in. For more expert moving advice from the professionals, be sure to check out Smoothmoves!
