Why Moving in the Winter May Be Easier
Moving in the winter offers unique advantages that include convenience and cost savings. Learn more and get tips for a successful winter move with Mabey’s.
Moving during the winter might not be the first choice for most people, but it has surprising advantages. It can be more convenient, cost-effective, and less stressful for many families. Let’s take a look at why braving the winter chill could make your next relocation easier and more efficient and what you need to do to get ready for a winter move.
The Hidden Advantages of Moving in the Winter
From less competition for hiring moving services to potential cost savings, winter moves typically offer a variety of benefits that lead to a smoother and more budget-friendly moving experience.
Less Competition for Moving Services
Especially when it comes to hiring a professional residential moving service, moving in winter provides one significant advantage — fewer people are competing to book their services.
Easier Scheduling and Choosing Dates
During peak moving seasons in the spring and summer, the demand for movers is high, leading to limited booking options in many cases. Making a move during these peak seasons often means working around movers’ full schedules or paying a premium to move on specific dates. During winter, the opposite is often true. Fewer people are moving, making moving companies less busy and allowing customers to pick and choose their moving dates more freely.
More Availability for Moving Services
In addition to easier scheduling and flexibility after choosing a moving company, more companies will have openings available in the winter months. You can shop around for the company that offers the exact type of moving assistance you need, whether that is cross-country movers or white glove service, with a higher chance that your first-choice company will be able to accommodate your needs at a fair price.
Cost Savings During the Winter Months
Because movers experience fewer bookings in winter, in addition to the scheduling advantage, they may be able to create a quicker turnaround for moving services, helping you save money on what is typically a high expense.
Lower Moving Rates
Moving is generally cheaper in the winter because it's considered "off-season" for the industry. In other words, because fewer people are willing to relocate during colder months, the demand decreases. Therefore, to attract customers, moving companies often reduce their rates and provide packages.
Debunking Common Concerns About Moving in Winter
Several myths about moving in winter deter people from taking advantage of the season’s benefits. Fortunately, none of them are true, although it’s still important to set the record straight.
The Weather Will Impact Your Move
To start, one common myth is that it’s unsafe to move in winter due to icy roads and bad weather; however, with proper planning and reliable movers, winter moves can be managed safely. In addition, unsafe weather is by no means limited to the winter months. Scorching heat and torrential downpours in the summertime pose just as much of a risk. In all cases, it’s important to plan and be flexible.
Moving in Winter Puts Your Belongings at Risk
Another misconception is that moving in the winter will lead to damaged belongings due to freezing temperatures. Again, working with professional movers can ease this anxiety. With proper packing, fragile items can be adequately protected from the cold. In fact, the heat of the summertime is far more dangerous in terms of damaging your belongings compared to winter’s chill.
Winter Moves Are Dangerous for Movers
Finally, some people worry that snowy conditions will make winter moving more dangerous because of the cold and ice. However, anyone who has tried to load and unload dozens of boxes in 90-plus-degree heat can tell you that summertime temperatures are just as dangerous. In both cases, however, being mindful about using assistive devices to move large items, dressing properly for the weather, and planning the route you will travel with heavy furniture can neutralize any dangers the weather may pose.
Weather Preparation: Tips for Moving in Winter
Successful winter moves are not really that different from successful summer, spring, and fall moves. You simply need to take time to prepare, keeping in mind the specific challenges that each season and situation brings. In winter, make sure you keep the following tips in mind:
Monitor Weather Patterns
Winter weather can change quickly, with snow, sleet, or ice storms sometimes moving in unexpectedly. Therefore, you want to do the best you can to keep track of the weather both before and during your move. Start watching the forecast about a week before your moving day and check it daily as you get closer to the date.
Should the weather not work in your favor, have a few backup options in place, such as reserving an extra day with the moving company or asking about cancellation and rescheduling policies. Many moving companies understand the nature of winter moves and offer flexibility if you encounter weather severe enough to interfere with your move. The important thing to remember is to keep communication open with your moving team.
Keep Driveways and Walkways Clear
Even if the weather itself is sunny on moving day, remnants of winter weather may linger on your driveway and walkways. Therefore, make sure you build time into your schedule to clear paths both in front of and behind your home (both old and new) using a shovel or snow blower as well as salt to help manage icy conditions. Sand can also be particularly useful in areas where salt might be corrosive or damaging. Then, throughout the move, keep a broom or small shovel handy to deal with any fresh snow or icy spots that develop.
What to Look for in a Reliable Moving Company
Regardless of the time of year you plan to move, it is important to have a reliable partner to help. A reliable moving company should be experienced in working in all kinds of conditions, and they should help you manage the logistics of weather as well as support any changes in plans that the season can cause.
At Mabey’s Moving and Storage, we support residential and corporate office moving throughout the year in the Albany, NY, area. Our experienced moving professionals understand the challenges that winter moves present and are standing by, ready to help you navigate them all the way to the door of your new home. Ready to learn more? Call for a moving quote from Mabey's today.
