Moving to a new home is not just exciting – it’s stressful. And there’s nothing more likely to dampen (literally) the excitement than rain on moving day. Or snow!
There’s lots of advice on our website about planning for your move. But the weather can throw in a few extra problems if it is wet and cold on the day.
With the clocks going back at the end of this month, and our ‘Indian summer’ apparently now turning to more typical autumn weather, here are a few tips for moving in the wet.
• Plan ahead. Take a look at the Met Office website a couple of days before you move and get a detailed forecast both for the postcode of your existing home and for your new one. We all take the mickey out of weather forecasts, but they are actually pretty accurate, especially if you’re only looking a day or two ahead. If the forecast says it is going to be dry at both ends of your move, you can stop reading right here!
• Protect what needs protecting. Wooden furniture, your washing machine and tumble drier, even cardboard boxes full of your precious possessions, won’t be damaged by a bit of rain as you load/unload them from the removal van. But you may want to think about protecting soft furnishings with a sheet of polythene to keep the rain off. Do the same with electronics such as computers and the TV – in our experience, water and electricity don’t mix well! Make sure plastic sheeting is well secured with tape – it will be more of a nuisance than a help if the wind gets under it and blows it down the street!
• Hot drinks and more. Have a box of ‘essentials’ kept separate from all your other packing. It should have mugs, a kettle, tea, coffee, milk, sugar (you may not use it but the removal contractor’s staff may like sugar in their tea) and a few snacks. If there is any doubt about whether electricity and gas may will be operating as soon as you walk through the door of your new home, take an insulated flask of tea or coffee. And maybe some hot soup!
• Clothing. Plan for moving day like it’s a ski trip. Lots of layers rather than one or two thick ones are best. You may work up a real sweat while shifting furniture and then cool down rapidly when you’re unpacking the plates. Being easily able to add or remove a layer or two of clothing will help you maintain a steady body temperature. And if you are expecting heavy rain, having a complete change of clothes (or maybe two) conveniently packed for easy access is a good idea so that you aren’t wandering around your new home soaked to the skin and dripping water everywhere you go.
• Snow shovels. Seriously – if you are expecting snow on moving day, make sure you have shovels and maybe salt or grit to clear drives and paths at each end of your moving journey. You don’t want to be sliding around on ice while moving heavy furniture. Or your best china.
• Floor coverings. If it is wet outside, you and anyone else involved in the move is going to be traipsing through the house in wet and, maybe, muddy footwear. Plastic sheets or some old bedding such as sheets and blankets can protect carpets and tiles – sort them out in advance and have them ready for moving day. But make sure you don’t create a hazard on shiny surfaces such as parquet flooring. Floor protection that slides out from under you while you are carrying heavy furniture is a recipe for broken limbs (and broken furniture).
• Inside team and outside team. If you have enough people involved in your move it can be a good idea to have an ‘inside team’ and an ‘outside team’ when moving in bad weather, with furniture and boxes being passed from one team to another at the door. Both can be dressed for the environment in which they are working, and this system cuts down on the number of muddy boots crossing the threshold. It could be bad news if you’re nominated for the outside team, though!
• Lights. It’s not just an issue in bad weather – if you’re moving in winter you could be moving in the dark at either end of the day. Make sure you have torches (with batteries!) packed somewhere that enables you to find them easily if you need them.
If the weather is really bad – think floods and blizzards – you may have to postpone your move. Again, checking the weather forecast should give you advance warning. If you are in a ‘chain’ you will need to talk to the people moving into your existing home to see if a postponement is possible. With a little goodwill all round you may be able to complete all the legal processes (and not break the chain) and just delay the actual move.
