Houston Moving Blog - Tips, Tricks, and Insider Info
January 24, 2018

How to Move Safely During the Winter in Houston

Moving - winter - new home 

While many elements of our lives are based on the time of year, all too often the huge transitions like moving into a new home flatly don't take the weather into regard. If your new home in Houston is ready for you in the during the winter, it is time to move whether it is the smoothest time of year for the job or not. While the good news is that sweat will not be rolling off of you amidst the move, it's also important to take into account the special safety preventative measures needed to make sure that you, your helpful friends and your professional movers are both safe and efficient in the blustery conditions.

What You Will Need

  • Snow Shovels
  • Rock Salt
  • Plastic Sheeting or Tarps
  • Kettle, Tea Bags, and Several Mugs
  • Pitcher and Cups

Dealing with Icey Sidewalks

A vital thing to remember is that icy sidewalks, driveways, and streets are dangerous enough under normal conditions but become much more risky when you are lugging around bulky boxes or furniture and can't watch your feet as deliberately. If it's icy where you reside, shovel the walkways as completely as possible and salt the whole walk betwixt your front door and the door of the moving truck. When you're done, put up your shovels and bag of salt in the trunk of your own car or make sure they are packed last in the truck. This will guarantee that you can clear driveways and sidewalks at your destination as well.

Protecting Your Flooring

The next ice and snow related concern is actually inside of your home. When people are tromping through ice and snow to get into your residence, that slush will stay on their shoes and will most likely be tracked all over your clean floors or, even worse, soak dirty slush into the carpets. To guard both the home you're leaving and the one you are moving into, use tarps and plastic sheeting to keep slush-covered footwear off your flooring.

Planning for Icy Roads in Houston

The following consideration is the possibility that the byways you will be taking are most likely to also be blanketed in ice and maybe even people still traveling from the holidays. You should expect heavy traffic, accidents, backups, and all types of delays. This means that if you have a drop dead date for your move, you'll need to leave early to ensure that you have an extra few days to both drive to your destination and get all of your possessions unloaded in the ice.

For efficiency and safety's sake, you may also want to plan alternate routes or have an app ready to help you plan detours just in case there's a bad traffic or weather problem on your primary planned route.

Landing Somewhere Warm

After a lengthy drive in the moving truck or your own car in a caravan with your moving trucks, you are going to need to thaw yourself in the new house pretty quickly. This means that any delays getting the house open and the heater own can be problematic, especially if the utilities aren't ready yet. Make sure to have water, electricity, and gas, if applicable, turned on at the new place. Try to arrive ahead of the moving trucks or ask someone local to access the house and get it warming up ahead of the convoy shows up and begins unpacking.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Movers

Moving in the cold is difficult work with a combined risk of getting too cold, overheating, and getting dangerously dehydrated as your body loses moisture to the cold. After you get the heater fired up, you should make a big pot of hot tea or cocoa along with a pitcher of room-temperature (not freezing cold) water. Keep yourself hydrated and warm with cups of tea and pass mugs or a thermos around for the movers and any friends who are there helping. This way, everyone is energetic and unlikely to get too exhausted or catch a cold during the process.

Moving in the winter is tricky business, but something you can surely handle with a little forward thinking and consideration for everyone involved. By making sure all walkways have the snow and ice removed, the destination home is heated up, and everyone drinks enough liquids, you will be able to get all your things safely from one icy house to another.

REAL PEOPLE. GREAT EXPERIENCES.
The Mickelson Family
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The Mickelson Family
Best. Move. Ever!
Very pleased with the overall respect and care the men gave to my possessions. Even mailing me very quickly the only thing lost in transit. Would recommend to anyone needing a long distant move.
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