Moving house during the winter months can feel a little more daunting than at other times of the year. Delays in the buying and selling process often mean moving dates change, and what was originally planned for autumn can suddenly become a winter move instead.
While colder weather, shorter days and the possibility of frost or snow may require a little extra planning, there’s no reason why your move can’t go just as smoothly. At Ballards, we’ve been helping families move throughout Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and across the UK for more than 45 years, so we’ve experienced just about every type of winter weather.
Here are our top 10 tips to help make your winter house move as stress-free as possible.
1. Allow Extra Time for Your Winter Move
Winter weather can be unpredictable, so it’s always worth allowing a little extra time for your move.
Rain, frost, ice or even light snow may not stop your move from going ahead, but they can make journeys a little slower for both you and your removals team. Building some flexibility into your schedule will help reduce unnecessary stress if travel takes a little longer than expected.
It’s also worth remembering that daylight hours are much shorter during the winter months, particularly around Christmas and the New Year. If possible, try to plan the busiest parts of your move, such as loading and unloading, during the middle of the day while there’s plenty of natural light.
Choosing an experienced house removals team can also provide extra peace of mind. With years of experience moving families throughout the winter, we’ll always plan ahead and adapt to changing conditions to help your move run as smoothly and safely as possible.
2. Dress for the Day
Moving house can be surprisingly physical, so choosing the right clothing will help keep you comfortable from start to finish.
Dress in layers so you can easily adapt to changing temperatures as you move between the house, the removals van and outdoors. While it may be cold outside, you’ll soon warm up if you’re lifting boxes or helping with the move.
Comfortable footwear is just as important. Choose shoes or boots with good grip, particularly if the weather is wet, icy or frosty, to help reduce the risk of slips while carrying items in and out of the property.
If rain or colder weather is forecast, keep a waterproof coat and a spare set of warm clothes close by. It’s a simple tip, but staying warm, dry and comfortable will make moving day much more enjoyable.
3. Keep Your Essentials Close By
Packing an essentials box is one of the simplest ways to make moving day less stressful, especially during the winter months.
Before you leave your old home, it’s worth keeping a few everyday items separate so you can make a hot drink, grab a snack and take a well-earned break before setting off. Once you arrive at your new property, having those same essentials immediately to hand means you won’t have to search through boxes after a long day of moving.
We recommend packing an essentials box with items such as:
- Tea, coffee and a kettle
- Phone chargers
- Medication
- Important documents
- Warm clothing
- Snacks and bottled water
- Toilet roll
- Basic toiletries
- Pet supplies, if needed
- Children’s favourite toys or comfort items
If possible, keep this box in your own car rather than on the removals van, so it’s available as soon as you arrive. You’ll be surprised how much easier those first few hours in your new home become when everything you need is within easy reach.
4. Moving Further? Pack Food and Warm Clothing
If you’re travelling a longer distance on moving day, it’s well worth planning ahead and packing a few extra essentials for the journey.
Cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks are always a good idea, particularly if you don’t have time to stop for a proper meal. During the winter months, we’d also recommend taking a flask of tea, coffee or soup, along with extra warm clothing, waterproofs and a blanket, just in case your journey takes longer than expected.
While delays are uncommon, winter weather can sometimes slow traffic or make travelling conditions more challenging. Having refreshments and warm clothing close to hand will help keep everyone comfortable, especially if you’re travelling with children or older family members.
It’s simply about being prepared. Keeping your energy levels up and making sure everyone stays warm can make a long moving day much more manageable, allowing you to arrive at your new home feeling ready to settle in rather than worn out.
5. Prepare Your Car
When you’re planning a house move, it’s easy to focus on the removals van and forget about your own vehicle. However, if you’re travelling between properties or taking essential items with you, it’s important to make sure your car is ready for the journey too.
Before moving day, carry out a few simple winter checks, including:
- Fuel levels
- Tyre pressures
- Windscreen wash
- De-icer and an ice scraper
- Mobile phone charger
- Warning triangle or emergency kit, if you have one
If snow or icy conditions are forecast, it’s also worth carrying a small shovel, torch and blanket, particularly if you’re travelling a longer distance.
Taking a few minutes to prepare your car can help avoid unnecessary delays and give you one less thing to think about on an already busy day. If you’re keeping your moving day essentials with you, you’ll also have everything you need close to hand should your journey take a little longer than expected.
6. Make Sure Your New Home Is Warm
After spending the day moving boxes and furniture, there’s nothing better than arriving at a warm, comfortable home.
Before moving day, make sure you’ve arranged for your gas, electricity and water supplies to be transferred into your name so everything is ready when you arrive. If possible, speak to the previous owners and ask whether they can leave the heating on at a low temperature if they’re moving out before you arrive. Even a few hours of heating can make a real difference during the colder months.
Of course, they’ll want to take final meter readings before they leave, but that’s all part of the moving process.
If your new property has been empty for a while, it may also be worth checking that the boiler and heating system are working as expected before moving day. Walking into a warm house not only makes unpacking much more comfortable, but also helps children, older family members and pets settle in more quickly after the journey.
If you’re unsure how to prepare for moving day, our guide to pre-move home surveys can help explain how planning ahead can make the whole process much smoother.
7. Protect Your Furniture and Belongings
Winter weather can be unpredictable, so taking a little extra care when packing your belongings can help protect them throughout the move.
Furniture, fragile items and cardboard boxes are all more vulnerable to damp conditions, so it’s worth using quality packing materials to keep everything clean, dry and well protected during loading, transport and unloading.
We always recommend using proper removals boxes and professional packing materials rather than old or damaged boxes, as they’re designed to cope with the weight of household items and are much less likely to split or become damaged during the move.
If you’d rather leave the packing to the professionals, Ballards also offers full packing and part packing services. Our experienced team will carefully wrap, protect and pack your belongings using high-quality materials, giving you one less thing to think about before moving day.
Whether you’re packing yourself or using our packing service, taking the time to protect your furniture and belongings properly will help ensure everything arrives at your new home in the same condition it left.
8. Protect Your Floors
Winter weather often means wet shoes, muddy paths and icy driveways, so it’s worth taking a few extra steps to protect your flooring while moving day is underway.
Before the removals team arrives, clear any snow or ice from paths and entrances where possible. If you’re using salt or grit to improve safety, remember that it can easily be walked into your home, potentially marking carpets and hard flooring.
Laying down old towels, dust sheets or protective floor coverings near entrances and on stairways can help keep your home clean while furniture and boxes are being moved in and out. Just make sure they’re laid flat and securely to avoid creating a trip hazard.
At Ballards, we take great care to protect both your belongings and your property throughout the move. Where required, our team can use floor protection as part of our professional house removals service, helping to minimise dirt and reduce the risk of damage while your move is taking place.
It’s a small detail, but one that can make a big difference when you’re trying to keep both your old and new home clean during a busy moving day.
9. Think About the Children
Moving house is a big adventure for children, but it can also be a long and tiring day, especially during the winter months.
If family or friends are able to look after younger children while you move, that can make the day a little easier for everyone. However, if they’re joining you throughout the move, keeping them warm, comfortable and entertained will help everything run more smoothly.
Pack a small bag with their favourite toys, books, snacks and warm clothing, and try to keep it close by so it’s easy to access throughout the day. Giving older children simple jobs, such as keeping an eye on a favourite toy or helping unpack a box of books, can also help them feel involved and excited about their new home.
It’s also worth making sure children’s bedrooms and essential belongings are unpacked as early as possible. Having familiar toys, bedding and comfort items ready from the first evening can help them settle into their new surroundings much more quickly.
After all, moving day is about more than just transporting furniture – it’s about helping the whole family feel at home.
10. Choose an Experienced Removals Company
No matter what time of year you’re moving, choosing an experienced removals company can make all the difference.
From careful planning and professional packing to safely transporting your belongings, having an experienced team by your side helps take much of the stress out of moving day. Winter weather can bring its own challenges, but with the right preparation and a removals company that’s used to working in all conditions, your move can still run smoothly from start to finish.
At Ballards, we’ve been helping families move for more than 45 years, providing tailored house removals, professional packing services and secure storage solutions to suit every move.
We also recommend arranging a pre-move home survey before moving day. It gives us the opportunity to understand your requirements, identify any potential access issues and ensure everything is planned well in advance, giving you complete peace of mind.
Whether you’re moving during the winter months or in the middle of summer, our friendly and experienced team is here to help make moving day as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Planning a Winter House Move?
Moving house during the winter months may require a little extra planning, but with the right preparation, there’s no reason it can’t be just as smooth as moving at any other time of year.
By planning ahead, staying organised and working with an experienced removals company, you can focus on settling into your new home rather than worrying about the weather.
If you’re planning a winter move and would like some friendly advice or a free, no-obligation quotation, get in touch with the Ballards team today. We’re always happy to help make moving day as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
