How To Move Houses During Bad Weather

There is no way of telling what the weather will be like the day you plan to move houses. Most online forecasts only cover a week, with a handful going as far as 20 days. You could be scheduling the home movers a few months in advance, as often recommended by experts.

Plus, the weather can be erratic even during the summer months. The forecast could be clear on paper, but it could easily change within a few hours. But worry not, as there are ways of making a bad situation better than expected.

This is the time to create a backup plan or make several if possible. By thinking of potential worst-case scenarios and planning for them, you will have an idea of what to do if something goes wrong. Here are some aspects of the move you can brainstorm on plus tips on what you can do to make the move smoother.

Adjust moving times

Allocate more time for the trip to your new home. More time may be needed if the hired professional movers need to make several trips between homes or for longer distances. This is especially necessary when driving in less than optimal conditions, whether it involves heavy rains, sleet, hailstorm, sandstorms, or snow.

When moving during extreme weather, you need to remember that driving becomes more challenging and dangerous. To reduce the chances of an accident, drivers will drive slower. Cars will start to pile up on the roads or accidents can happen, both of which can cause traffic.

Whether you are driving the moving van or hiring another person to drive it for you, you need to take these aspects into account. Consider alternate routes and monitor the traffic advisories. Remember that making changes can also affect travel time, so you need to take those into account as well.

Prepare the moving vehicle/s

If you are planning to drive during moving day, whether it is a private vehicle or the moving truck, make sure that it is in good condition for the task. This reduces the chances of hang-ups during the trip due to vehicle malfunction. There are a few sections you need to check, including:

• Fuel tank – Make sure that you have a full tank or more than enough to last the trip. Stopping to fill up for gas costs time and you need to take this into account.
• Brakes – Check that your vehicle has enough braking fluid and that the brakes are working correctly. This is especially important when driving through torrential rains or flooded roads as the water can cause system failure.
• Tire treads – The treads on your tires ensure proper grip with the road. To reduce the chances of skidding, check that the treads are in good condition.

Prepare your home

How you set up your home can either make it easier or harder for the professional movers to move your possessions in and out of your home. What you do during extreme weather conditions is especially important.

Rain:

If it rains on moving day, the movers could just as easily carry mud and dirt throughout your home. With so much movement, you will end up spending a lot of time cleaning up afterwards. What you can do is to set up the truck closer to the house and control the amount of movement inside to keep the interiors and your belongings clean and dry.

If you expect rain on moving day, you will need to cover your bulkier items with moving pads then plastic wrap to keep them dry during the transfer. You will also need to make sure that there are no holes in the cover or leaks in the moving truck to prevent water from seeping in. Pack your electronics in plastic wrap or inside sealed waterproof packs to keep them dry.

Put down towels, blankets, or even cardboard pieces on the floor where the movers plan to walk to protect your floors from the dirt, mud, and grime. If you have hired several movers, having a moving line is recommended. Passing the belongings from one person to another limits the mud and water from getting inside the home. Do the same for the home you are moving into.

When you arrive at your new home, unpack quickly and remove all cardboard or wet packaging. This is to prevent any of your items from getting water damage or mold developing due to the moisture. Place the damp or soaked cardboard and other paper-based packing material outside for easy recycling or disposal.

Sandstorm:

Letting the sandstorm pass before moving your belongings is the most practical way of going about it. If this is not possible, protect your belongings by packing them with plastic wrap. This should prevent sand from damaging your items.

Prepare some masks, respirators, goggles, and sunglasses for your family and the staff to protect your lungs, eyes, and health from the sand. You may also want to apply some petroleum jelly around your nostrils and include a moistened piece of fabric to prevent dryness.

Moving through bad weather is not safe, but it sometimes must be done. By following these tips, you can make a move a lot smoother and safer for everyone involved.