If you’re looking to relocate during the winter months, you’ll be presented with a whole list of challenges to confront. However, with an experienced moving company like American Van Lines on your side, you can rest assured that your long distance move will be in good hands no matter the time of year. In preparation for your upcoming relocation, we wanted to present you with some helpful tips to make your move that much easier. Simply follow these proven tips:
- Hire Professionals: Let’s start here. If you’ve been thinking about whether you should hire a professional moving company or if you should handle your move on your own, we are here to help make the decision for you. When you choose professionals, it allows you to relax and leave the heavy lifting to someone else. Since winter moves can be especially challenging, it makes hiring professional help even more essential. Do you really want to be driving a moving truck cross country in frigid temperatures? We didn’t think so. Get in touch with American Van Lines and plan your move today.
- Give Yourself a Head Start: The sooner you start packing your belongings, the better off you will be. This allows you to take inventory of the things you need moved and goes you ample time to declutter your space. The more things you have to move, the pricier your move will be. Plan early so you can trash things you don’t need or donate items to friends and/or charity. Be smart and lighten your load. This only increases the chances of a smooth move.
- Expect the Unexpected: When snow storms and torrential winter downpours are involved, it could lead to significant moving delays. Since winter weather can be so unpredictable, it’s up to you to have the right mindset as you look forward to your moving day. With professional movers like American Van Lines (AVL) in your corner, you won’t have to worry about recovering from a setback due to weather. Just take deep breaths, be patient and trust the process.
- Protect Your Belongings: If you decide to pack your belongings yourself and simply let AVL handle the heavy lifting for you, you should really pay attention to your packing techniques. When you’re packing for a summer move, you usually don’t have to worry about Mother Nature affecting your beloved items as much. However, a winter move can mean freezing temperatures and heavy snow. After putting tape on cardboard boxes, place them in trash bags or some kind of protective wrap as additional security. Yes, AVL is home to knowledgeable, experienced movers. However, you should do everything you can on your end to pack the right way.
- Prep Your Home for Moving Day: When the movers actually arrive at your home, you want to make sure that they have access to easily get in and out and lift your household goods. So, whether you need to shovel the snow away from your front door or put down cardboard for them to step on to prevent slippage, you want to make sure your home is ready for a smooth move. If the movers are unable to get close to your front door due to snow or other elements, you could be hit with a long carry fee.
- Be Nice: Moving is tough. Now add moving in really cold temperatures and working hard to make customers happy all day to the equation and it gets even tougher. While the team at AVL absolutely loves serving customers and putting them first, you’ll make everything better if you keep a positive attitude and work hand-in-hand with the moving team. Maybe offer them some coffee to keep them warm when they are done with your move and remind them that you’re available for any questions they may have.
- Look Ahead: While making your old residence move ready is important, prepping your new home is as well. Again, we want to emphasize that the moving professionals at American Van Lines are trained to leave every customer’s home clean and tidy. However, there are things you can do on your end. If you’re tempted to lay out light colored rugs, add plastic coverings over until your move is complete. Old pieces of cardboard are also beneficial because they collect dirt and are easy to dispose of.