Moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter – practical tips

Relocating your household during winter can often be a very stressful process. If you are moving to a place with heavy snowfall, a lot of things can go wrong. It’s not the best time to move, but it’s definitely not impossible! Both Maryland and Virginia have very similar climates and amounts of snow during winter, so you have to prepare yourself well. All you need is to know a few tips and tricks and use the assistance of some of the best moving companies in Maryland you can find. Moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter will be much easier if you follow the advice we’ll share in this article. We’ve had our fair share of winter relocations, so we have a lot of practical experience and knowledge to help you make your move as smooth as possible.

Be flexible when moving during winter

Winters in states like Virginia can bring a lot of snow, ice, and blizzards. Those weather conditions can often create a lot of problems when you are planning to move. The roads can get blocked or jammed due to the ice, heavy snowfall can completely block your view while you are driving and make it impossible, and so on. That’s why it’s important to stay flexible when it comes to your relocation. If the weather conditions are too extreme for driving, you may have to delay and postpone your move. Check in with your local movers MD a few days before the move, to create a backup plan. If on your moving day there are too many complications in regard to weather, set a new date depending on the conditions in the following days. 

Thankfully, most moving companies are not as busy during winter as compared to other seasons. Bad weather is precisely the reason why that is. That’s why your movers will be in a much better position to postpone your relocation for a day or a few and complete the task then. Just be patient and understand that being flexible during a winter move is a key step in order to make it happen. 

Start packing enough time in advance

Since winter can be a harsh season, many things can happen which will require your immediate attention. That’s why it’s imperative you start your packing a week or two before your actual moving date. Always make sure to pack the non-essential stuff first. Things like clothes for the warmer seasons and other stuff you don’t use at all at this point in time. Keep spare winter clothes available to you at all times. Since you’ll be moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter, chances are you’ll encounter snow, heavy rainfall, and blizzards. In case your clothes get wet, use those spare clothes to prevent yourself from catching a cold or something else. Also, make sure you use a labeling system when packing. It will help both you and your moving services Maryland providers load and unload much faster. 

Prepare both your old and new home for the move 

When moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter, you can be in a situation where in both states you will have a lot of snow at the same time. If that’s the case, you will have to put in some extra effort to make sure both of your homes are prepared for your upcoming relocation. You should make sure that there is no ice or too much snow in front of your home where the moving truck has to park. By having a clear path, you can rapidly complete both the loading and unloading phases. The last thing you want to do is arrive at your new home and see that you have to first spend a decent amount of time shoveling snow and ice in order for the truck to park! Get ahead of that and make sure they are already prepared and cleared for you and your movers.

The same goes for the inside of your new home as well. Since you may encounter a lot of snow and ice, the shoes of your movers and yourself will be soggy. To prevent your carpets and floors from absorbing too much moisture and ending up decaying, lay some plastic covers on the floors of your home. Once your long distance movers DC are out of the house, you can take those plastic covers and throw them away. Your floor will be completely unaffected by it and you won’t have to clean up. After a long and stressful move, cleaning up is the last thing you would want to do!

Transfer utilities before moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter

Another important thing you must take care of before your winter move from Maryland to Virginia is to transfer your utilities on time! Don’t get into a situation where you arrive at your new home and don’t have any power or internet! During winter that’s the last thing you want to be happening. Heat, power, and internet are all crucial things to have already set up in your home right after your move. If you work from home as well, all the more reason to take care of it on time. 

Protect your possessions from bad weather

There is a heightened risk of your boxes and items getting damaged during a winter move. Several factors contribute to that. First of all, bad weather conditions will make the roads much harder to drive on. The chance of something breaking during transport is higher than usual because of that. Secondly, while you are taking your boxes from your home and into the moving truck, and vice versa, there’s a chance snow or rain may damage them during that short period of time. Finally, there is also a small chance moisture and water can enter the inside of the moving truck during transport, if there is heavy rainfall and snow going on. These are the most important reasons why you should pack your things with additional levels of security.

Some items like glassware can get broken much easier in lower temperatures. To avoid that from happening, use double the amount of bubble wrap than what you would usually use. Secure the insides of your boxes with layers of bubble wrap as well. This will prevent them from hitting each other or the walls of the truck during transport. Use additional layers of bubble wrap for things like electronics, antiques, musical instruments, etc. When it comes to clothes, make sure all your clothes are absolutely dry before packing them. Use vacuum-sealed bags for clothes, as they will keep them dry and protected from the cold. If you have any doubts or need more information on how to properly pack things for a winter move, be sure to ask your local movers DC for advice. 

Rely on storage units when moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter

Moving from Maryland to Virginia in winter is a good reason to rent a storage unit. It can help you immensely with your relocation and spare you a lot of headaches. Storage units are a great place for you to put things you are not sure what to do with. If you are having doubts about whether you should waste time and resources packing and moving things that aren’t crucial at this very moment, it would be wise to leave them in a storage unit. By bringing along things you really need in your new home, you will spend less time unpacking and have more space available. Once that phase of the move is done, you can then evaluate if all of those stored things have a place in your new home. It will be much easier for you to unpack them and find them a spot this way.

Another benefit of using storage units when moving during winter is that you minimize the risk of damage to your possessions. A wise move you can make is to get your things in the storage unit before the move while the weather is nice enough. So use a day when there is no rain or snow to bring them there. Once you relocate to your new home and unpack your essentials, you can then bring those things in with much less pressure. If you are not in a hurry to get those items, also use a good day weather-wise to go and get them. It’s a very good strategy to use to avoid any further complications with your move. Many residential movers DC area has to offer will tell you the same thing!

Ask for the help from your friends and family

Since moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter can be a bothersome process, rely on the help of your friends and family. There’s no reason for you to go through it alone. Especially as there are many other things you have to take care of while you prepare and organize your move. Preparing your new home, lining up your new job, packing, transferring utilities, and many other things all require your attention. It can often be overwhelming. That’s why you should always use the help of those closest to you. They can help you with any of those things we listed, and of course with many more. If you have kids or pets, you will definitely need someone to babysit them while you finish up your obligations.

The stress level of a move can be heightened quite a bit in winter. Harsh wind, snow, and ice can make even the simplest of things more hard and complicated. It’s sometimes not enough to use the help of your movers West Virginia of choice. Sometimes you need an extra pair of hands on top of that. That’s what friends and family are for. We are here to help each other, so don’t hesitate to give them a call and ask for help!

Always keep extra winter gear nearby

Don’t make the grave mistake of putting all of your winter gear inside the moving truck! You should have all the essentials close by in case you need to change clothes or use something quickly to deal with ice or snow. By essential winter gear, we mean things like: 

• Toolkit
• Dry clothes
• Jacket
• Shovel
• Hats, gloves, and scarves
• Boots
• First-aid kit

These are all crucial items and should be at your disposal at all times. Keep them in a bag that will always be with you during the actual drive from your old home to the new one. If you don’t, you risk not only delaying the completion of your move but also catching a cold or having to go and dig through your boxes only to find something that should always be by your side. All in all, it’s imperative you have things close to you to keep you warm during winter or to deal with its effects in any way.

Downsize if you can when moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter

When moving from Maryland to Virginia during winter, downsizing and decluttering can be a great thing to do. Not only do you free up space in your new home, but you will also spend less money, time, and energy during the relocation. You can even add up some money to your moving budget this way. You can do that by selling your unwanted items. Since it is winter and the chances of organizing a yard sale are slim, we recommend you post online ads on websites like Craigslist. If you weren’t able to sell all of those things, the rest can simply be thrown away or donated. This is a piece of advice many moving companies Northern VA has to offer would share with you! Make sure to follow all our tips and tricks from this article to have a smooth and enjoyable relocation!