How to Make a Move in Bad Weather

The weather is a highly unpredictable element that can come into play when you need it to cooperate the most. Be it a party you are throwing outside, a sporting event you've paid for months in advance, or when you have an important and tough move you are trying to make. Mother Nature doesn't spare us the challenge, especially during the Summer when pop-up storms and rain can appear out of nowhere.

With the proper preparation and strategies, you can still make a successful move even in the midst of rain or, if moving in the winter, snow. Being prepared, having a plan to tackle these challenges, and leveraging the right moving partner can save you a lot of time and headaches on your moving day. Here are some tips to help you navigate through bad weather and ensure a smooth moving experience, no matter what joke Mother Nature tries to play on you.

How to Move in the Rain

Moving in the rain requires extra precautions to protect your belongings and keep yourself safe. The last thing you need is soggy boxes collapsing or having an accident with slippery floors. By keeping these tips in mind, you can be ready for almost any contingency if the rain makes things difficult.

Check the weather forecast for your moving day

Weather forecasts can be a bit spotty, especially in the Summer, depending on where you live. If you live in a place that has routine weather patterns, your forecast for the area could be spot on. If you live in the Midwest or South, where pop-up storms are a regularity, you might only be checking it a day or so out. Either way, knowing what you can expect from the weather will be helpful so you can plan accordingly.

Buy or borrow the right moving supplies

Make sure to have plenty of water-resistant moving supplies on hand. Buy or borrow some plastic bins from a family member or friend to keep your stuff in, as well as some tarps you can use to cover floors from getting dirty or becoming slippery. Covered floors also mean less clean up when you are finally packed out / into your home. Have plenty of fresh towels on hand to dry off anything that can get wet or damaged. Use packing tape to secure any holes in your boxes or bins to keep any rainwater out.

Pack your stuff securely

Cardboard boxes are the preferred moving box by pretty much everyone. Plastic bins, though, can be a big help if the weather turns sour. With plastic bins, you don't have to worry nearly as much about the contents inside getting wet or creating mold and mildew. They can also stack pretty well if you use similar bins to pack your stuff. For added protection against the weather, you can use plastic wrap on your stuff in your boxes or bins and use tarps to cover furniture if necessary.

How to Move in the Snow

Unlike pop-up rain and storms, you can typically plan around a bit more in winter weather and see it coming in weather forecasts. That doesn't mean the challenge of moving in the snow is any less; in fact, it probably means it will be a bit tougher as the snow can linger for some time after it falls, making things more difficult. Moving in the snow requires extra caution and preparation. Here are some tips to help you move in snowy conditions.

Have clear pathways plowed out before you start moving your stuff

One of the more dangerous aspects of moving in winter weather is being able to keep your footing. If you live in an area that gets snow quite a bit, you probably already have the prerequisites of snow shovels, salt/kitty litter, spikes for shoes, etc. If you don't have these items, consider buying them if snow is on the horizon for your moving day.

Having clear walkways from your door to your moving solution will make everything easier and much safer for you and your moving help. Try removing as much snow as possible with your shovel, then sprinkle the walkways with your salt/kitty litter to provide traction and help with the melting process, especially if you are dealing with icy conditions.

Have heavy-duty weather clothing

No matter how much it may snow, snow means cold to frigid temperatures. Ensure all your heavy-duty coats, toboggans, gloves, boots, and socks are left out and not packed away. You must stay as warm and dry as possible to avoid catching a cold or just being miserable during the moving process. Set these items aside early if you are moving during the winter season – they will come in handy no matter what.

Organize a moving assembly line

To avoid accidents from folks slipping on wet floors or icy walkways, consider creating an "assembly line" of your moving helpers, depending on how many you have. First, you will need to have all your moving boxes staged near your door so that someone can stand and hand out boxes and bins to pass down the line, ending with someone in your moving solution packing your stuff. It should reduce a lot of the back and forth and keep your home, both old and new, cleaner than having people walking through and around it all day.

Make Moving in Bad Weather Simple with Portable Moving & Storage Containers

The easiest way to minimize the effects of bad weather is to use a moving partner that allows you to pack and move entirely on your schedule. In the past, the only way to typically move was to rent a large moving truck that you could only use for one day - packing it all up, driving it yourself, and unpacking. Now throw in heavy rain, storms, or snow, and doing all of that packing and driving sounds like an absolute nightmare. With Zippy Shell, all that stress is a thing of the past.

Moving in the rain with Zippy Shell

Our portable moving containers are the solution to any uncertainty you might have with the weather on your moving day. Instead of hoping the weather will hold out a month from now when you schedule with a traditional mover, we do something even better. We will not only deliver the moving unit to your door, but we will also give you up to three days to pack at your pace.

That means if the weather isn't helpful on one day, you still have plenty of time to pack without having to worry about the rain once it passes. Better yet, you can take all day to pack at your pace. Are you getting rained on in the morning? No problem – just pack in the afternoon/evening! Zippy Shell eliminates the stress of having to pack all in one day with absolutely no driving on your part. Pack however you'd like to when you want to.

Moving the snow with Zippy Shell

Snow will always present a challenge, but like with the rain, having up to three days to pack at your pace will be invaluable. You don't have to rush packing a moving truck up, which can cause accidents that can be time-consuming at best and dangerous at worst for you and those helping you. Pack your container between snowfalls or wait until it passes – either way, you are doing it on your own time, not the moving company or Mother Nature's.

The best part about moving with Zippy Shell when dealing with the snow is you don't have to do any unnecessary driving. When you rent a moving truck, you will have to pack it in dangerous conditions and drive it in equally, if not more treacherous conditions. Instead of doing all of that, use Zippy Shell instead! When it is safe for us to come out, we will handle all the driving so you don't have to. It really is that simple when you move with Zippy Shell.

Moving and Storage Made Simple

Bad weather doesn't have to ruin your moving plans. With proper preparation, the right tools, a bit of flexibility, and the right moving company, you can still have a successful move even in challenging conditions. Choose Zippy Shell for any local or long-distance move you may have, and leave all the logistics and stress to us.

We even offer storage services as well, both long- and short-term, if you need them. Just have your container placed in one of our local, secure warehouse facilities. We'll store your stuff for as long as you need it and redeliver it whenever you want.

Give us a call today or get a free quote online to see how much more manageable and affordable we can make your upcoming move!