So your real estate agent has found you the right place in New York City, and now you must move—during the winter. Moving during winter time in New York can be a hassle, unless you are fully prepared for it. We came up with some “Top Tips” to keep in mind when making the big move during this blistery time of year. Can you think of anymore?
1. Dress appropriately. It may seem like common sense, but make sure you dress appropriately by wearing layers. Once you begin to move your boxes from your old home to your new home, you may feel overheated—this is where layers come in handy. You can simply peel layers off as needed, to make sure you stay comfortable. Also, don’t forget a good pair of gloves that can give you gripping ability and a warm hat to prevent you from getting sick from going in and out of the cold.
2. Keep winter supplies handy. Make sure you don’t pack up all your winter supplies for the move. Keep a shovel, salt, and ice scraper handy to use at moment’s notice. You never know when you might need these items to ease your move, as weather can often be unpredictable. If the sidewalk outside your building or home is a little slippery, you can quickly throw down some salt to prevent a slip when you are taking boxes in. If snow has fallen, you might need to create a path to get safely into your new home—this is where you will appreciate having your shovel nearby.
3. Follow the weather. It is a good idea to follow the local weather for wherever you are moving to. Some areas of New York City experience more extreme weather than others, so make sure you plan accordingly. Find out which route will be the best to take and if there are any impending delays on the streets or roadways you will be using.
4. Set up utilities ahead of time. The worst thing you can do is to realize on move-in day that you forgot to set up your utilities! Don’t procrastinate on this one; make sure you have them all set up ahead of time so you won’t freeze the day of your move.
5. Cardboard boxes. Be sure to have cardboard boxes to place down on your new home’s floors. Winter slush and snow will undoubtedly be tracked into your new apartment, so to prevent hours of cleaning up afterward, just place plenty of flattened boxes on your floors. This will also prevent slips as you move your items in.
6. Get help. Make sure you get people to help you move. There are plenty of professional moving companies, and their rates are actually cheaper during the winter. This is their slow time of year for business, so they are usually ready and eager to quickly help with relocating your items. The competition among moving companies for your business is high, and so is their level of service; you will find that they are more accommodating to your schedule during this time of year.
7. Avoid unpacking delicate items right away. Delicate items need to be handled with exceptional care, especially during the winter when items made of glass and china can become brittle due to
the cold. To prevent brakeage of precious items, make sure you wait a few days and let the boxed delicate items stay packed until they fully adjust to room temperature in your new home.