Moving tips
Reliable Ottawa Movers: Winter Moving Tips
By TLC Moving & Storage · Published 20 January 2020
With the right preparations, a winter move in Ottawa goes smoothly: transfer the heat and hydro early, pack smart so the shovel and warm gear stay handy, plan the walkways and parking, and have a backup plan.
A winter move is its own challenge
You know the old saying—Canada has two seasons: winter, and moving season. If only it were so! Sometimes, however, you find yourself in the unenviable position of having to move house the middle of winter. Even with the help of residential moving services, Ottawa families can find a winter move to be a whole new kind of challenge.
But with the right preparations and a lot of spirit, you can make it through this experience in one piece, and you’ll be enjoying the warmth and comfort of your new home in no time.
Five steps for a winter move:
Leave Nothing to Chance
Pack Smart
Plan Ahead
Have a Backup
Hire Professional, Reliable Movers
What a winter move in Ottawa involves
A winter move in Ottawa comes with its own list of jobs: heat and hydro turned on or transferred into your name before you arrive, a shovel, warm gloves and extra layers kept handy, snow cleared from the walkways and parking spots the movers will use, salt or ice melt for safety, and a backup plan in case a storm moves in.
Leave Nothing to Chance
If your new home needs to have the heat and hydro turned on or transferred into your name, don’t leave this to the last minute. There can be all kinds of delays, and before you know it, your heat is off or otherwise hasn’t had enough time to fully warm up your new home.
Be absolutely sure that details such as this get taken care of with enough wiggle room to allow for any delays that come up. Winter jobs can include short-term storage when the weather changes the plan, and long-distance moving for a move out of town.
Pack Smart
Ottawa movers will tell you the same thing, but it’s even truer in the winter: you need to be smart about how you pack.
If an unexpected snowstorm on moving day fills up your driveway with more snow than you can comfortably move items through, it pays to have your shovel on hand without having to go dig for it—not to mention warm gloves, extra layers, and more that keeps you warm and safe. And speaking of the shovel…
Plan Ahead
Take some time to visit your new home in the days leading up to the move, and think about how the move will go. If you’re working with one of Ottawa’s residential moving services, where will they park?
Which walkways are you—or they—most likely to use? If snow needs to be cleared from these areas, now is a good time to do it. You can also add some salt or ice melt to make things safer.
Have a Backup
Even the most reliable Ottawa movers can’t navigate the most dangerous conditions. If a sudden storm system moves in that endangers your move, you may need to rely on a backup plan—an alternate date, an alternate route, or some other way to make sure your move is completed safely and properly.
Hire Professional, Reliable Movers
The best way to ensure a successful move is to work with experienced professionals who have done it before. These movers know how to protect your belongings and your floors (new and old) from the conditions, and if your move comes up unexpectedly, they’ll be able to help you pull off a seemingly-impossible last-minute move.
Questions about moving with TLC
What should I do before a winter move?
If your new home needs to have the heat and hydro turned on or transferred into your name, don’t leave this to the last minute. There can be all kinds of delays, and before you know it, your heat is off or otherwise hasn’t had enough time to fully warm up your new home.
What should I keep unpacked for a winter move?
Ottawa movers will tell you the same thing, but it’s even truer in the winter: you need to be smart about how you pack.
If an unexpected snowstorm on moving day fills up your driveway with more snow than you can comfortably move items through, it pays to have your shovel on hand without having to go dig for it—not to mention warm gloves, extra layers, and more that keeps you warm and safe.
What if a storm hits on moving day?
Even the most reliable Ottawa movers can’t navigate the most dangerous conditions. If a sudden storm system moves in that endangers your move, you may need to rely on a backup plan—an alternate date, an alternate route, or some other way to make sure your move is completed safely and properly.
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Tell us about your move and we will come back with a free, obligation-free estimate. You can also call (613) 830-7402.