A Rainy Day On Your Moving Day: Moving House In The Rain
Posted on: 16 November 2021
There are many situations in life where it's fine to go with the flow and see how things unfold. Moving day is not one of these situations. Moving to a new home always requires more effort than you might expect, but you can largely avoid unexpected hurdles with careful planning that leaves nothing to chance. But you can't control everything, even when your moving day has been planned with military precision. So what should you do when the weather forecast is suggesting a downpour on moving day?
Rescheduling the Move
Can you reschedule? This is the simplest solution, but may not be possible (or practical). It requires a yes from you, as well as from your chosen moving company. Can you delay by a day or two? This depends on various factors, including whether you actually have the option to remain in your current home for another day or two. The end of your lease, or the settlement date of the sale of your home, may make any delay impossible. You may also be moving on the weekend, and a delay will require you to take some time off work. Your residential movers will also need to approve the new date, and it depends on whether they can accommodate you on the rescheduled date.
Protecting Your Possessions
So while rescheduling the move is the easiest option, it may not be an available option. You might have to move regardless of the weather conditions. This requires some additional preparations on your part. For starters, you may need to stock up on plastic. Purchase some extra-large, extra-strong garbage bags (the reinforced bags intended for garden waste are ideal). Your cardboard moving boxes can be placed inside these bags before the bag is sealed. This creates a basic, DIY form of waterproofing. You should also track down some plastic painter's drop sheets. These lightweight plastic sheets are designed to protect furniture and floors during painting but can be draped over furniture to shield them from rain. Check with your moving company before obtaining any supplies, as they may be able to provide them.
Your Floors
You also need to protect the floors in your current and future home. Avoid scuffs and stains that are all too possible when a succession of wet shoes must pass over the flooring. Newspaper and old cardboard should be used to line the floors. These have some absorbency, soaking up water while also providing traction. A wet floor can be a slippery floor, which becomes potentially dangerous when someone is carrying a heavy load.
When the weather forecast threatens to disrupt your moving day, your first reaction should be to consider rescheduling. If this isn't possible, you can avoid water damage by adequately protecting both your possessions and home—meaning rain on your moving day will be an inconvenience, instead of a catastrophe.
For more information on how to move in the rain, contact a residential moving service near you.
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