Bad weather on moving day can add to your troubles and make an already-hectic process even tougher. A bright, sunny day is ideal for moving because it guarantees a pleasant environment to work in, ensures that traffic will run as usual and driving conditions will be suitable for unhindered movement. Don’t lose heart though! There are ways to make moving in bad weather more bearable. If you live in a rainy city, and the weather is unpredictable, or you are moving in off-season to save some money, here are some things you can do to make sure that the weather does not spoil your plans.

As with any aspect of a house removal, being prepared is the key to handling weather conditions. The only way you can cope with sudden changes in weather is if you are ready. Monitor the weather reports and climatic forecasts for your region for at least a week or two before the intended moving day. If the weather is terrible, you will have to stay in touch with the moving company to discuss alternatives and schedule changes. If there are manageable fluctuations, knowing about them in advance will help you and your family get yourselves and your belongings ready to deal with the rain!

Moving in Bad Weather

The first step is to make sure that your belongings will be safe, in case there is heavy rain on the day of the move. Your belongings will be in two categories: packed items that have been put into boxes and cartons and unpacked items such as furniture that is too big to be packed.

For the cardboard boxes, waterproofing techniques such as layering the boxes with adhesive-coated laminating sheets and painting rubber like coating or plastic coating onto the entire surface of the box can go a long way in protecting your things against moisture.

For things that cannot be packed, use plastic sheets and tarp sheets to cover every inch of the exposed surface and tie these sheets in with hooks and string. If you are particularly worried, shrink-wrapping these items is a great way to add a water-resistant layer. You can have everything shrink-wrapped by the removals team if your budget allows, or even do it yourself with some heavy duct tape, plastic sheets and shrink wrapping sheets.

Whether you are moving in bone-dry weather or in the middle of a rainstorm, make sure you plastic/ shrink-wrap all your mattresses. Mattresses are very susceptible to damage from moisture. You don’t want any mold or fungus to start growing where you sleep, so you must pack your mattresses with care regardless of the weather.

After the boxes and items have been loaded into the moving truck, ask the removals company to cover them with a tarp sheet as an extra layer of protection. Most removal teams usually have plastic sheets or tarp sheets in the back of their trucks or moving vans. These can be very useful in protecting your belongings against any moisture and also in keeping them from getting dirty or dusty en route.
Stay in touch with the team and make sure everything is moving according to schedule. You can ask them to leave a little earlier than planned to account for any weather delays.

Do remember though, above all else, safety (yours and that of the moving team) is paramount. So, while taking measures to protect your belongings against the rain and keeping your plan on schedule are important, they should not be at the cost of any safety to the people involved. Only go ahead with the removal process if the weather conditions allow it. A bit of rain is an inconvenience but a full storm is not only difficult to man oeuvre through, it can also pose immense dangers on the road. A delay is better than an accident, any day!