Almost every year the housing market sees a rush of activity in the autumn months as buyers hurry to complete and move before Christmas. However, moving at any time of year is often extremely stressful but trying to combat the cold weather in the midst of the Christmas season can make it even more difficult.

We spoke to the team of experts at Harold Wood estate agents to get their 5 top tips for moving home over winter and Christmas.

Packing 

This is an extremely important element no matter what time of year you are moving but, in the winter, there are some extra things you may want to consider.

• Use strong, durable packing materials to help protect belongings from cold and water. Bad weather can lead to boxes and their contents easily getting wet so anything of particular value or crucial paperwork, documents, electronics etc need to be carefully wrapped and transported.
• Although most people know to pack an ‘arrivals box’ containing medicines, phone chargers, kettle, tea and coffee etc, at this time of year you might want to also pack a ‘winter essentials box’. We all know that things can go wrong so best to be prepared with blankets, extra warm clothing, hot water bottles and plenty of snacks to help beat the cold.
• Christmas decorations and gifts already purchased should be clearly labelled so that you don’t lose anything during the move and so you can decorate your home as soon as you’re settled.

Prepare For Bad Weather

Of course, we’d all hope to get a nice, sunny day to move home but the reality is that the winter can be unpredictable with rain, wind, sleet and snow a real possibility. It’s best to plan and prepare for bad weather, just in case.

• Make sure you have spades and salt on hand to clear and grit the pathways.
• Wear warm, dry clothes and keep plenty of spares to hand.
• Put down mats or newspaper in entranceways to prevent slips and muddy footprints
• Allow plenty of extra time for the move and journey.
• Keep a kettle, mugs and hot drink supplies handy to keep movers and family happy.

Children And Pets

Ideally, no matter what time of year, you would ensure that pets and children are cared for and looked after somewhere else during the madness that is moving day so that you can focus on getting things done. If not, then it is important to plan properly and pack everything needed to keep them happy, safe and entertained. For pets this might be a crate, stair gate, toys, bed and treats. For children, depending on their ages think practically, clothing, iPads, games, colouring, snacks, teddies and for babies, a pram, travel cot or highchair for them to safely sit or sleep.

Get Christmas Wrapped Up

Anyone who has moved home before knows that delays are a just a part of it and if you’ve been told you’ll be in your new home by the end of November for example, the certainly does not mean it will be the case.

The last thing you want when you are settling into a new home is having to worry about shopping and wrapping for Christmas. In the months leading up to the move, do as much as possible ahead of time. Buy gifts, wrap, write out Christmas cards, plan the Christmas day meal, buy the alcohol, advent calendars etc, anything you can in advance to save you time later is a bonus!

Hire Professional Movers

Moving home is expensive and people can especially feel the pinch at this time of year when there is Christmas to consider. It can often be tempting to rent a van and rope in family and friends to handle the move yourself.

However, we highly recommend making space in the budget to hire a professional removals company who have years of experience handling all sorts of scenarios and weather conditions. They will make sure that your belongings are moved safely and quickly into your new home without the stress, risk of injury or damages that can occur when taking on the task yourselves.