Oh no! We’re moving in rain!
Even the best laid schemes of moving men can go awry. You’ve read all the articles we’ve written about planning your move, you’ve followed them to the letter, but when moving day arrives, so does the rain.
Who likes moving in rain? No one. As well as getting your beloved possessions wet, it adds slipperiness to every surface, which is an additional and unwanted hazard to an already hazardous job.
Before you hit the panic button, we’ve got some tips to help you get through your move with minimal moisture and mess.
1. Cleaning comes first and last
As soon as you know it’s going to rain, set aside your cleaning products and some old towels. Don’t let these get packed into the truck until everything else has been removed from the house. Your mop and bucket should be one of the last items that gets loaded onto the truck.
Professional movers will use floor protection to mitigate mess, but you’ll still want to have cleaning products and towels on hand to clean up any unexpected mess. Your old towels are useful for quickly drying any items that get wet or mopping up puddles.
2. Minimise your carrying distance
In any move, you’ll make your life so much easier if you can get the truck as close as possible to the door. It’s especially important in the rain, as it minimises the time items are exposed to the elements. Make sure you consider the length of the ramp if you’re using one to load items onto the truck.
3. Protect your possessions
Get as many waterproof coverings as you have ready for the move. Tarps are excellent for covering large items. Make sure you wrap them securely so they don’t make lifting and carrying harder. Use large rubbish bags or bin liners to cover boxes and smaller items. If you’re stuck, an old towel offers some protection if you don’t have far to go to get to the truck. If you have time, dash down to your local hardware store and pick up some plastic crates with lids. These will make moving in rain a breeze.
4. Keep towels handy in the truck
Even if you’ve wrapped and protected your possessions, dry them off with a towel when you get them loaded onto the truck. This reduces the overall moisture inside the truck and the chance items will get wet and damaged during transit.
5. Protect your floors
If you have to walk across lawns or through mud, make sure you wipe your feet thoroughly every time you enter your house. Put down mats to wipe feet and use as many drop cloths and floor coverings as you have to create protected pathways through your house. You don’t want to foot the bill for professional carpet cleaning if the carpets aren’t in good condition for the new occupants.
6. Split into teams if you can
You can eliminate water, mud and dirt from getting into the house by splitting into teams if you have enough people available. The inside team can carry items to the door. The outside team can then manage the lifting through the rain to the truck. If you have a covered porch, this makes an ideal handover point.
7. If it all seems too hard…
You can always rely on us to make your move go smoothly. We have the techniques and tools to move in any weather conditions, leaving your home in immaculate condition for the new owners. Give us a call if you need help.
