How to: Moving in the Rain
05-08-2015 08:27:59am
Simple tips to raise you above the clouds when awful weather and rain loom threateningly over your moving day.
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"Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
If you're living in any one of Australia's coastal cities there's a pretty good chance that you'll be effected by bad weather at some point in your move. For example, Melbourne experiences an average of around 146 day of rain per year. So if you're moving from or to Melbourne there's around a 40% chance that it's going to rain on your moving day.
Moving in the rain can make things a little more difficult, so we thought we would share some simple tips to help you weather the storm.
Don't Get Ahead of Yourself
When you're paying by the hour for your move or you need to get your belongings out quickly it can be tempting to put everything outside, ready for your furniture removalists to load. If the weather changes unexpectedly or the truck is held up you may be left scrambling to get everything back under cover. Instead, keep all your belongings indoors, or in a garage, and make them easy to access.
The Right Stuff
Free moving boxes from the supermarket may be tempting, but these boxes aren't up to the task of moving - especially in bad weather. Flimsy cardboard is likely to tear or collapse when it gets even the slightest bit damp. Proper furniture removal boxes will easily survive a few drops of rain.
Protecting your Floors
- Book carpet cleaners to arrive AFTER your move is completed. Preferably next day.
- Don't place anything on carpet that's going to become a tripping hazard. Your furniture removalists may be carrying large objects and walking backwards - having sheets that gather, or raise up, underfoot can lead to serious injury or property damage.
- Rolls of cardboard are readily available that can be laid out on your floors. It's not expensive and can usually be found at your local hardware store.
The Human Chain
If you're moving yourself, or paying by the hour and looking to save some money, you can make a 'bucket brigade' or 'human chain'. This involves having a person (or team) indoors, carting belongings to the front door to a second person (or team) who loads those items onto the truck. Getting the job done this way means there'll be less mud traipsed through your house.
Easy Access
- The closer your removalists are to the front of your property, the less time your belongings will be exposed to the elements.
- Where on-street parking is required, reserve enough space for your furniture removalists truck by parking two cars as close to the front gate or driveway as possible.
- If driveway access is available, clear your driveway of other vehicles and obstacles.
- The front door is not always the best access point. If you have a car port or garage that has internal access, or is close to the back door, it may be better for your removalists to back right up to it and load from there. Again, just clear the path of other cars and obstacles.
Preparing for the Worst
Cyclones, floods and torrential rain are a fact of life in Australia. Every year thousands of people are effected by extreme weather. If you're moving interstate there's always a chance that mother nature can cause delays. Our removalists and shipping containers traverse the East Coast of Australia all year round and occasionally, and inevitably, bad weather can cause road closures and backlogs that take time to clear. If you're effected by such delays it's best to stay calm and be as flexible as you can. Stay in contact with your removalists and understand that they're as desperate as you to get operations running smoothly again.