Contrary to popular belief, not everyone likes to be in warm sunny weather all the time. For those, a move to a colder clime could be just the thing. However, moving is different than visiting, and you need to come prepared, or you just might freeze. Here is a starter list of useful tips to make your cold weather move easier.
Organize Your Clothes (and buy new ones)
Those who live in colder climates often experience a more significant variation in seasons than in warmer areas. That means you can't just get rid of your summer clothes, and now you must plan for spring and autumn clothes and a then a winter wardrobe as well. Start by seeing just how much you have of each. Next, look through your summer clothes and sort out things that can be used during another season by layering them with other items or just on their own. Now, pare down those summer-only clothes to just the additional pieces you need to make up a three month or so summer wardrobe. Now comes the fun part, check your spring/autumn and winter wardrobes, do they look at little thin? Great! That means when you get to your new home, you can raid the local shopping to fill out your wardrobe, which serves the double purpose of starting your move off with some fun and exploration of the local businesses in your new neighborhood.
Prepare Your Car
One of the most dangerous changes you will face is the difference in caring for your car. If you don’t plan for snow, ice, freezing rain and just general cold, you could end up in trouble. First, equip your car with a variety of snow tools such as an ice scraper, gloves, and a snow brush and learn how to use them. A quick search online will get you some great how-to videos, and you may even find one just for your car. Lastly, ensure you keep a couple of candles, some matches and a lighter in your vehicle at all times. If your car stalls or otherwise loses power, and you're stuck out in the cold, a single candle can keep the temperature in your car high enough to keep you alive until help comes.
Prepare Your Home
Organize your new home around the seasonal changes you will experience. Remember that sorting of clothes? Do the same thing for decorations, outdoor tools and pretty much everything else you own. Organize your storage cyclically so that you can move things back and forth as the seasons progress. Make sure you have prepared for winter as it rolls around by getting a snow shovel and rock salt for clearing walks and driveways. Set up shoe and boot racks near your doors for snowy footwear to keep it from tracking through your home. Remember that every guest will have a coat, hat, scarf and possibly more, so keep coat hooks and closet space available. Decorative snow and mud removal entry mats are a great way to keep the tracks to a minimum. Finally, ensure you have an alternate heat source such as battery-powered heaters and extra blankets in case you lose power in the winter and need to keep warm. Propane tank based fireplaces and heating systems are great because they don’t depend on the city utilities, so if the power goes down, you still have heat, as long as you keep the tank full.Ask your real estate professional about any specific cold weather advice for your brand new home!
