Tips for Moving in the Rain

In a perfect world you can put off your moving day until the weather is perfect, but here in the real world you may end up having to move during wet weather. A plan is needed to keep your stuff as dry as possible while also avoiding as much mess as possible inside your new home. The following tips can help.

Tip #1: Put up a canopy

Things are rarely carried straight into the moving truck. Instead, they are usually placed near to it first as the movers determine the best placement for everything inside. You can cut down on the wet and mud that gets on your items by laying down a tarp and then putting a pop-up canopy up over the tarp. You will need this setup near the truck both when loading it at your old place and unloading it at the new place.

Tip #2: Stock up on towels

Every spare towel should be left unpacked so you can use them all to soak up the excess water. As the movers bring things out to the truck, you or a helper should be right there wiping the water off the top before items are loaded. This is where the above staging area comes in handy. At your new place, position someone near the door to repeat the drying process as items are brought inside.

Tip #3: Cut down on mud tracks

The last thing you want is mud stains on the carpet at your new place. Consider covering the carpets with a painter's drop cloth, taped down, so that moisture and dirt won't be a concern. Also, place a large rug on the porch so everyone can get the bulk of the wet and dirt off before they come inside. A cut of old carpet, which you can get cheap or free from a carpet store, can work well for this purpose.

Tip #4: Double your power

Speeding up the whole process by bringing in extra loaders or unloaders can also help keep everything dry, since items won't be left in the wet as long. You can also use a tag team approach—one crew carries things from the truck to the door while a second team meets them at the door to bring the items inside. The indoor team won't be walking through the rain, and that will cut down on the amount of muck tracked indoors.

Contact some movers such as Walsh Moving & Storage for more help in planning a move during challenging weather.