The idea of living in a cold climate certainly makes your anxious feelings about relocating going through the roof. But with a couple of relocation tips, you will be able to perform a stress-free move no matter if you are relocating in winter or even in the rainy season. And if you prepare yourself in advance, you will adjust to a new state and surroundings with ease.
Tips for Moving to a Cold Climate
When it comes to moving to a cold climate, aside from regular relocation actions you must take, you must consider a few extra things. And even though snowstorms, drifty roads, and freezing temperatures may give you some chills, it isn’t all that bad. There are many benefits of living in cool weather (no mosquitoes, for example,) and with our tips, you will make the transition smooth and easy.
Cross-Country Moving to a Cold Climate – How to Prepare Yourself for Wintry Weather
Like in any long-distance moving, a good plan and strategy are all you need to have a successful move. And you can not create your relocation to-do list without proper research. Once you decide where to live, you will have to research the next city, its neighborhoods, schools, and jobs. So far, so ordinary. But you’ll have to include some atmospheric conditions research because relocating to Boston will not be the same as relocating to Alaska.
The weather will be much different, even if it’s chilly in both places. So do your homework and see what other people who have moved to your preferred destination have to say about the conditions and how to prepare. You can sign up to the app Meet up and find someone who has recently moved there and ask them all the questions you may have. You can read people’s reviews on AreaVibes, Reddit, or Quora or post a new topic and see what answer you will get.
Prepare Cold Weather Essentials
Whether you are relocating to Los Angeles or Wyoming, relocation essentials are a must-have when moving cross country. As you may know, your belongings may not be available for some period, which means you must have some items for a normal life. Pack a bag of essentials for each family member, like you are going on a short vacation. And aside from the regular things, you will need some belongings for cold weather. Here are the things you must include:
- Blankets or electric blankets,
- Gloves, hats, scarfs, and sweaters,
- Pair of warm socks,
- Boots,
- Warm parkas or jackets,
- Lip balm and hand cream,
- Hairdryer.
Check the Road Conditions on Your Way
Since you still don’t know how to live in cold weather, let alone how to drive, maybe the best solution for you would be to take an auto shipping service from your cross-country moving company. If you are not feeling confident enough to drive through snowy mountain roads, leave that to professionals, and in time you will learn how to adjust to cold weather (and drive in such conditions as well).
On the other hand, if you decide to drive to your new destination, ensure to check the conditions on the road. Sometimes the snow blizzards are so intense even professional truck drivers can not pass through. No matter if you decide to transport your car or not, checking the conditions can be useful, so you know will your belongings will get there on time or not. Either way, when packing, one of the best tips is to pack your belongings as if they will be in storage units because this can easily be one of the unexpected situations. If you don’t know how to pack your belongings properly, hiring professional packing services is just the solution you need.
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Prepare Your Car for Snowy Conditions
As we mentioned, you can decide to ship your car or drive there alone, but you will have to prepare your car for wintry conditions in both case scenarios. You will need antifreeze (to prevent water from freezing,) thinner oil, snow tires, and chains. If you are driving, be careful, watch out for black ice, and ensure to have a wintry kit in case you get stuck in a blizzard. Here are the things to add to your first aid kit:
- Shovels,
- Sleep bags,
- Water and snacks,
- Flashlights,
- Ice scraper and brush,
- Jumper cables,
- Whistle,
- Emergency flares.
Get Professional Cross Country Movers to Help You
As you know, selling a house without an agent can be dreadful. So is relocating without a long-distance moving company, especially if you’re relocating across the country and even more if it is to a chilly climate state. You will want to have professional long-distance moving services at your disposal. Knowing the road conditions and packing belongings properly will be hard in the best of circumstances, and you can imagine the impact of occasional blizzards and extreme conditions. So don’t make relocation to a new state unnecessarily difficult and hire cross-country moving services because the only chill you should get is from low temperatures, not an extreme danger.
You Will Need Extra Protective Materials When Packing
When it comes to packing tips and tricks, all professional long-distance movers will tell you to use high-quality packing materials and not be skimpy with them. When wrapping your stuff, double it down, and we are not talking only about your fragile items but your pots and pans, electric devices, and other delicates. Use extra padding between each layer in boxes. When it comes to furniture made of wood or leather, ensure to use the right materials on them – never wrap wood or leather in plastic. As we mentioned, there is a chance your belongings end up in storage or be on the road for a couple of days, and plastic can damage wood and leather.
What to Expect Once You Relocate
The winter is coming, and we truly mean that. If you romanticize the snowy conditions to be like some Christmas movie theme with gingerbread and hot cocoa, you will be surprised. The conditions will be more similar to Game of Thrones than to the cinnamon bar aroma. And we are not trying to go all-out Grinch on you but prepare you for what’s coming your way. And once you learn how to acclimate to cold weather, you will enjoy happy Christmas moments with your family and friends without thinking about these things.
Wintry Conditions Means Higher Bills
State of choice will be a big factor in this. As you know, relocating to Alaska, where it’s insanely cold all year round, also means higher bills for heating. On the other hand, Boston has cold winters, but summers are warm. So depending on the state you’re relocating to, some electric and gas bills may be higher.
Be Prepared for Extra Chores Around the House
If anything, freezing, snowy conditions will make you lose some weight. It’s true your energy consumption will be higher because your body will try to stay warm all the time you’re outside. And be prepared for a lot of outside activities. You will have to shovel the snow each morning and sometimes during the day.
Practice Snow Driving
If you’ve never driven on a snowy road, brace yourself for an exciting experience. Driving on snowy and icy roads will require some practice and guidance. The car will behave differently, and your commands and reaction times will have to change. For example, there is no sudden braking on ice – you will lose control of your vehicle entirely. Also, take extra care when driving in a blizzard. Do not speed because you will not be able to slow down and stop in time if there’s an obstacle. Once you relocate, practice your driving or take some classes. This can save lives.
Buy All Winter Gear After Relocating to a Wintry State
One of the things to do after relocating is to go and buy some gear for snow. That will be a smart move because you will save yourself the trouble of buying new things beforehand and packing them. Also, there is a higher chance you will get cheaper and better quality clothes in the state you are going to. More shops will be equipped with clothing for these conditions even if you are relocating to a small town. Buy warm boots with waterproof rubber soles and have warm fur inside. Also, when buying clothing, pay attention to fabric, not style. Buy clothing from natural materials or synthetic materials that are made especially for these conditions.
Help Your Kids Acclimatize
If you are relocating with kids, especially younger children, you will have to explain how to protect themselves when the temperature is freezing. They will not know how to protect the face, chin, neck, hands, and nose from freezing. They will have to get used to wearing layers of clothing, as well as hats and scarves. Also, kids will love the snow, but they will not know to tell you when it is enough and when they are freezing, so you will have to remind them to come inside.
And Your Pets, Too
Your pets will have a hard time too. If you are relocating with a dog who got used to spending a lot of time outside, you will have to get him used to indoors. Buy some indoor toys he can play with to keep him occupied. And don’t forget to buy some winter gear for him too. The dog can catch a flue as easily as you.
Winterize Your Home
If you have arrived at your new home before really low temperatures, you will have time to winterize your home. First, you need to check if everything is working properly – gas, electricity, and water. Check if pipes have extra isolation to prevent freezing. Also, see if your house and windows have good isolation as well. Change the filters in your furnace and clean gutters from leaves so the snow can easily melt. Also, make sure to check your roof and whether it needs some protection from snow and ice. If you have a fireplace, clean your chimney before lighting a fire. Prepare some road salt to have in your garage so unexpected snow won’t keep you at home. Check this video for more tips.
Last but Not Least, Learn to Enjoy the Outside
Once you’re all settled in your new home, you may start feeling depression after relocation, which is normal, and it happens to most people who move. But it can be even harder once you’re in a snowy state where the day is finished at 4 pm. This will probably be the hardest thing to get used to, but don’t worry. There are ways to overcome these blue feelings. And the trick is to force yourself to go outside. Maybe this is not your cup of tea but give it a chance. There are plenty of activities you can do, from skiing, snowboarding, sliding, sledding, and snowballing to drinking an egg punch or enjoying a class of The Hot Toddy. Even a simple walk on snow can be exhilarating and relaxing. Just decide not to stay in the house and make the most of every day.
