Moving between November and March in southeastern Pennsylvania is a little different from a June move. The days are short, the driveway might be icy at 7 AM, and the new house has to be warm before anyone carries a couch through the front door.
None of that is a reason to avoid a winter move. Plenty of families in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Lehigh counties move this time of year because a closing date, a new job or a school calendar says so. It just takes a slightly different plan. Here’s the one our crews use, and the one we walk our own friends and family through.
1. Plan your day around the daylight
The biggest difference in a winter move isn’t the cold. It’s the clock. On September 15, Hatfield gets about 12.5 hours of daylight. By December 21 it’s down to about 9.3 hours, and the sun sets at 4:38 PM. When the clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, sunset jumps from about 6:00 PM to about 5:00 PM overnight.
What that means for your move:
- Ask for a morning start. From mid-November through January, a morning start gives the crew the brightest part of the day for loading, driving and unloading.
- Turn on every light you have. Porch lights, garage lights and walkway lights at both homes. If the new home’s outdoor lights are on a timer or a separate switch, find it before move day.
- Get the keys early. If you’re closing the same day, ask your agent whether keys can be released in the morning. An afternoon key handoff in December can mean unloading after dark.
- Think about a two-day plan for big homes. Packing one day and moving the next keeps the heavy lifting inside the daylight window.
2. Make a snow and ice plan for both homes
Movers walk the same path dozens of times on move day, often carrying something heavy that blocks their view of their feet. A clear, dry path is the single best thing you can do for everyone’s safety.
- Shovel and salt the night before and again in the morning, at both homes: driveway, front walk, steps and the spot where the truck will park.
- Keep a bag of ice melt and a shovel by the door instead of packing them. You’ll want them at the new house too.
- Save a wide, flat parking spot for the truck. A sloped, icy driveway is harder on a loaded truck than a level street spot.
- Watch the forecast together. If a real storm is coming, talk with your mover a day or two ahead about the plan. Safety for your family and the crew comes before keeping a time slot.
3. Protect your floors from slush and salt
Wet boots and road salt are tough on hardwood, tile and light carpet. Our crews lay floor runners through the main paths and pad banisters and door jambs on every move, and in winter that matters even more. A few things that help:
- Put a heavy-duty mat outside and inside each door the crew will use.
- Keep a few old towels near the entry for wiping wet dolly wheels and furniture feet.
- Decide ahead of time which door the crew will use, so only one entry gets the traffic.
Here’s more on how our crews protect a home in our white-glove moving service.
4. Pack for the cold, not just the move
Some belongings don’t love sitting in a cold truck. A little extra care keeps them in good shape:
- Electronics: after a cold ride, let TVs, computers and game consoles warm up to room temperature before you plug them in. Condensation can form inside when cold electronics come into a warm room.
- Liquids that can freeze: paint, cleaning supplies and bottled drinks can freeze and split. Move what you need in your car and use up or safely dispose of the rest.
- Wood furniture and instruments: fast temperature swings are hard on wood finishes, pianos and guitars. Blanket wrapping helps, and so does getting them into the warm house first.
- Houseplants: they ride with you in a warm car, not on the truck.
Not sure what to pack first? Our room-by-room packing checklist covers it.
5. Keep the heat on at both houses
- Leave the heat on at the old home until the last box is out and you’ve done your final walkthrough. A cold, empty house with the doors open all day can get colder than you’d expect.
- Have heat running at the new home before move day. Call the utility to start service in your name a week or two ahead. In much of our area that’s PECO, and in the Lehigh Valley it’s usually PPL. Your agent or the seller can confirm.
- Doors will be open a lot. Close interior doors to the rooms you’re not using so the rest of the house stays warm.
6. Work around the holidays and year-end closings
Thanksgiving week, the weeks before Christmas and the last days of December are busy for everyone: closings, family travel, school breaks. A few tips:
- Lock in your move date as soon as your closing date is firm.
- Line up a sitter for kids and pets on move day. Open doors and cold air aren’t fun for anyone small.
- If your closing dates don’t line up, you don’t have to rush. Here’s how move-and-store with vault storage works between homes, and our moving and storage page has the details.
Your winter move week, at a glance
- Two weeks out: set up heat and utilities at the new home, and confirm when you’ll get the keys.
- A few days out: check the forecast, buy ice melt, and pick the entry door and truck spot at both homes.
- The night before: shovel and salt, set out mats and towels, turn on outdoor lights, and pack a warm first-night box with blankets, chargers and the coffee maker.
- Move day: clear the path again in the morning, keep the heat on, and let electronics warm up before plugging them in.
For the full week-by-week plan, see our 8-week moving checklist and our move-week game plan.
Questions about a winter move? We’re happy to help.
We’ve loaded trucks in the snow and know what a winter move in this area takes. If you have a question about timing, weather or getting your home ready, give us a call at (215) 622-8140 or visit betterchoicemoving.com. When you’re ready, you can schedule a free estimate or book your move online.
About the daylight chart: sunrise and sunset times were calculated for Hatfield, PA (40.28° N, 75.30° W) using the NOAA solar equations. Times in the rest of our service area differ by only a minute or two.