In a torrential, hurricane-style downpour, you might be best off rescheduling your move. However, it’s perfectly feasible to move in light to moderate rain as long as you take a few precautions. Here are some ideas for protecting yourself, your helpers, and your possessions during a rainy-day move.
1. Make Sure Everyone Has Proper Footwear
One of the biggest hazards of moving in the rain is the risk of slipping and falling on wet ground. Even if the ground does not seem slippery when you walk across it, when there’s rain there’s an increased chance of sliding around when you’re carrying a cumbersome box and are unable to see your feet.
To prevent slipping, make sure you and all of your helpers wear shoes with rubber soles during the move. Flip-flops and sandals are just not smart choices. If you have hiking shoes with a Gore-Tex sole, those are a great choice; sneakers are a safe bet too.
2. Set Up an Assembly Line
Having numerous helpers track rain and mud into the house will make your floors slippery and create a lot of clean-up work. You can minimize the mess by setting up an assembly line. Have a few people stationed out by the moving truck to put items inside, and have others hand items out the door while staying indoors as much as possible.
3. Use Mats to Your Advantage
From time to time, your outdoor helpers probably will come in to grab something or help carry a heavy piece of furniture. Set out some non-slip, absorbent mats on the floor in the entryway. Keep an extra set on hand so that if one mat gets messy early in the day, you can replace it with a new one. You can often find cheap non-slip mats at the dollar store, and they’re durable enough for one-time moving use.
4. Stock Up on Tarps
Head to your local home improvement store and buy a couple of the biggest tarps you can find. Drape the tarps over large, vulnerable pieces of furniture like mattresses and couches before you carry them out to the moving truck. Since it is hard to place a wet tarp on a piece of furniture without getting the furniture wet, try to buy as many tarps as you have large pieces of furniture.
In a pinch, you can often cover a piece of furniture with a heavy blanket rather than a tarp. As long as rain isn’t pouring and you move quickly, you can generally get the furniture to the moving truck before the water soaks through the blanket.
5. Buy a Few Plastic Totes
Purchase a couple of plastic totes with lids, and use these to hold anything that is overly susceptible to moisture damage—such as nice artwork or photographs. This way, you do not have to worry about these items getting ruined if it suddenly starts pouring as they’re carried to the truck.
6. Park As Close to the Building As Possible
If you are renting a moving truck and driving yourself, make sure you park as close to the building as possible. Things won’t get as wet if you only have to carry them a short distance in the rain. Do make sure the surface you park on is sound. Soggy grass may not support the weight of your moving truck, and you might end up stuck.
If you hire a moving company, make sure the area closest to your main door is clear so they can park as close as possible. Move patio furniture, trash cans, and other items that may be obstructions.
7. Keep the Cleaning Bucket Handy
No matter how careful you are to avoid tracking moisture inside, it’s almost certain to happen at some point during the move. Leave the floor dirty, and you’ll either not get your full security deposit from your landlord or anger the person who moves into your home next. Keep a cleaning bucket out so that once everything is packed into the moving truck, you can give the floors a good once-over before you pull away.
8. Watch the Loading Ramp
One of the most hazardous parts of moving in the rain can be going up a slippery loading ramp into the moving truck. Most moving trucks have textured ramps to prevent slipping, but if you notice the ramp is slick, try putting a few no-slip shower mats down to prevent accidents. You could also pour some sand onto the ramp to add texture, but use this as a last resort, since sand makes a mess.
With the tips above, you should be able to safely navigate a move during the rain. Unpredictable weather is one reason many people choose to hire a professional moving company like Bekins. Professional movers are used to working in all sorts of weather, and they know just how to get your items to your new place in good shape.
