Moving in January? Winter Moving Tips for Renters to Save Money and Stress
✨ Key Points
January moves are tougher due to cold, ice, and short days—but smart planning makes them totally manageable.
Weatherproofing your move is everything, from better packing materials to prepping movers and entryways.
The moving in January pros and cons are real—but the off-season payoff shines with lower rent, cheaper movers, and way more scheduling flexibility.
Moving out in January can be a fresh but unpredictable start.
Naturally, it comes with challenges like braving the cold, but it also comes with some noteworthy benefits.
This article will explore what you need to know when moving in January.
You’ll learn how to move during the off-peak season to save time and money for a smooth transition.
Moving in January (Challenges and Considerations for Renters)
Before making your big move in January, you need to consider the following challenges and issues with the plan.
You can also use a moving checklist for renters to make sure you won’t forget any essentials.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Hazardous Weather and Driving Conditions
Your main concerns will likely be snow, ice, or freezing rain, which cause slippery sidewalks & stairs that increase your potential to injure yourself.
The moving in January pros and cons really show up on the road—snow and ice can slow travel or delay your movers, so always monitor forecasts and have a backup plan ready.
2. Limited Daylight and Colder Temperatures
Days in January have shorter daylight hours than in other months.
This limits the time for loading, driving, and unloading, and usually causes drivers to start their day early so as to finish before it gets dark.
Traveling during low-light conditions is unsafe and more physically demanding. In addition, the colder temperatures make your hands go numb and slow you down.
This makes the entire process of loading/unloading and traveling even more tiring and requires many additional breaks to warm up.
3. The Critical Need for Pre-Arranged Utilities
This is an all-year problem; it is a crisis in the winter when you have no working heat.
When you arrive at a freezing apartment without heat (or electricity), your pipes will freeze and burst, creating a dangerous situation for you.
One of the biggest moving in January pros and cons is utilities—always confirm heat, electricity, and water are active before you arrive, never after.
4. Disruption During the School and Work Year
You are likely to find it more difficult to schedule a January move than a July or August move, since the school year is already underway and many people have established their work cycles.
This may also result in increased pressure on families, as they will be required to make the necessary relocation arrangements at the same time their daily routines and obligations are already established.
5. Post-Holiday Fatigue and Logistics
You may have to pack during January after a time-consuming holiday season that included many expenses.
In addition, you may be tired from all the activity, have limited funds for moving, and be at a slower pace of life in the wake of the holidays.
Furthermore, having to take back gifts or deal with new items acquired during the holidays could add additional, unanticipated tasks to your pre-moving schedule.
Importance of Weatherproofing Your Logistics
Making sure that your relocation is weatherproofed is not an additional task, but is your main strategy to ensure a successful relocation in January.
Proactive protection of your goods, people helping you, and your time frame from harsh conditions of winter is what this is about.
1. Upgrade Your Packing Materials
Avoid using cardboard boxes, which are likely to get soggy, fall apart when exposed to rain or snow, and will not protect your items.
Instead, use plastic storage bins with tight-fitting lids as they will create an impenetrable seal protecting your belongings from water and other elements.
When weighing the moving in January pros and cons, proper protection matters—use stretch wrap and moving blankets to shield furniture from cold, moisture, and bumps.
2. Create a “Moving Day Survival Kit”
Prepare an independent, portable package with the necessary items for the immediate needs of each team member.
The Portable Package will include: high-energy snacks, hot beverages, thermoses, first aid kits, additional hats, gloves, and a spare pair of warm socks.
Also, prepare and store a shovel and/or ice-melt on location.
This package allows the crew to stay energized, warm, and prepared to respond to minor icy obstacles as they arise.
3. Choose and Brief Your Movers Carefully
When hiring a moving company, ask if they have a plan for inclement weather. What is the temperature range for their climate-controlled truck?
Have they ever moved in extremely cold or icy conditions? And do they bring anti-slip materials to prevent falls?
After you hire them, make sure to inform them of how you are going to prepare for bad weather (i.e, salt down certain areas, etc.) so that they know what to expect when they arrive.
4. Master Indoor-Outdoor Transitions
Keep the flooring in your old and new houses safe from melting snow, harmful salt, and mud by covering the main route with large, heavy-duty tarps or canvas drop cloths. If you have them available, use large pieces of carpet for protection and to help prevent falls.
For landlords, one way to protect your home’s interior is to prevent roofing damage with proper gutter upkeep.
At the same time, make sure to put a good-quality doormat at the front door that has a rubber backing to hold water, and place a boot mat outside for shoes.
5. Verify Property Readiness
Your new apartment must be “move-in ready”. You should ask your landlord or property manager before you sign a lease about these specific items: Is the heating unit serviced?
Does the property have a snow removal plan to ensure clear driveways and walkways? Is there adequate weather stripping?
A professional property management company would ensure these issues are addressed when you arrive at your new home, so you can enjoy a warm, safe environment that complies with all codes.
Advantages of Moving in January
While there are some disadvantages of moving so early in the year, there are also some big benefits as well.
These include: lower overall costs and greater scheduling freedom.
1. Cost of Moving (Savings).
Because January is considered the “off-season” for moving, you will receive immediate financial advantages.
Due to less demand for rentals, you should be able to get better pricing on rental costs and lower pricing from moving companies.
- Low Rent Prices: Demand for apartment rentals drops off sharply after the summer peak. According to listing data, you may find rent prices to be 3-5% lower in January than during the peak months, and landlords will generally offer more incentives, such as a month’s free rent or waived fees.
- Lower Moving Expenses: There is much more availability of moving companies. Generally, this leads to a reduction in the hourly rates charged by these companies and/or to discount packages being offered, as they compete for fewer customers.
Since there is more competition among moving companies, it is easier for you to compare prices and negotiate a lower price.
2. Schedule Flexibility (Easy Booking)
You get to control your entire move process with little to no competition, which means you’ll have more scheduling flexibility throughout the entire process.
- Easy Booking: Getting your top choice movers, rental trucks, etc., will be easier than ever because you can book when it’s convenient for you, instead of having to worry about things selling out last minute.
- Ideal Moving Date: Since there is no competition for weekend time slots during peak season (summer), you can pick a moving day that fits into your work and social calendar.
Also note that property management/landlord availability for tours/walk-throughs will increase as well.
Conclusion
January brings its own set of winter-specific challenges when it comes to moving, yet if done correctly, it can be an advantage over other times of the year as well.
A properly planned and executed January move will provide you with lower moving costs, more flexible moving schedules, and avoidance of peak season demand.
For landlords, hire an Arlington rental property management team to ensure common areas are code-compliant and safe before the new tenant arrives.
This guarantees that they enjoy their first impression of the place, kicking off your tenant-landlord relationship on the right foot.
