Will Movers Move in the Rain?

You found the new home of your dreams.

You hired a top-notch mover, spent weeks packing, and made tons of arrangements with schools, utility companies, and realtors.

You’ve done everything right, but the evening before moving day, you flip on the nightly weather forecast.

It’s bad news.

An epic storm is headed your way.

Time to panic, right?

Not necessarily.

Moderate rain doesn’t need to shatter your hard-earned peace of mind, but taking a few extra steps will help avoid unnecessary hassles.

So, will movers move in the rain?

Yes…usually.

Before reading on, check out these helpful articles.

• Best Interstate Movers – The moving industry is full of shady players. With so much at stake, hiring a top-rated long-distance mover with verified customer reviews is paramount.
• How much will your move cost? – Our moving cost calculator is a great pre-move resource. Just enter your move dates, origin and destination cities, and the estimated size of your move, and let the magic algorithms do the rest.
• Consider moving containers – It’s simple. You load and unload, leave the driving to professionals and save big bucks. These are the best moving container companies.

Communication is Key

Good communication is key to smooth moves.

However, rain and other storms sometimes rear their ugly heads at the last minute.

In cases like these, simply rescheduling your move may not be an option.

This is especially true if you’re relocating during the peak season (between June and August), when most movers are booked to capacity.

If heavy rain is likely on move day, don’t hesitate to call your mover and express your concerns.

As professionals, they should have plenty of experience working in less than ideal conditions.

Generally, they’ll decide if proceeding with your move makes sense based on –

• The storm’s expected duration and severity
• Whether or not crewmembers will be more likely to get injured
• The likelihood of damage to your residence and/or household goods

If the crew is already working when the rain starts, they may need to stop and wait until conditions improve.

Since interstate move costs are based on weight, mileage, and additional services like packing and unpacking, delays won’t result in additional charges.

On the other hand, you may be charged for downtime when moving locally and paying by the hour.

During the pre-move screening process, ask each prospective moving company about –

• Their inclement weather policy
• Whether you’ll be required to pay for waiting time caused by bad weather
• What precautions they’ll take to prevent water damage to your home and household goods
• Their policy for moves that need to be rescheduled or cancelled
• What their valuation (insurance) will cover if your items sustain water damage

Always ask for this information in writing before signing an order for service.

Prepare your home or apartment

Whether hiring full-service movers or doing a DIY move, it’s important to prepare for bad weather before it shows up.

Nothing can turn a good move into a nightmare more quickly than heavy rain, stained carpets, and injuries.

Bad weather move preparations include –

• Getting the moving truck as close to your home as possible
• Making sure walk boards (loading ramps) have sufficient traction when wet
• Checking that everyone is wearing suitable boots or shoes
• Keeping the interior of the moving truck as dry as possible
• Covering carpets and hardwood floors with cardboard, fabric “rug runners,” or adhesive plastic wrap

Using old towels and sheets in foyers can help prevent water and mud from being tracked inside, but they can cause trips and falls too.

Depending on your crew size, you may want to use the “assembly line” method of moving.

This involves some movers staying outside and staging furniture and boxes in the foyer or garage while inside workers take them to the correct rooms.

Did You Know?

Even relatively new moving trucks and trailers can leak during torrential downpours.

Protect your furniture from rain

It’s best to pad furniture inside your home before carrying it to the moving truck.

However, pads can make large items difficult to carry.

If padding inside isn’t an option, drape a folded “wet pad” over each item to absorb moisture.

Just remember to reserve a few pads for this purpose, so only a limited number get wet, and keep a few old towels in the truck to dry each piece off before covering it with dry pads.

Insider’s Tip

Especially in the rain, upholstered furniture like sofas and loveseats should be shrink-wrapped before carrying them to the truck.

How to move mattresses in the rain

It’s worth taking extra precautions when moving mattresses and boxsprings in the rain.

Especially if you’re moving cross-country or into a storage unit, even small amounts of moisture can ruin pricy bedding.

To avoid this, it’s best to wrap both in plastic mattress bags, then thoroughly dry them off in the truck before putting them inside mattress cartons.

Full-service movers should provide mattress cartons on all interstate moves and some local moves, but you’ll need to buy them yourself on DIY moves.

Insider’s Tip

When it’s raining, don’t pack mattresses and box springs in cartons inside the house. Instead, pack them in mattress bags, then into cartons on the truck once they’ve been dried off.

How to protect appliances and electronics from the rain

When moving appliances in the rain, strap them to an appliance dolly and drape a “wet pad” over them between your home and the truck.

Inside the truck, dry them off with a towel, then pad them with dry pads.

With electronics, you’ll need to plan ahead since they should be packed long before move day.

To keep them dry in the event of heavy rain –

• Wrap them in plastic bags
• Pack them in their original cartons if you have them
• Pack them inside dish-pack cartons
• Make sure to add layers of crumpled paper for padding on the top and bottom.
• Seal the top and bottom of cartons with tape
• Label them – DO NOT GET WET
• Drape a sheet of plastic or a wet pad over them when carrying them to the truck
• Be careful not to set them in a wet area.
• Load boxes of electronics on top of dressers away from the truck’s walls and doors

Make sure boxes are properly sealed

Plastic totes are better options than cardboard boxes when moving in the rain, especially for absorbent items like clothes and bedding.

Corrugated moving containers are like sponges in rainy conditions, and once wet, they can take forever to dry.

If most of your items are packed in standard boxes –

• Make sure they’re adequately taped
• Cover them with a folded pad or a plastic trash bag before carrying them out
• Be careful not to stack them in wet areas

Did You Know?

Mold and mildew can form when wet items are packed into a truck or trailer for extended periods like on long-distance moves.

Your responsibilities

Other than the aforementioned tips, there’s not much you can do if it rains on move day.

With snow and ice, however, there’s plenty you can and should do.

During wintery weather, you’ll be responsible for –

• Clearing snow and ice from driveways and sidewalks before the movers arrive
• Applying sand or salt if ice is continuously forming
• Periodically shoveling snow and ice throughout the day if bad weather persists
• Make sure the movers have access to your new home or apartment

Last-minute tips for moving in the rain

• Periodically dry off walk boards
• Wear gloves with rubberized palms for extra grip
• Get the truck as close to your home or apartment as possible
• Cover furniture and boxes with “wet towels” before carrying them to the truck
• Stop working and seek shelter when you see lightning
• Use cardboard, rug runners, or plastic wrap to cover the flooring
• Clearly, label items that shouldn’t get wet
• Wait until the rain stops before moving sensitive items like artwork, electronics, and important documents.
• Use the “assembly line” method to keep your home clean
• Lift wet boxes from the bottom, so they don’t tear open
• Load sensitive items off the ground and away from truck doors

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do movers move furniture in the rain?

High-quality movers should cover your household goods with pads and/or plastic wrap, protect your floors and work in an assembly line to minimize the risk of damage to your residence and household goods. an

Do movers cancel because of rain?

Most moving companies won’t cancel a move due to moderate rain. However, during hurricanes, tornadoes, and other extreme weather episodes, they will.

Is it bad luck to move in the rain?

Not really, but it can make the moving process more stressful and increase the likelihood of damage and injuries. Just watch out for black cats, and don’t break any mirrors.

Will movers move in a flood or a hurricane?

Nearly all movers will cancel and reschedule moves during extreme weather like tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, and ice, snow, and hail storms.