How Do I Plan a Winter Move in Utah?

Set your move date from your closing and possession dates, and keep both homes warm and cleared of snow until you are fully moved. Book movers early, start in the morning, and keep a backup day in case a storm rolls in.

I am Delia Bayna, a REALTOR with eXp Realty in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). A winter move in Utah takes a little more planning than a summer one. Here is how I help downsizers plan one, from the contract to the first night.

Two dates shape a winter move. The first is closing, when the sale is final. The second is possession, the day the buyer gets the keys. Your purchase contract sets the possession date, and it is not always the same day as closing.

Know both dates before you call a mover. If you are buying your next home at the same time, there is a third date to fit in. My posts on how long you have to move out after closing and buying and selling at the same time explain how those dates can work together, including a rent-back if you need a few more days in the house.

Until the buyer has the keys, the house is still yours to look after. In winter, that means a few extra jobs:

• Keep the furnace running at a normal temperature, even after the furniture is gone, so the pipes do not freeze.
• Keep the walks and driveway shoveled. The buyer's final walk-through may come right after a storm.
• Make sure the sprinklers were blown out before the freeze. If they were not, ask your agent whose job the contract makes it.
• Leave a light or two on timers, so the house does not sit dark.

Keep your homeowner's insurance until the sale has closed and the buyer has possession. Ask your insurance agent exactly when to stop it.

Call the power, gas, and water companies a week or two ahead, so service is on in your name on move-in day. A cold house on moving day is a hard way to start.

Find out who clears the snow. In a condo or townhome, the HOA may handle the walks, so ask before you arrive. In a house, have a shovel and a bag of ice melt waiting by the door, or line up a snow removal company.

If your new home sits up on the bench or on a steep street, tell the movers when you book. Ask them how they handle a big truck on a snowy hill, so nobody finds out on moving morning.

Book your movers as soon as you know your dates. When you get estimates, ask each company what happens if a storm hits on moving day. Do they reschedule, and is there a fee? Get the answer in writing.

Start the move in the morning, so the work finishes in daylight. Pick a backup day too, and leave a little room between moving out and the possession date if your contract allows it. That way a storm costs you a day and nothing more.

A senior move manager can help with the planning and packing. My post on how to move without wearing yourself out covers packing and moving day step by step.

Moving day is hard on pups. Doors stay open, strangers carry boxes, and the yard is full of snow and salt. Have a friend or a sitter keep them for the day, and bring them to the new home once the doors are shut.

Houseplants and anything that can freeze ride in your car, not the truck. So do your medications, your important papers, and a warm coat. If family is helping, give each person one job, and send someone ahead to turn up the heat at the new place.

Pick the possession date with the weather in mind, before you sign. Then work backward: book the movers, set up the utilities, and line up snow help at both homes. Build in one spare day, and keep the last week light.

I am a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, and I plan the sale and the move together from the start. I call and email every client every Friday, from the day we start until after closing, so the closing date and the moving date never surprise you. Once you arrive, my list for the first week in your new home picks up where this one ends.

If you are still choosing a season, read whether you can list over the holidays. You can see how I line up the sale and the next home on my downsizing page, and what that looks like here in downsizing in Salt Lake City.

Is it a bad idea to move in the winter in Utah?

No, with a plan. Move in the morning, keep both homes warm and clear, and have a backup day.

Do I need to keep the heat on after I move out?

Yes, until the buyer has possession. A cold, empty house can freeze its pipes.

What if a storm hits on moving day?

Ask your movers before you book what they do in a storm. A backup day and a little room before the possession date keep a storm from turning into a crisis.

Can I stay in the house a few days after closing?

Sometimes. A rent-back lets you stay for an agreed time after closing. It has to be written into the contract, so talk with your agent before you sign.

This article is general information and is not legal advice. Your purchase contract sets your closing and possession dates, so ask your agent or a Utah real estate attorney about the terms of yours.