Tips for Moving to a Cold Country

What you can expect to discover in this week’s home moving blog:

• Tips for Moving to a Cold Country
• What to Buy When Moving to a Cold Climate
• 10 Must-Haves for Living in a Cold Country

The bad often comes with the good and if you are thinking of moving to Europe, many countries there experience very hot summers followed by very harsh winters.

Where I live it is not unusual for it to be 40+ in the summer and -20 with a metre or more of snow in the winter.

Living in such extremes can take some getting used to and also some serious planning and preparation.

But what you will find is that the country you are moving to is geared up to deal with harsh winters and rarely will it stop you going about your daily business.

So if you are planning on moving to a cold country, or a country that has very cold winters, then this week’s home moving blog will have some invaluable tips for you.

You may also like to read: International Home Moves – The Ultimate Home Moving Challenge? Every home move has its own challenges but when it comes to moving overseas there are so many things to take into consideration. In this guide, we help you navigate a move abroad.

Tips for Moving to a Cold Climate

If you are moving abroad and it is unavoidable that you are doing so in the winter months, here are some tips to make the move safer and easier.

1. Hire a Good International Removal Company
2. Take as Few Possessions as Possible
3. Use a Professional Packing Service
4. Consider Your Own Method of Transport
5. Stock Up on Skin Creams
6. Avoid Moving in the Winter Months

#1 Hire a Good International Removal Company

It is essential that you have the help of a good removal company when moving abroad. The paperwork required post-Brexit is often complex and confusing and the removal firm you hire should be familiar with exactly what is required.

It is possible to get your own van and drive yourself if you are moving to Europe (I did this myself and although it was an amazing experience driving across Europe there were times when it was no fun at all, including several breakdowns, and it was exhausting). Consider that you will have a right-hand drive vehicle, that it is a legal requirement to have winter tyres fitted, and that you may need snow chains. By the time you have paid fuel, insurance, hotels, and the multitude of tolls, it is often not cost-effective anyway.

Leave the physical move to the professionals, it will make your relocation so much less stressful.

You may also like to read: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing a Good Removal Company. Choosing the right removal company is essential for a safe and stress-free relocation. In this guide, we take you step-by-step through the process of finding the right movers for your home move.

#2 Take as Few Possessions as Possible

The fewer items you move, the cheaper your relocation costs will be. Often, properties abroad come furnished and even if your new home is not, it will likely be cheaper to buy your household goods in the country than pay to pack and ship them.

Although you can get adapters so that your electrical items work abroad, in my experience they soon burn out, it is a temporary measure only. It is not usually worth the risk to bring your UK appliances overseas, just buy them in your destination country so that you know they are regulated for the local electrical system.

Also, be mindful of what customs restrictions there are, each country is different and your removal company will be able to advise you on what they can and cannot transport.

#3 Hire a Professional Packing Service

It is often the case that to comply with customs clearance a fully itemized inventory of all your goods is required. A professional packing team will not only efficiently and safely pack your things but will know the exact information customs require and can complete the appropriate paperwork as they pack each box.

Note that often insurers will not cover items you have packed yourself, this is especially true for overseas moves.

You may also like to read: Are Home Packing Services Worth The Money? Hiring professional packers will be the best money you spend during your home move. Here we find out why.

#4 Consider Your Own Method of Transport

Many people choose to drive their UK car to their new country but this needs careful consideration.

Aside from the issues that we highlighted in the previous section, your destination country may well charge you to import the car permanently.

The cost of transferring all the documents, re-registering the car, and tackling the mountain of bureaucracy you will face is reason enough to get rid of your vehicle before you move. 

Once you realise how difficult it is having a right-hand drive in a left-hand drive country you will soon want to sell your vehicle, only to discover it is almost worthless to the locals.

It may make more sense to fly or go by train, then get a taxi to your new home. You could of course hire a car in-country but if you are unfamiliar with driving in icy or snowy conditions then the risk is usually not worth it.

If you are arriving late at night then get a hotel for the night and go to your new home the next morning, driving in the snow, at night, on unfamiliar roads, with unfamiliar road signs is asking for trouble. Believe me, I have made that mistake!

You may also like to read: International Car Shipping – Your Questions Answered. In this guide, we look at every aspect of moving your vehicle overseas so that you can decide if it is really worth it in your case.

#5 Stock Up on Skin Creams

If you have any allergies and can only use certain skin creams then check that you can buy them in-country before you move. If not then you may want to stock up on them before you move because the cold may play havoc with your skin.

It is also worth noting that courier costs and import taxes have skyrocketed post-Brexit, another good reason to get stocked up before you come, just be mindful that you are complying with customs regulations when bringing them into the country.

#6 Avoid Moving in the Winter Months

Finally, if at all possible avoid moving home in the winter months, as we will discover later, there is a lot of preparation needed to get through a harsh winter, and being thrown in at the deep end will make your first few months abroad memorable for maybe the wrong reasons.

Life will not come to a standstill just because it is snowing and freezing cold. The locals are used to it and will carry on as normal. So as I found, the builders thought nothing of removing the old roof on the house and leaving plastic sheeting in place for days when it was minus 20 and there was over a metre of snow in 2 days. With no form of heating, surrounded by moving boxes, no roof, and one habitable room it was an interesting initiation to what a real winter was like.

Make life easier for yourself and move in the months when there will be better weather.

What to Buy When Moving to a Cold Country

Buy nothing. There are a couple of reasons for this.

1. The less you have to pack and move the cheaper your moving costs will be, and winter kit is bulky which will take up a huge amount of space.
2. The winter puffer jacket you can buy in fashion shops in the UK will be no good in the extreme cold. Even most specialist shops will not sell clothes that have the same tog rating as those in a country that experiences proper winters.

Wait till you get to your destination country before buying your winter kit. The shops there will sell clothes that are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and will often be cheaper than in the UK.

Be sure to factor into your moving budget all the winter kit you are going to need, which is not cheap, but is essential for comfortable living.

10 Must-Haves for Living in a Cold Country

The cold, snow, and ice that you will face is chalk and cheese compared with a UK winter. 2cm of snow will not bring your new country to a standstill and minus 5 will be a pleasant temperature to be outside in.

And the reason why you will almost carry on as normal is because the country is prepared to deal with those conditions, as you will learn to be.

There are some essential items for living in a cold climate that you will need and some things you should do to prepare for the winter.

#1 Invest in Layers of Clothing

Layering your clothes allows you to regulate your body temperature and will prevent sweat from forming. It is essential that you wear a wicking base layer to draw sweat away from your skin as sweating can actually make you feel colder.

The mid-layer is designed to keep you warm and trap warm air between the layers of material.

Your top layer should protect you from snow, ice, wind, and rain.

A hat and scarf will prevent a lot of heat from escaping from your body whilst mittens are considered the best way to keep your hands warm.

A buff or scarf is also useful for protecting your face from windburn and cold damage.

High, waterproof boots with deep grips on the soles, coupled with thermal socks complete your ensemble.

#2Winterise Your Home

Whilst heating costs are lower than in the UK generally, there are plenty of ways you can make your home warmer and winter-proof to get those bills as low as possible.

• Thick curtains over windows and doors will keep the heat in and draughts out.
• Bubble wrap is another great way to insulate your windows and glass doors.
• Lay thick rugs over the floors, often houses abroad have tiled or wooden floors to keep the home cool in summer, but they make the home cold in the winter.
• Clear the gutters of leaves because they may overflow and cause water damage to your walls.
• Many homes are heated by log burners so get the chimneys swept to prevent any risk of fire.
• Wear thick socks and slippers at home
• Many Europeans will live in one room during the winter, often the one with the fire, to save having to heat the whole house.
• Air conditioning is often the cheapest way to heat a room so ensure that any air conditioning units are serviced and have had the filters cleaned for optimum efficiency.

#3 Heating Fuel

Ensure that you have a good supply of wood, oil, or gas bottles if that is how your new home is heated. If you get a really bad winter you may not get supplies delivered for days.

Buying wood for the fire out of season is usually the cheapest time to buy it.

Once seasoned bring the wood as close to the front door as possible, it is no fun drudging through the snow to get wood every day, and ensure it is well protected from the snow and rain.

It is also worth having a backup source of heating as sometimes the snow can bring down powerlines and cause power cuts.

#4 Pest Control

Rats and mice will find the warmest places they can to bed down in the winter. As I found out a few years ago, rats love to sleep under your car bonnet and will eat every electrical wire they can find in the process. Use every pest deterrent and control measure you can find, it may just save you thousands in repair costs.

#5 Snow Shovels

Snow shovels are essential not only for the home but also for your car. That said be very cautious, shoveling snow is heavy work and requires a good level of physical fitness.

#6 House Survival Kit

Depending upon where you relocate to, you may find that heavy snow results in power cuts. It is worth therefore having a home survival kit for such an event.

This could include a generator, candles, a radio, power banks, blankets, sleeping bags, torches, spare batteries, games, and hot water bottles. If the power cuts are frequent and long it is also worth investing in some portable solar panels for charging your phone and power banks.

It is also worth having a gas bottle cooker, camping stove, or wood-fired oven as a backup for long outages.

#7 Winter Tyres

Winter tyres are a game changer. They allow you to drive in conditions that previously you would have thought too dangerous. Of course, you still need to drive appropriately, but they make driving in ice and snow so much easier.

In many countries, it is a legal requirement that winter tyres are fitted during the entire winter season. But they are not cheap so budget accordingly.

#8 Car Winter Survival Kit

Most countries that experience very cold winters with snow are well prepared and the roads usually remain clear but it is worth having an emergency kit in your car just in case.

Having the usual high-viz vest, warning triangle, fire extinguisher, and spare light bulb type kit is mandatory in most countries but it is also worth carrying a few extra items such as:

• Anti-freeze
• Washer fluid
• Water
• Snacks
• Blankets
• Spare clothing
• Snow shovel
• Battery booster

If you live in a remote area you may also think about carrying a tow rope. Often the snow brings down branches and trees and a tow rope will allow you to drag them off the road so you can carry on your journey.

#9 Sun Lamp

Some people find the winter depressing and need the sun to boost their mental well-being. Whilst many winter days can be snow-covered but beautiful and sunny, some people use a sun lamp that artificially creates the illusion of the sun to boost their mood.

#10 Positive State of Mind

The most important thing to have in a cold country is a positive state of mind. With the right clothing and can-do attitude, the snow and ice will not stop you from doing most things.

And remember that your garden badly needs the cold weather to kill off the bugs and the water to replenish the parched earth.

The winter months are usually spectacularly beautiful. The countryside takes on a whole new perspective and gives you the opportunity to see everything in a new way.

Winters abroad tend not to be damp like in the UK and despite being considerably colder there is not the same amount of winter rain which makes everything so depressing.

You can use the shorter days to start an indoor hobby or to get those indoor jobs done.

You may also like to read: How to Bring Positive Energy to Your New Home. Every country has different superstitions and folklore, some of which are said to bring good luck to a new home. Here we look at a selection of the most popular ways to bring good luck and positive energy to your new home.

Use the winter months to plan your garden or plan excursions because the spring and summer will come in no time.

Think of the winter as an opportunity to start a new sport like skiing or ice climbing, rather than an excuse to live like a recluse for the whole winter.

There are usually many activities and festivals planned for the winter months so there is no excuse not to get out and enjoy the fun.

Winter is also a great time to recharge your own batteries with a hot chocolate and a good book while sitting in front of a roaring fire as the snow piles up outside your windows.

Just make sure you stocked up on plenty of wood and it is well seasoned.

When you live abroad every season seems to be magical, to have a charm each of its own. Moving to a colder climate can be just as exciting and life-enhancing as moving to a tropical climate.

Good luck moving to your winter wonderland!