If you’re planning to move house in Wicklow between now and the New Year, book your date as early as you possibly can and build a weather buffer into your plan. The weeks either side of Christmas are our busiest of the year, and they’re also the weeks most likely to get hit by ice, wind warnings or short daylight that push a moving day back. The earlier you lock in a date, the more room you have to deal with whatever winter throws at it.
Why Late November Through Early January Is the Tightest Window of the Year
There’s a run every year, starting around late November, where everyone seems to want the same thing: moved in before Christmas, or moved out before a lease ends on 1 January. Tenancies tend to turn over at month end, sales close before the holidays so people can start the new year in the new place, and landlords want properties cleared and re-let before the new tax year. All of that lands in our diary at the same time, which means the good dates, especially Fridays and the last week before Christmas, get taken fast. If you’re thinking “I’ll sort it in December”, you’re already behind the people who called in October.
The Weather Factor Most People Don’t Plan For
Wicklow isn’t Dublin. Once you’re up around the Sally Gap, the Wicklow Gap or anywhere along the higher stretches near Roundwood and Laragh, a cold snap can mean the road is simply not passable for a van with a full load. We’ve seen moves in these areas need a rethink at short notice because of black ice on untreated rural roads, long before anything is bad enough to make the news.
Lower down, the risk is different. Arklow and Wicklow town both have areas close to the river that can be affected by flooding or standing water after heavy rain, and that can make access to a property difficult even if the move itself is straightforward. Coastal spots like Greystones and Bray get battered by wind off the sea, which matters more than people expect when you’re carrying wardrobes and mattresses up an exposed driveway or along an exposed terrace.
None of this means don’t move in winter. It means build in a day or two of flexibility either side of your date if you can, and talk to whoever you’re hiring about what the backup plan is if a status orange warning lands on your moving day.
What Actually Causes Delays on a Winter Move
In our experience, it’s rarely one big dramatic thing. It’s usually a combination of small things that add up on a day when you’ve got less daylight and less margin to begin with.
- Short daylight: it’s dark by half four in December, so a move that overruns by an hour can mean finishing a job in the dark, which slows everyone down and raises the risk of someone dropping something or missing a step on an icy path.
- Icy driveways and steps: older houses in Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town often have granite steps or narrow granite-sett paths that hold frost long after the main road has thawed.
- Parking restrictions: town centre areas in Bray and Greystones can be tight for a removals van at the best of times, and permit or loading bay issues cause more lost time than people expect.
- Not clearing out first: attics, sheds and garages left “to sort on the day” are the single biggest reason a job runs long. Clear what you’re not keeping before moving day, not during it.
- Underestimating access at the new place: a narrow country lane, a steep gravel drive, or a gate that doesn’t quite fit the van width all need to be flagged in advance, not discovered on arrival.
Book Early, and Be Honest About the Job
We’d rather quote you accurately in October for a December move than try to squeeze a bigger job into a half-day slot we booked too tight. If your house has a full attic, a shed full of garden gear, or furniture you’re not bringing with you, say so when you’re getting your quote. It changes the van size, the crew, and the time needed, and it’s far better to know that upfront than to find out on the day.
This is also the time of year we get the most calls asking for a move within a few days, usually because a sale completed faster than expected or a landlord has given notice. If that’s you, our same day removals service exists for exactly this situation, though we’d always rather have a week’s notice than a day’s if we can get it.
Clearing Before You Move: Don’t Leave It Until the Last Weekend
Winter moves are the ones where attics and sheds catch people out most. Nobody wants to be up a ladder in a cold attic on the morning of the move trying to decide what’s coming and what’s going to the dump. If there’s stuff up there that’s been sitting since the last move, get it sorted well in advance with a proper attic clearance, so moving day is just about the furniture and boxes you actually want.
The same goes for anyone downsizing or clearing out a parent’s house before the new year. A full house clearance takes the pressure off completely, and if there’s a single awkward item, an old sofa, a piano, a wardrobe that won’t go down the stairs in one piece, our bulk item removals service handles that separately so it doesn’t hold up the rest of the job.
End of Tenancy Moves Before Christmas
Every December we see a wave of tenants trying to hand back a property clean and empty before the lease runs out, often while a landlord is already lining up the next tenant for January. If that’s your situation, don’t leave the clearance to the last day. Our end of tenancy clearance service is built for exactly this, getting a rental emptied, cleaned out and ready for handback without a last-minute scramble over the holidays.
A Short Pre-Move Checklist for Winter
- Book your date as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks out if you can manage it.
- Clear attics, sheds and garages in the weeks before, not the morning of.
- Check the forecast three to four days out and agree a backup plan with your removals company if a weather warning is likely.
- Flag any access issues (narrow lanes, steep drives, parking restrictions) when you book, not on the day.
- Plan for the move to finish before dark if at all possible, especially in December and January.
- Have heating on and lights working at the new property before the van arrives.
We’ve been moving houses across Wicklow for years, from the town centres in Bray and Greystones out to the harder-to-reach spots around Blessington and Rathdrum, and winter always sorts the planned moves from the rushed ones. If you’re thinking about a move before the New Year, get in touch through our removals and moving services page and we’ll talk you through what your job actually needs, honestly, before you book anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a winter house move in Wicklow?
As early as you can, ideally four to six weeks before, especially if your move falls between late November and the first week of January. This is the busiest stretch of the year for us, and the best dates get booked up fastest.
Does bad weather actually stop removal jobs in Wicklow?
It can, particularly on higher routes like the Wicklow Gap or Sally Gap, or in low-lying parts of Arklow and Wicklow town that are prone to flooding after heavy rain. It’s rare for a whole day to be cancelled, but a bad forecast can mean adjusting the time of day or the route. Talk to whoever you’re hiring about a backup plan before the day itself.
Can you clear an attic, shed or garage as part of a house move?
Yes. We’d actually recommend doing it as a separate job before moving day rather than trying to sort it on the morning of the move. See our attic clearance page for how that usually works.
What’s the best time of day to move house in winter?
Starting earlier in the morning gives you the most margin, since daylight is short and you want the bulk of the heavy lifting done before it gets dark in the afternoon. It also gives a buffer if anything runs over, which happens more easily in winter than in summer.
Do you handle end of tenancy clearances before Christmas?
Yes, this is one of our busiest jobs every December as tenants try to hand properties back clean and empty before leases turn over. Our end of tenancy clearance service is set up for exactly that timeline, but it’s worth booking early as December fills up fast.
What if I need a move at very short notice over the Christmas period?
It does happen, usually when a sale completes faster than expected or notice comes through suddenly. Our same day removals service is there for that, though giving us as much notice as possible always makes for a smoother job.
