Moving is stressful at any time of the year, but especially right now. The COVID-19 crisis has made it difficult to plan a move like you normally would: you can’t use moving companies like you used to, you can’t have your parents watch the kids, and you can’t order new shipping boxes as quickly as you used to.
But just because moving is more difficult doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Here are a few ways you can move during the COVID-19 crisis while keeping yourself and your family safe and secure.
Before you move
- Take advantage of virtual tours. Each year, about 33% of renters will move to a new apartment. If you find an apartment you’re interested in moving to, make sure to ask the property manager if there are virtual tours of the property available.
- Do your research on local moving companies. If you have heavy furniture and don’t have a choice but to use a local moving company, make sure to do your research on what local or long distance moving companies are doing to stay safe. However, if you have clutter that you won’t bring into your new home, you can invest in a climate controlled storage from storage services near you. Choose a moving company that demonstrates serious vigilance and is taking the best possible precautions to protect its customers, movers, and drivers.
- Consider whether driving or flying is best. If you’re moving out of state, you might feel torn whether it’s best to fly or drive cross-country. Airports across the U.S. are taking precautions against COVID-19 and there are over 24 million hours of generation aviation flight every year. But the close quarters on an airplane can increase the risk of infection.
During your move
- Have masks and gloves on hand. Make sure that your family is well-equipped for the move with masks with gloves. Even if you’re only coming into contact with each other, you never know where certain items or equipment have been. Remember to keep your hands away from your face.
- Disinfect the space. Before you move your furniture into your new apartment or house, make sure to disinfect your new home. According to the CDC, cleaning surfaces followed by disinfection is the best practice measure for preventing COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses. Even if the property is new construction or you chose to reduce construction costs by 20% by going modular, disinfection is critical. Never assume a new construction or modular home is automatically sanitized by virtue of being new.
- Wash your hands throughout the move. If you’re not wearing gloves during your move, remember to wash your hands frequently both at your new and old home. If you are wearing gloves, be sure to remove your gloves correctly at the end of the moving day and to wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
- Keep your distance. If a local moving company is helping your family move, make sure that you and your family maintain a six-foot distance away from your movers. This ensures the safety of your family and the moving company’s employees.
- Have your partner watch the kids. For everyone’s safety, you may not be able to have your parents or in-laws watch the kids during your move. Depending on the age of your kids, this can make things a little difficult. Take turns with your partner with watching the kids, instead, to maintain social distancing rules and to keep your kids out of your hair.
While moving right now may be stressful, you can still manage to get it done without losing your mind. By following the tips above, you can help to make sure your family stays safe during your move.
