Moving is stressful. Moving during the pandemic? Even worse. On top of the piles of tasks you need to complete before your move, now you have to worry about your health and safety every step of the way. While some people have chosen to stay put and weather the storm, you don’t have to. There are safety precautions you can take to ensure you don’t put yourself or others at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Whether you’re relocating for a new job, your rent is up, or you’ve found your dream home, you don’t have to wait to make this major change in your life. Here are some simple tips for moving during the pandemic that will ease your mind.
Hire Movers You Can Trust
The first thing you should decide while moving during COVID-19 is whether or not you want to hire a moving company to help you. If you decide you want or need to, it’s imperative that you do some research to ensure you pick the right movers for you. Because moving companies are considered essential businesses, they are open and ready for business, so don’t feel pressured to go with one option over another.
Narrow your search to two moving companies and ask them some important questions. What are they doing to ensure the safety of their customers and employees? How are they following social distancing guidelines? You want to hire movers that are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe; don’t settle for anything less.
Disinfect as You Go
Experts suggest you should have all your belongings packaged in new boxes at least 24 hours before moving day. Not only can COVID-19 live on cardboard for up to 24 hours but guaranteeing your stuff is packaged up inside boxes will ensure less contact with other people. This means the packing process is going to take a while, so plan ahead and give yourself proper time to disinfect, organize, and pack everything as well as you can.
The more you prepare everything before moving day, the less stressed you’ll be once it finally arrives. Don’t wait until the last minute to start worrying about the cleanliness of your things.
Take This Chance to Go Through Your Belongings
Moving is the perfect time to go through your stuff and decide what you don’t want to keep. Not only will this help you save money on transporting items, but it will also help you reduce the risk of anything coming in contact with the virus. It’s better to go through everything before you move rather than dealing with all of it in your new home.
Some donation centers may not be accepting items during the pandemic, so make sure to call ahead and make sure. There are also other options for selling your items, like using Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
You don’t have to put off moving because of the pandemic. With these tips, you’ll be ready to take on this life change and more without putting your health at risk. We are so excited for you to find your new home.