Moving generally has the potential to create stress but anxiety levels can increase exponentially during times of crises like coronavirus. Below are seven easy tips to follow that will help reduce the “Moving Blues.”
Do You Have a Choice?
If you have the luxury to decide to hold off on a move during coronavirus, you probably should. If you were able to find a place by doing a virtual real estate tour, then you’re one of the lucky ones out there.
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We all want to reduce the risk of catching or transmitting a potentially devasting virus. College students should wait until definitive decisions are made about the resumption of classes as some universities are offering students the option of remote studies.
Many companies are delaying start times for new hires and others are willing to provide work from home choice. If you have no alternative and must move, be prepared to spend a little more preparation time to protect your personal health and the health of your family.
Do Not Talk to Strangers; Move Yourself
For those who have limited household items, DIY moving is a great option that will limit your interactions with other people. If you do not own a truck it is easy to arrange a rental. Depending on how far your move is you can contact a local truck rental company or a national chain. Either one should give you the option of filling out all paperwork on-line and the transaction should require little in-person contact with rental employees. Longer distance moves will necessitate using a national truck rental company. Truck rentals range in size from cargo vans to 26-foot box trucks that are available at Enterprise or Budget and other rental companies.
Professional Movers
The moving industry understands that we do not always have a choice about moving time frames. Most professional moving companies have special protocols in place for all types of moves. These standards provide safer transactions for you and their employees. When you are getting quotes—which can be done virtually—ask what the policies for interactions are. Sometimes it may be worth a few extra dollars to have the assurance that all movers will be taking safety precautions when entering your home.
Packing Materials
Much like figuring out how much rent you can afford, to save money when moving it makes sense to re-use packing materials in the age of reducing, re-use, and recycle, however during coronavirus it may not be wise to pick up used boxes from a neighborhood shared site. The safest thing to do is to use all new packing materials. After your move, store your boxes in the garage and when coronavirus is over, feel free to share your used boxes with neighbors as they make their next move. As an alternative, try using plastic tubs with lids to pack your things in. That way you will have stackable storage for items not used daily.
Finish Early
Unless you have hired people to pack your household goods you will want to start packing your home up room by room. Give yourself a couple of weeks as this job usually takes longer than anticipated. Once you begin sorting through closets, drawers, and cupboards you will want to cull any items you no longer use or wear.
Donate salvageable clothing and household goods. As you pack and seal boxes mark the outside with the room where the box will be eventually located. This will save you time and aggravation when the movers bring all the boxes into your new home. One great tip: number the boxes and create a list, by number, with the contents of each box. Besides having an inventory, you will also have an exact count of boxes. Make sure you complete any packing duties at least 24 hours ahead of your scheduled move.
Limit the Number of People in Your Home
On the day of your move make sure to limit the number of people in your home. Grandma may want to help but you do not want to add any additional risk to her health. The same applies to small children or anyone else who has high-risk issues. Ideally, everything will be packed, labeled, and ready for the movers to simply load the boxes, your furniture, and appliances. Undoubtedly there will be some paperwork to be filled out as the movers get ready to leave. Keep your mask on and use your own pen to sign any documents. The less contact the better off you are.
Additional PPEs
Whether you’re moving from a trendy Chicago neighborhood like Wicker Park or a suburb in California, you still need to be as safe as possible! Regardless of how many protocols are in place for the employees of the moving company, there are times when a mask or glove tears. Make sure you have additional disposable masks and gloves to give to the moving staff if the need arises. Also, hand soap and sanitizer should be available for the movers. The cost of providing extra PPE is minimal. Remember, your movers are moving your cherished household items, and being nice to them is the courteous thing to do.
A safe move during coronavirus is possible with just a few more precautions than normal. Make lists, start early, be prepared and you can have a move that is just as easy as moves can be.
