Moving to a new home has always been a difficult and daunting task. Throw in the recent global COVID-19 pandemic into the mix and it makes the job all the more stressful. We now have to worry about protecting ourselves and our families from the virus while moving to a new place.  The novel coronavirus has made everyday normal activities more challenging than before. Fortunately though, protecting yourself and reducing your virus risk isn’t as difficult as many make it out to be. Here are a few tips that you can use (and should definitely keep in mind) when moving homes during this pandemic.

Consider Getting Virtual Quotes

Even if the pandemic restrictions are beginning to ease in your area, consider getting a quote from moving companies via a virtual tour. Virtual tours mitigate the risk of exposure to the virus because you don’t have to let strangers into your house.   Many moving companies have adopted new protocols and procedures to reduce the risk for their customers and workforce.    If you feel a virtual quote won’t be very accurate, you should know that many movers have started giving their potential customers the option to get a virtual quote by viewing videos and images of the stuff they plan to move.   Videos and pictures come in especially handy when you’re looking to move bulky items like the furniture. 

Choose Movers Carefully

Before the whole COVID-19 pandemic, most of us could get in touch with a few friends and have them help out with moving our furniture and belongings. Now that the virus is soaring, it’s essential to practice social distancing and reduce the number of people you interact with, even when wearing masks.    Unnecessary interaction can put you and your loved ones at risk. Therefore, it’s better to seek help from professional movers that know what they’re doing, especially when it comes to the big, heavy items like furniture. You can use sites like Muval to find furniture removalists in your local area.   Do some research and see what safety protocols your local movers are following. Are they disinfecting items they come in contact with? Do the movers wear masks properly? Are they following all the important government guidelines? Are the movers regularly screened for COVID-19?    These are some of the questions you should ask moving companies before deciding which one to go with!

Pack Your Clothes and Belongings Yourself

During this pandemic, it is always better to pack important belongings like your clothes by yourself even if you have movers to help you with the move. Packing your most frequently used items by yourself can help minimize potential risks and avoid excessive contact with others.    Disinfect and use new cardboard boxes to pack your items. Many people try to obtain used boxes from local shops, which was a good idea before the pandemic. Since Covid-19 may survive on surfaces for extended periods, it’s safer to go with new boxes. 

Always Get Extra Packaging Materials

Going outside to buy packaging materials like bubble wrap and boxes from stores carries the potential risk of being exposed to the virus. Also, not buying enough boxes or other packaging materials can cause unwanted delays in the moving process.    Extra eleventh-hour trips to hardware stores for packaging materials can be avoided by simply buying more materials than you think you need. Even if buying extra means that there’s a chance that you will end up with more material than required, you can always use it later or donate (or sell) it to others.   Also, due to the pandemic, it’s better to pack most of your items to prevent them from being touched directly by the movers. This means there’s a good chance you’ll end up using more materials than initially calculated.   Nevertheless, always keep the environment in mind and try to reduce the use of single-use plastic as much as possible!

Protect Yourself

Even though interacting with movers may be unavoidable in some cases, you should still try to limit contact and always wear a mask. Keep hand sanitizers close, wash your hands routinely, try not to touch your face, and wear disposable gloves when dealing with cash or handling boxes.    Make sure that the movers are wearing protective gear as well. Additionally, cleaning high-touch surfaces and items frequently is also a good practice to follow.    Keep your windows and doors open in your house to prevent the build-up of airborne particles while the movers are working inside. Fresh air from outside helps keep your house well ventilated and reduces the stale air inside.

Look into Pandemic Procedures at Local Donation Sites

Moving often involves donating some of the items that you no longer need. Pre-pandemic, you could easily sort through your stuff and drop off a box full of items at a local donation center.   However, these days it’s not as simple as that. Most donation centers have started putting new procedures in place to allow people to safely donate items according to local guidelines.    Some have even stopped accepting a few items like clothing and have changed drop-off locations to help reduce contact. Always make sure to go through the website of your local charity or donation center to find out the drop-off location and what items you can donate.   This can allow you to better plan how you’re going to get rid of clutter and make the entire moving process far smoother.

Postpone Moving if You’re Feeling Unwell

If you’re feeling under the weather, are showing symptoms of coronavirus, or suspect you might have been exposed to the virus, it’s always better to stay at home and delay the moving process.    Your health is much more important than moving and as responsible citizens, it is your duty to not put your family and others at unnecessary risk. Remember, you can reschedule to a later date but the loss of life that comes with Covid-19 is irreversible!