If you are thinking about moving soon and as much of the Bay Area starts to get vaccinated, you might be wondering how these positive steps during COVID-19 might affect your move? Do you still need to take precautions like social distancing, especially on moving day, when movers will be helping you get your precious belongings from one home to your next one? Preparing to move can be stressful anytime, but having a plan can help you get the job done efficiently and safely. Amidst COVID-19, there are some precautions to take and we’ve outlined a few of them to keep in mind as you prepare for moving during COVID-19.
Plan ahead
Now, and always, moving requires a certain amount of orchestration. Working with a realtor to find the perfect buyer, packing, hiring movers, getting everything out and in and then unpacking. As realtors in San Francisco have found with almost everything during COVID-19 there are a few extra steps to take. If you need to hire a moving company, make sure you contact a few providers well in advance of your projected move date, and don’t forget to ask up front about cancellation and schedule change policies, especially due to COVID-19 circumstances like closing delays. Flexibility is key as plans may need to change unexpectedly. Once you have your movers secured, it’s time to get planning for packing and moving. If you can map out the essential items that need to be moved, and move some smaller boxes or furniture yourself ahead of time, this can help you save time on moving day and limit everyone’s potential virus exposure. If you have big items that need to be moved, make sure and communicate this to movers as part of your plan, so you can create a game plan with them about getting everything in and out of your home. The bottom line is that efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to moving during COVID-19 to keep safety a priority.
Keep it clean
When moving items from one place to another, cleanliness is a top priority during Covid-19. We know it might be tempting to look on Craig’s List or other online message boards for free boxes and supplies, but one of our top moving tips during COVID-19, is to get your supplies new, so you’ll be the first to use them, and you can ensure everything is sanitized. You’ll ideally want to buy your moving boxes and blankets from a reputable supplier or get them from your moving company, and even consider using your own clean bedding or towels as cushioning for breakable items. The key is to keep contamination at a minimum, to ensure the safety of your family and your movers.
Safety first on moving day
Once you’ve got everything packed and ready to go, there are some strategies to follow on moving day to protect everyone involved. If you can, plan to wait outside while movers do the heavy lifting, or if you are inside your home providing direction, be sure to be masked (along with everyone else in your family on the moving site), maintain social distancing, and ask everyone to sanitize their hands before they get started. Opening windows can take safety up a notch while items are moving around. If you have the space and time, transferring some smaller boxes from your home into your garage, and then keeping the garage door open can provide maximum airflow as another safety measure. Once everything is in your new home, you’ll want to sanitize or wash your hands often as you are unpacking. Cleaning furniture and anything that you or movers have touched on moving day can also help keep everything in your new home sanitized to prevent virus spread.
Moving into a new home is a chance for a fresh start. When it comes to COVID-19, there are some extra steps to follow to keep everyone at ease and safe during the process, and getting you on your way to settling into a new home.
