Pack up and move on — these words are what people want to do after the pandemic. They would want to pack up whatever things they deem horrible. They would also want to move on with life and overcome the pandemic as they have everything else.
The real estate market faces a daunting task, to breathe life into buyer and renter activity. There are fewer people who are relocating to rental apartments, perhaps because of fear of the virus. While work moves from the office to home, more and more people are moving away from the formerly active market. The result is something peculiar — there’s a demand for homes, but buyers are hesitant to move in.
Regardless, people will need to heed the stay-at-home orders. If you’re one of the fortunate ones to have bought a home, though, there’s a way to move into your new property. Read on.
Wait it Out if You Can
The best move you can do during the pandemic is to not move at all. If you have that kind of option, wait out for the end of the pandemic before doing anything.
A survey from HireAHelper said that there are 75% of moving companies have experienced cancellations of scheduled shipping or moving. If you can, try to work with the moving company to have your date rescheduled. It’s important if you want to protect your family from the virus.
For those who have signs of COVID-19 or are currently quarantining after being exposed, it’s wise to put off the move until a later, safer date. Your moving company will also recommend this and might turn out grateful for your foresight.
Get an Estimate for Your House
Before the pandemic, the movers usually visit your home before scheduling. They’ll provide you with an estimate of how much it will cost depending on how much furniture will be moved, the size of the doorways, and how many stairs or similar places they’ll have to move through.
During the pandemic, that has effectively changed. To keep the distance between customers and the movers, the estimates have gone virtual. Most of these feature a video call walk-through of whatever items need to be moved. The estimate will then be sent over the email.
Use New Moving Boxes
Things have truly changed during the pandemic. When you’re moving, you need to keep away items so that they won’t get broken when they’re transported. You can get these free from your local grocery store. Used boxes may also be available from your friends, neighbors, or just about every establishment that uses boxes to move things.
During the time of the pandemic, however, there might be droplets that stay active on these surfaces. Cardboard boxes and other materials aren’t safe from these. Rachel Peretz, director of marketing and business development for the American Moving and Storage Association, said that you should choose new boxes from the mover. It’s a matter of safety, she said.
Make Sure that Moving is Allowed
If you’re moving into a new area or an apartment, make sure that moving is allowed in that area. Most areas, according to the American Moving & Storage Association, allow moving in as part of “essential services.”
While moving furniture can be allowed, it’s not necessarily the same case when you’re moving into a new apartment. Some apartments have different rules regarding their residents. For instance, there are places in New York City that aren’t allowing residents to move during the current shelter-in-place order.
Before moving into a new home or apartment, do your due diligence on what rules are in that area. Make your arrangements known with your moving company before doing any move.
Do a Good Deed: Provide Cleaning Supplies
If you’re packing up your things for the move during COVID-19, make sure that you’re packing your cleaning items last. You and the movers should practice washing of hands and making sure you’re free of any droplets from the virus.
This shouldn’t be done only before the move. Regular practice of washing your hands before, during, and after any activity keeps you safe from the virus. You should also wash your own hands before you make any contact with different surfaces.
You should have ready supplies of hand sanitizers and disinfectants, as well as an available antibacterial soap, at a minimum.
There are a lot of things you can do to make sure that you and the moving crew are safe from the coronavirus. Moving can be exciting too, but you need to make sure you’re following the protocols set by the government for a safe transition to your new home.
