Moving has always been a life event no one truly enjoys. It’s stressful, overwhelming, and time consuming even under the best of circumstances. However, add a global pandemic into the mix and in an instant your moving process becomes much more of a challenge.
What ever has caused you to move, be mindful of how these new social distancing practices will effect you. More thought goes into the moving process than ever before.
Planning is key here. There are several things you should have prepared prior to moving. Write yourself a to-do list and include some of these pandemic moving tips to get ready!
Steps for Moving During a Pandemic
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Moving Socially Distanced
First, analyze your situation. Where do you stand with your current lease? Are you at the end of a lease and your only concerns are moving and finding a place? Or do you need to sublet?
Whichever it is, reach out to your current landlord to see if there are any new regulations to the moving out process. If you are moving to a new apartment, you will want to contact your new property manager to see what their move in process is for its upcoming residents.
Be careful to ask plenty of questions! Specifically about their cleaning process and their social distancing methods for getting your new apartment ready to be moved in to.
Property manager needing removal? LEARN MORE ❯
Another aspect to consider, when moving out, is if you need to show your current apartment. What once was not a health concern, now is. Protect yourself, the potential new renter, and your roommates (if any) by wearing masks, conducting solo tours, or opting for a virtual tour.
There are many people who are in a similar transition. With the current moving situation most are very aware of that regulations vary from city to city. Therefore, unlike previous times, many are accepting of virtual tours and are having the lease signing process done virtually as well.
Next, finalize where you will be moving prior to booking your moving method. Have a final address to which all your belongings can be directly delivered with no worry of having to hold it somewhere and moving it again. The fewer the amount of moving transfers, the better!
Decide on your Moving Method
Prior to the day you are moving out, decide specifically on how your are going to move all of your belongings. Whether that be via a moving company, shipping, or renting a truck to do it yourself. Be clear on your moving out process so you can make the necessary arrangements.
Know the Regulations
Due to how each state was personally effected by this pandemic, each state has it’s distinct regulations and are in different post-pandemic phases. So do your research. Especially if you are moving out of the current state you are residing in. Educate yourself on how that state is handling moves and what specific guidelines you may need to keep in mind while moving.
‼️TIP: Do your research on the guidelines for moving and remaining socially distanced. State specific guidelines during the pandemic can be found on the Center for Disease Control website.
Pandemic packing- Box Smart!
Unlike previous moves, where you could take boxes from restaurants or from recycling bins, packing for this move has the added challenge of which boxes are safe for you to use. It might be in your best interest to bite the bullet and buy boxes when moving, this time.
📦 Boxing Hack: Use boxes you have previously used or ones you’ve have on hand from your most recent purchases. The less it’s touched by others, the better.
Take all the Necessary Precautions
You’ve heard it from your mom, and now the CDC and Fauci, a million times, but we’re here to say it again. Sorry, not sorry. By far one of the most effective prevention methods you can take is to WASH YOUR HANDS. So, wash your hands!
The Center for Disease Control has global standard guidelines which we should all abide by:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Disinfect as often as possible
- Maintain a social distance of 6 feet
- Wear a mask when out running errands
- If you are feeling sick, stay home
Socially Distanced Greetings
As different as it may be, and almost uncomfortable, avoid all your instincts and do not shake hands or greet in any of the ways you raised to do. Go against all your natural instincts- bet you haven’t heard that before- greet with a smile 🙂 instead of the standard handshake.
It may seem odd, but given our current reality, it is best to maintain the recommended six foot distance to protect yourself and others. So, try to avoid any unnecessary contact with others.
Make a List
Download: Moving Check List here.
One of the benefits about moving out of an old place and into a new one is being able to look through all your current belongings. It gives you the opportunity to decide what you do and do not want to take with you to the new place!
Make a list of things you know you can’t live without, things you want to keep, and things you want to get rid of. Out with the old, and in with that new, new!
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Moving Day – The Hard Part is Over
You’ve made it to the most important step, the day you actually move all of your belongings. Whether you are moving with a company, having your stuff shipped later, or renting a truck and moving by yourself, there are a number of new things to now consider on moving day.
Hiring a Moving Company
You have your moving day scheduled and your pick up and drop off locations finalized, great! These are usually the two most important parts of moving day, however, given our current situation, there are now several health and safety factors that we now have to consider.
When hiring a moving company be sure to ask the appropriate questions, have them run you through what social distancing measures they’re taking, and what you can do on your end to help out. It is important to know what steps they are taking to keep you and their workers safe.
Do your best to make their job easier so you can stay out of the way as they do theirs. Have all of your belongings packed and ready to be move. If possible, leave everything together in the same room, or within a close proximity, to make the process run smoothly and quickly.
Shipping or Moving Yourself
Although this may be more time consuming, it does allow you to have more freedom. You have control over the packaging, method of transport, and who comes in contact with your things. Moving might take longer, but at least you only have yourself to worry about!
Home Sweet Home – Settling In
You have finally reached the best part of moving out. Moving IN. There is nothing more satisfying than finally getting to start settling in to your new place, unpacking, and organizing.
By this point you should have already been in contact with your new landlord to make sure everything in your new place has been cleaned, disinfected, and ready for you to move in.
The End 🎉 It’s time to celebrate 🎉 you’ve reached the final step!
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