Terri Ramsey Beavers With the advent of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many health and safety measures have been put in place to combat its spread and decrease the number of cases worldwide. Since COVID-19 is an infectious disease, people are advised to stay at home, do quarantine, wear face masks, and limit outside movements.
However, what if you’re scheduled to move to a new home during the pandemic? Is it safe? Fortunately, relocation is still available during these tough times. Many moving companies around the globe are open to provide efficient relocation services to their customers.
Thus, if you’re moving during this pandemic, below are the five tips to make the transition safer and smoother from start to finish:
1.Ask The Right Questions
When you decide to seek help from professional movers and packers, be sure to ask the proper questions about their health and safety measures before hiring one. This is to make sure that the one you’re going to work is following your state’s guidelines about COVID-19. Not only that but by asking the right questions, you’ll know what the protocols are in place to ensure a COVID-free move.
For example, you may ask your prospective moving company whether they have a policy for making sure that no employees are infected by the disease and whether they impose strict measures for checking employee’s temperature, and what they usually do when an employee has symptoms. All of these things are essential so you’ll find out if the whole moving experience will be safe or not.
2. Opt For Virtual Tours And Surveys
If you’re looking for a potential property to move in during a pandemic, then, it can be a good idea to conduct virtual tours instead of in-person tours. While in-person tours allow you to check every corner of your prospective house, doing so will only increase your risk of infection. Therefore, to avoid human contact as much as possible, request a virtual tour.
Moreover, aside from online tours, be sure to request virtual surveys when asking for moving estimates. That way, you can limit exposure to other people and ensure you’re safe throughout the transition.
3. Refrain From Using Recycled Boxes From Other Places
The coronavirus can stay and live on cardboard boxes for a long time. This means you’ll not only get infected by human contact but you can get the virus through exposure to items that are contaminated with the virus.
Hence, if you want your relocation to be safe from COVID, then, be sure to refrain from using recycled boxes from different places. While utilizing these kinds of boxes can save you a lot of money, it’s not the best thing to do during a pandemic. Instead, try to look around your old home and use the boxes you already have.
But, in case your boxes aren’t enough, you can go to a store and buy new ones. By doing this, you can make sure that all your packing supplies aren’t contaminated with the coronavirus.
4. Observe Safety Protocols On The Moving Day
One of the most important stages of moving that you should focus on is the big day. If you’re moving with the help of movers near Manhattan or wherever you may be, it’s important to observe some safety measures to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
For example, you should stay away from your movers at least six feet away and avoid handshakes and other gestures while they’re loading your boxes into the moving truck. Don’t forget to wear a mask and make sure everyone involved in the move also does the same. If possible, put a hand sanitizer in the entrance area for sanitization purposes.
Moreover, if you’re moving with your family, it’s best to proceed with caution. This is especially true if you have a family member who belongs to the high-risk group such as grandparents, children, and people with comorbidities. In such a case, ask them to stay in a separate room while the moving crew is busy with the move. Remember, the more you follow some safety measures during the moving day, the safer the transition will be.
5. Take Care Of Your Mental Health
The pandemic itself can be extremely stressful, but it becomes more daunting if you have to relocate during these trying times. Thus, to keep yourself sane throughout the transition, be sure to take care of your mental health. You can do this by talking to your family and friends and share your sentiments. If they don’t live in the same household, you can still talk to them through digital platforms such as Skype, Messenger, and many more.
Also, if you want to protect yourself mentally and emotionally, try to remain calm and always think that everything will be alright. As long as you pay attention to the safety protocols, you’ll be fine.
Bottom Line
Just like other diseases, COVID-19 is something you should never take lightly. If you’re looking to protect yourself and your loved ones from this disease during a move, then, you should be smart throughout the entire process.
However, being smart when relocating means following the tips mentioned above and more importantly, the standard pandemic rules and regulations in your area.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
