Moving during coronavirus is possible when you follow a few simple tips
Since we’ve all started living in a world that’s experiencing the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing and hand sanitizer have become parts of our daily lives. And while many people are hunkering down in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, others are having to pick up their belongings and move into a new apartment. Thankfully, many moving services have taken steps to keep their movers and customers safe during this time. Read on to learn about the extra precautions you can take to make moving during coronavirus safe and successful
Should I move out during COVID-19?
You might be wondering whether it’s smart to have your moving day in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s a good idea depends on your situation. Often, people don’t have flexibility with their moving day, even during the coronavirus crisis.
For example, a renter might need to move to another apartment when their lease ends. Tenants in this situation can’t just wait until the coronavirus outbreak is over. If this sounds like your situation, know that cities and states currently consider a moving company (as well as a storage facility) to be an essential business. This means hiring movers is possible during this time.
However, if you can wait to move, especially if you’re in a high-risk group under CDC guidelines, moving during coronavirus might not be the best idea, unless you want to use your own vehicle or a rental truck. Moving during coronavirus is possible, but we recommend taking every precaution in order to keep yourself safe during the moving process.
Where to move during COVID-19
Over the last few months, people have been inspired to move away from certain cities and states after they went into lockdown. For example, many people who are moving during coronavirus are leaving more-expensive cities like New York City and San Francisco in favor of cities that offer more space and a lower cost of living.
So, where are all these people making moves to? It turns out several Texas (Austin and Dallas) and Florida (Tampa and Jacksonville) cities are on the December 2020 list from Bloomberg Wealth. Other cities where people are moving during coronavirus include Phoenix, Nashville, Charlotte, Denver, Charleston and Seattle. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, these numbers have been growing rapidly and analysts expect these numbers to continue growing even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Learn more about how to move to another state by reading our guide.
What extra precautions are moving companies taking during coronavirus?
Moving service companies have had to become coronavirus movers in a very short period. However, many professional movers have done a great job of implementing extra precautions and safety guidelines for their moving crews and customers. In addition to following federal and local mask and social distancing guidelines, here are some other moving team precautions for COVID-19.
- Using virtual surveys and estimates of customer belongings instead of coming in person to provide a quote
- Carrying disinfectant wipes and sanitizing trucks and equipment more often
- Keeping social distance between customers and other team members
- Wearing protective gear like masks and disposable gloves
- Use hand sanitizer before and after removing gloves
If you talk to a professional mover who is unwilling to follow basic safety precautions for disease control, you shouldn’t hire that company. Explain the precaution levels and the CDC guidelines you expect to be followed on moving day before agreeing to hire a moving team. Your safety, as well as the safety of the people around you, are too important to jeopardize.
What to consider when moving during coronavirus
When you’re moving into a new apartment during coronavirus, planning is more important than ever before. Once you’ve selected your moving company, reach out to confirm your moving day reservation and discuss their safeguards and best practices for the big day. Being on the same page with your mover will make the process go much more smoothly.
Next, you’ll want to collect all the moving supplies you’ll need. Start by taking an inventory of your belongings to determine how many cardboard boxes you’ll need to make the move. Because you’ll be moving during coronavirus, you probably won’t want to make multiple trips to the store to pick everything up. This means you should strive to grab all the moving supplies you’ll need in one trip, and when in doubt, buy a little bit extra.
While we’re on the topic of moving boxes and supplies, it might be tempting to use recycled boxes. However, new boxes are your best bet for staying safe and healthy. If you really want to use recycled boxes, make sure no one has touched them for at least a day. This is because the coronavirus can live on surfaces like cardboard for up to 24 hours (per CDC guidelines).
Finally, take time to declutter as you pack. If you haven’t used something and don’t plan to use it in the future, why should you pay to move it? Packing is also a great time to sanitize your belongings with disinfectant. Doing this while moving during coronavirus can help you get your new life off to a clean and organized start.
Moving during coronavirus is possible
If you’re looking for a new place to live during coronavirus, why not consider coliving spaces in popular cities around the United States? Learn how Common’s coliving spaces can help minimize the hurdles that come with moving. Our apartments are fully-furnished, include all household essentials, and are managed through an easy-to-use app for your convenience. See how our spaces allow you to enjoy city living for an attainable price by renting a private room in a beautiful, shared suite within a friendly home. Explore our coliving spaces today.
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