6 Tips to Move Safely During COVID
Are you moving rental homes amidst the COVID outbreak?
With the pandemic still ongoing, it’s best that you carry out additional preventive measures for a safer move – even if ⅓ of the country has now been vaccinated.
Below, you’ll find six important steps to help you prepare for your move, stay safe during the move, and remain careful even as you’re settling into your new rental.
1. Choose your moving company carefully.
Hiring a professional moving company means a group of strangers will enter your house, possibly bringing the virus with them if they’re not careful. Given this, make sure you call the moving company beforehand to ask if their team has been keeping safe during this outbreak and what safety measures their company has in place to ensure a safe move.
Here are some questions to help you vet the moving team:
– What precautions are your movers, drivers, and crew taking to stay safe from COVID-19?
– What happens in the event that one of them seems to be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms while the move is happening?
– Do you have FAQs or additional information related to moving during COVID-19 that I can review prior to scheduling the move?
– Is there a reasonable cancellation policy in the event that plans need to be changed?
The safest alternative? Rent a van and do the moving yourself!
2. Inquire about virtual quotes and contactless services.
Avoiding in-person interactions is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from COVID-19. If your moving team can provide a virtual survey instead of an in-person estimate, you’ll reduce at least some of the risk associated with inviting movers into your home
A virtual survey allows the estimator to take a look at your home remotely via video call. Have your tape measure and camera phone ready, and you’ll be able to complete the removals estimate 100% remotely. Some companies will also give you a quote just from filling in an online form, although these may only be rough estimates.
Just make sure the company you’re hiring provides virtual estimates as an option prior to booking.
3. Be transparent and flexible with your moving schedule.
Prior to your set moving date, inform your close friends and family that you’ll be moving. This includes neighbors (especially if you’re living in an apartment) and family members. The point is to keep them from visiting you during moving day to avoid unnecessary contact with more people.
If you or any of the people living with you are experiencing symptoms of the virus, it’s best that you postpone your moving date to a safer time. A reputable moving company will adjust to your situation and accommodate your needs – they’ve probably experienced similar cases recently, too, and won’t want to put their employees at risk, either.
4. Take extra sanitary precautions.
As moving day approaches, you might want to hire professional cleaners to help you with Move-Out cleaning. However, given how you ideally want to minimize as much human contact as possible, you could also do the cleaning yourself to save on costs and additional risks.
– Disinfect high-touch objects and surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, switches, faucets, and sinks)
– Use cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants according to the recommendations of the CDC.
– Pay attention to the instructions and usage of cleaning products, and never try to DIY formulas you’re not entirely sure of (i.e., you should never mix your own chemicals).
— If possible, open windows and doors to increase ventilation and circulation of fresh air when cleaning.
— Wear face masks, gloves, and rubber boots for added protection.
If you are planning on doing your own cleaning when moving out of your rental, make sure you do a professional-level job and return the property to its original Move-In condition. Otherwise, what you thought was a money-saving exercise could actually cost you more in the end, as your landlord will have to hire professional cleaners of their own (and deduct the cost from your security deposit).
Finally, if you’re renting a van and moving your own stuff, make sure you have lots of bottles of disinfectant handy throughout the day to sanitize regularly during the move. Also, disinfect the van itself and any equipment before you start loading your items!
5. Maintain a six-foot distance from everyone.
During the move, make sure you stay at least six feet away from any of the moving team members.
As the moving team loads and unloads your belongings, refrain from helping with the move. Instead, help them do their job by keeping any vulnerable members of the household (e.g., the children or the elderly) away from the area.
Keep your pets separated from the movers, as well, to minimize distractions and delays (as well as possible transmission).
6. Thoroughly disinfect before you unpack.
Lastly, don’t get too excited to unpack once you’ve moved into your new place!
Make sure to continue cleaning and disinfecting all your belongings as you unpack – this will also help you ensure that you dispose of all packing materials safely.
You can get in touch with your local government agency to confirm the proper disposal and recycling process for packing boxes and other materials.
Conclusion
The cleaning guidelines we’ve discussed are based on the current CDC Guidelines, but these might change based on our evolving understanding of COVID-19.
As long as you err on the side of caution during the entire process, you can minimize your exposure to COVID-19 and safely move into your new rental home.
Image courtesy of Ketut Subiyanto