As coronavirus continues to have a massive impact on life in many parts of the world, businesses are struggling to find ways to provide services in a safe manner. For instance, restaurants can only accommodate a few people to minimize contact. That’s caused people to adjust their plans – both in terms of purchases and life decisions like buying a home.
Despite the housing market slowing due to the virus, there’s still plenty of people moving homes. It can be unavoidable depending on the circumstances, but it’s also a risk considering the pandemic. The best way to assure your health and everyone’s health during the move is to take some precautions as you pack your things. Here are some useful tips that could come in handy should you find yourself moving during the coronavirus pandemic:
Minimize contact
The first step to planning a move at the moment is simply figuring out the best way to minimize contact with others. It’s perfectly fine to hire a moving company to help, but you want a company that’s using one team to help you move and can finish the process smoothly.
One of the biggest things you can do to help this process is to take the time to declutter your home beforehand. It’s a massive benefit that’ll help the move go seamlessly and reduce the time it takes to pack, as well as how many possessions you need to move.
If you must hire people to help you move, it’s important to ask what guidelines the company has put in place to address the pandemic. Moving companies are offering estimates virtually, which helps reduce unnecessary contact as well.
Use fresh packaging
When packing to move on normal times, most people reuse boxes from the grocery stores in order to save money. Such an approach, however, is not recommended during this pandemic. According to the New York Times, the virus can live on cardboard surfaces for up to 24 hours. As such, it’s important that you buy fresh packaging to pack your things.
It’s also a good idea to clean your possessions once you’ve completed your move and disposed of the packaging. Household sanitizers work well to combat the virus. By buying fresh packaging and sanitizing after the move, you dramatically reduce the risk of exposure.
Sanitizing
Speaking of sanitization, having sanitizing materials available during the move is crucial to keep the job safe for everyone involved. Alcohol-based sanitizers are recommended by health officials as a way of killing the virus, but simply washing your hands is still the safest way to assure that the virus has been killed.
Most moving companies will have their crews wearing gloves and masks during this time, so make sure those measures are being followed. Additionally, disinfect all points of contact that you and your movers may touch such as door handles and cabinet pulls.
Recommendations when moving long distances
To curb the spread of the virus, many countries have banned travel in and out of certain locations. Air travel has also been grounded in most countries. If you plan to move long distances, be sure to check with local authorities to establish if traveling is allowed to the places you will be moving through. Observe all the regulations such as wearing recommended face masks and observing social distancing. Ensure you also comply with recommendations such as having tests conducted if you have to move. When packing for long-distance movement, ensure the items are packed well and wrapped in bubble wraps to prevent fragile items from being damaged.
Moving over long distances also means that the risk of exposure to the virus increases highly. As such, you have to be extra careful. Note that you might also encounter roadblocks and checkpoints along your movement route. As such, be ready to comply with all the regulations that might be imposed. Remember to also be honest about any illnesses you or your movers may have. Depending on your recent travel history, some authorities may recommend quarantine for a period of time. If this happens to you, comply with the authorities to help curb the spread of the virus and keep the general public safe.
Canceling or changing moving plans if you feel ill
If you start feeling under the weather, do not hesitate to cancel or postpone your moving plans. Failing to do so might end up putting others at risk of contracting the virus. Moreover, be sure to notify your nearest health facility when the symptoms persist so they can conduct tests. If cleared, you can make new plans and move later.
