How to Move Safely During the Pandemic

With travel restrictions and social distancing in place, many people are postponing their moving plans. Governments are assisting by suspending foreclosures and eviction processes during this time. Move.org recommends you consider these questions before planning your move:

1. Is COVID-19 spreading in the area where you’re going?

2.Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?

3. Are you or your travel companion(s) more likely to get severe illness if you get COVID-19?

4. Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you are told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?

5.Do you live with someone who is older or has a serious, chronic medical condition?

6.Is COVID-19 spreading where I live when I return from travel?

If you can’t put off your move, don’t worry! You can get it done with some careful planning. Here are some steps you can take to move safely.

1. Talk to your moving company. Moving companies are taking several precautions to protect their customers, including following social distancing guidelines, providing estimates based on photos or videos of your belongings, sanitizing trucks and equipment, and wearing masks and gloves.

2. Use a packing calculator, like this one from Moving.com so you can purchase all your supplies in one trip to the store.

3. Do your own packing to reduce contact with moving personnel. The coronavirus can live on cardboard for 24 hours, so any recycled boxes you are using should have sat untouched for at least 24 hours before you use them.

4. If you are moving out of or into an apartment or condominium building, notify your neighbors so they can choose to avoid elevators, stairwells, or hallways during your move.

5. Use door stops to hold doors open to reduce toughing door handles. Have your pets secured so you don’t have to worry about the doors being left open.

6. Pack hand soap and paper towels in a marked box so they can be last on and first off the truck. When you arrive at the new home, disinfect door handles, cabinet and drawers pulls, appliance handles, and light switches first, even if the home was professionally cleaned and sanitized before you arrived.