Moving to a new place can be challenging even during the best of times. The process of packing seemingly endless boxes, dealing with a moving company, or hiring a man and van in Bristol, London, or wherever your location maybe, and doing it all yourself is already enough to make anyone want to pull their hair out.
The stresses of moving are now compounded further as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shut down nearly every facet of our society and moving into a new home in a situation such as this is bound to present even more challenges than usual.
For some in a more flexible position, the answer may be to delay moving plans. But what if you can’t wait or simply prefer not to put off moving to a new home?
Of course, everyone must make the right decision for themselves during this unprecedented time, but there are still precautions you should consider if you’re looking to purchase, sell, or rent a new space while the world and our nation try to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
Protecting Our Communities
When moving in the middle of a pandemic, the highest priority should be the health and safety of yourself, your family, and your community.
The health of our population relies not only on the medical professionals who are risking their lives every day to treat their sick patients, but it also relies on our own personal commitment to flattening the curve by social distancing and self-isolating.
Of course, many individuals and families were already in the middle of the moving process when the crisis hit the nation. Being tied to a commitment such as moving can be costly and difficult to back out of. It becomes even more difficult when you’re moving for a job opportunity. When faced with this tough decision, finding ways to keep the public’s health in mind while you move into your new place can help make this transition period safer for everyone.
Follow Safety Recommendations When Possible
As you prepare to load up your belongings and say goodbye to your old place, taking certain measures while you’re relocating will be imperative to your overall health and safety. Some of the most important steps you should take while moving during the coronavirus include:
Minimizing human contact: If you have a scheduled viewing, having only one person do the walkthrough can reduce the spread of the virus. Also, when possible, lean towards no-contact interactions — whether that’s leaving the keys to the moving van in a secure location once you’re done with it or asking property managers to leave paperwork in the mailbox, keeping interactions to a minimum is essential.
Using best sanitation practices: Throughout your move, make sure you and everyone in your group are practicing the CDC’s recommended sanitization steps such as regular hand washing and disinfecting items as much as possible.
Consider ordering a storage unit: Having backup storage units just in case circumstances change with your move-in dates or there is a temporary closure with your property or moving company is a good idea. Just think of it as your plan B if things go awry.
Though moving might be unavoidable for you and your household, with the right precautions you can at least reduce your chances of catching and/or spreading the virus to others.
Now is the Time to be Picky (If You Can)
If you’re able to, take the time to look over reviews of potential property management companies to see if they happen to be a large conglomerate or if they’re a single owner. Considering there is a nationwide pandemic that has put a lot of people into tough spots financially, choosing the right property management company can help you determine how easy they are to work with in times of crisis, such as the one we’re dealing with right now.
No one is certain when life will return back to normal, which makes this pandemic especially stressful and scary. Being with the right company will save you a lot of trouble and difficulties as we head into this uncertain future. Asking about the helpful actions they have taken to protect their clients can tell you all you need to know about a company you’re thinking about doing business with.
Overall, trying to stay calm is most likely the best thing you can do for your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. Of course, it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at a time like this. Moving is often a stressful venture so it’s understandable that you might find yourself worried while trying to get to your next destination during a pandemic. With the being said, it’s also important to keep in mind that with the right precautions and protective measures, you can execute your next move as safely as possible and start enjoying your new home.
