Have you been made redundant during the economic downturn, or furloughed from your job, meaning you can no longer afford to pay your rent? Or have you simply become tired of your living situation during lockdown?
There are many, varied reasons for moving houses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as many are discovering, moving during a global pandemic isn’t exactly straightforward.
If you’re moving during COVID-19, the good news is that there are a lot of properties to choose from on the market at the moment. Moreover, you could even get a discount on your rental or purchase price.
In order to make sure that your moving process is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, follow our 10-point list.
1. Get Tested
If you’re asking yourself, “can I move during coronavirus?” the answer is yes. However, you should first carefully consider the risks that moving during a global pandemic entails.
If you’re moving in with a new set of people during the pandemic, it’s best to conduct a test upon arrival in order to double-check you are healthy before spending time with your new roommates.
While moving dates are often non-negotiable, COVID-19 testing on arrival can help prevent you from passing the virus onto others in your new house if you happen to have contracted it.
2. Self-Isolation
If you’re currently living with friends and have to move back into your family home, think about whether there are any elderly or vulnerable people in your new living space. If so, you might need to self-isolate for 14 days before fully sharing a house with them.
Likewise, in the event that you contract COVID-19 during the moving process and test positive on arrival in your new home, ensure you self-isolate once you arrive.
3. Virtual Viewings
In order to minimize human contact and stick to social distancing regulations, the real estate agents you are dealing with may organize for house viewings to take place through a video call.
Open houses or walk-throughs with a realtor are no longer advised.
In addition, if you are looking to rent out or sell your current property before moving, it’s best to vacate the premises if any in-person viewers arrive.
4. Minimize Contracted Help
If you are planning on hiring a moving company to help you out during the pandemic, it’s best to carefully consider the risks involved in bringing in more people to help out. The less people you have helping you, the smaller the chance there is of transmission.
Try and do the majority of packing yourself and avoid bringing in extra help in until moving day.
5. Prepare for Delays
With so many unexpected, often last minute changes happening at the moment, it’s best to prepare yourself for delays.
Try and be as flexible as possible, because the chances of either outgoing or incoming tenants becoming ill with COVID-19 are far from slim.
6. Wear a Mask
In order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 contagion during the moving process, wear a facemask that fully covers your nose and mouth.
Although a visor or face covering may not be 100% necessary, it is also advisable for extra protection around the eye area.
7. Cleanliness
Although we have all become more vigilant when it comes to handwashing and sanitization over the past six months, it’s a habit that can easily slip if we’re not careful.
Make sure you wash or sanitize your hands regularly throughout moving day, especially as you are likely to be touching lots of different objects.
If you are opening up your home to visits from potential new tenants, make sure to clean thoroughly, focusing on door handles and surfaces before and after each visit.
8. Practice Social Distancing
Given that you’re likely to be surrounded by and in contact with more people than usual on moving day, make sure you remember not to get too close to anyone you don’t live with.
Keep an ideal distance of six feet, or two arms’ length between yourself and other people wherever possible.
9. Boxes
If you are planning on packing up your belongings in boxes, you may want to consider how long COVID-19 can survive on cardboard surfaces.
Although guidelines on this topic have been changing regularly, information from the World Health Organization indicates that the virus can live for up to 24 hours on cardboard surfaces.
So, if you are planning on using recycled or free moving boxes for packing, then consider leaving them for a full day before you pack them, in order to reduce the risk of any possible transmission.
Looking for affordable self storage while moving? We pair homeowners with space, with people in need of storage for a cheaper alternative to self storage companies.
10. Take Care of Your Mental Health
As we mentioned beforehand, moving can be a very stressful process, especially if your house hunt has been longer or more drawn-out than you expected. Contracts often fall through right at the last minute and can be a source of anxiety.
With this in mind, try adding a global pandemic to the mix! Moving during COVID-19 can throw a wrench in the works when it comes to your mental health.
Make sure to take enough time out for you during this stressful time, whether it might be going for a walk, doing some yoga, or meditating for a while.
If moving during coronavirus is unavoidable, the good news is that it can be done safely. Just ensure you take the right precautions, both for your physical and mental health!