As more employees work from home than ever before, people are reconsidering where they want to live. According to a recent study, more than 15.9 million people have moved during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, there was a 26.7 percent increase in temporary change of address requests compared to 2019. Some people are moving from large urban areas like New York City to smaller towns to avoid getting the disease or moving back home with parents to save money. Others are moving for typical reasons like relocating for a new job or in pursuit of their dreams.
Regardless of why you have chosen to move, your safety and health should be your first priority. Here are a few tips to help you while moving during a pandemic.
Follow Social Distancing Guidelines
The most valuable advice we can give you is to follow the CDC’s social distancing guidelines as much as possible. While it may not always be possible to keep six feet of space between yourself and your movers, you should try your best to do what you can to keep your distance. Wear and require face masks, set up a clean-up station by your front door, and supply your movers with gloves and hand sanitizer.
There are also a few contact-free moving options available if you don’t feel comfortable using a moving company during your move. For example, you can use moving pods or a storage facility to transport your belongings anywhere throughout the country without having to come in contact with another person.
Buy New Cardboard Boxes
Research has shown that COVID-19 can live on different surfaces for varying amounts of time. The disease can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, so it’s a good idea to purchase all new boxes for your move rather than using any from donation centers. While it may be more cost-effective to get used boxes, and we’d recommend doing so if you weren’t moving during a pandemic, you’ll be much safer spending a little money on clean cardboard.
You can use boxes from previous online purchases, buy new ones from Amazon, or pick some up from your local home improvement store. Just make sure you aren’t exposing yourself to any unnecessary contact with the virus.
Research Pandemic Protocols at Local Donation Sites
Moving is the perfect time to go through your stuff and decide what you want to keep. Do you really want to move across the country just to throw away that junky dresser you didn’t really want? Take some time to create a pile of things you don’t want, then research some possible ways to donate it to places like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, a local women’s shelter, or another local donation site.
If you’re trying to make some money back from your belongings, you can also try to set up your own popup store complete with social distancing requirements, sell things on Facebook Marketplace, or sell them to your friends or family.
Moving during a pandemic doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your health. Follow these three safety tips to ensure you have a safe move without holding yourself back from making those major life choices. Reach out to us at The Circle to learn more about how we’re facilitating moves during the pandemic.