Moving During the Pandemic in 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended the life of every American in all its aspects. It’s not a secret that many industries came to a grinding halt as a result of the efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Social distancing and isolation have been some of the tools we’ve used to fight it. But what if you need to move? A lot of people put a stop to moving plans during the pandemic, but for many, they didn’t have much of a choice or even saw the pandemic as an opportunity to move. Looking at the Pandemic moving trends of 2020, we can see that the number of people that moved increased by about 1.4% in respect to 2019.

If we look at the moving trends for 2021, you can see a lot more people looking to move thanks to the rise in remote work opportunities.

But not every move has been a successful one. A lot of people have experienced difficulty and even expressed regret about moving during the pandemic due to the many unforeseen challenges they faced.

If you need to move, it definitely can be done. But you must consider multiple elements and plan the move more carefully than ever before. Luckily for you, we have looked into the experiences of people moving in 2020 and 2021 to find the lessons and warnings when it comes to this significant step.

Let us walk you through the challenges, tips, Do’s and Don’ts of moving during the pandemic in 2021.

What Are the Challenges of a Move in 2021?

Social Distancing

A move requires people. People carrying boxes, coordinating with each other, and passing things around. This is not ideal in terms of protecting yourself from a pandemic. As such, you should make sure that proper distancing is followed at all times. Don’t be afraid to make your concerns known if you feel that proper distancing isn’t being enforced, or you see movers not using protective equipment like masks and gloves.

Try to minimize the people involved. If you would normally have friends and family help, it might be best to send them to the destination instead. The moving company will use only the crew that they need.

Communication Issues

Communication is extremely important under the best of circumstances. While a pandemic is ongoing? Make or break deal. Make sure you contact the moving company with more than enough time. Ask about their COVID-19 policies, and inform them of any requirements you might have.

Sanitization

Moving means a lot of touching. If equipment, boxes, and surfaces are not properly sanitized this can become a focus for infection. Moving companies are doing their best to keep everything sanitized, but customers also have to ensure their own houses are properly taken care of in this regard.

Service Availability

Availability of services can already be tricky in a good year. With all the extra measures and regulations surrounding the pandemic, finding a moving company for your date can be more challenging than normal. Make sure to arrange any moves with sufficient time, if a normal move should be scheduled 2-4 weeks before, then add a few weeks more for a move during the pandemic.

Useful Tips for Moving During the Pandemic

Schedule More Time than Normal

Moving takes time and effort. Both of these are doubled under these circumstances. Make sure you arrange for extra time for yourself and the movers during this process. Take extra time to plan, pack, and coordinate your move to avoid frustration.

Get More Supplies than You Think You’ll Need

To limit the risk of exposure, buying trips should be limited to a minimum. You want to get everything you need in one go if possible, and buy a little extra in case you underestimated the number of resources needed.

Clean and Sanitize Before and After Moving

Make sure all surfaces and boxes are properly sanitized before the moving crew arrives, and clean up properly as well once you arrive at the destination.

Check the Local Pandemic Procedures at the Destination

To avoid unforeseen issues and headaches, check what are the protocols for COVID-19 at your destination. This also applies to donation places if you were planning to give away any items that you no longer needed after the move.