Moving Tips for the Pandemic

By Kailey Walters on April 17, 2020

At this point, it should come as no surprise that we’re living in unsettling times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many things that were once part of our normal routines are no longer allowed or have been disrupted, and the new normal, for many of us, is probably taking a while to catch on. While the parts of our everyday routines like going to school or work or hanging out with friends in person have undoubtedly been disrupted, there are also other things — like moving — that need to be approached differently than they would have been only a few months ago.

For most of us, moving is most likely the last thing on our minds. With the majority of states and cities on lockdown in the United States as of now, any kind of movement — even so much as leaving the house for an hour — feels taboo. That’s why making a bigger, more permanent move, like from one apartment to another or even from one state to another, is such a big deal right now. If you’re already in the middle of a move that’s been planned for months, that inevitably means being more cautious about moving and following guidelines to make sure that you and those involved stay safe the whole time.

via Pexels

Create a budget.

If you haven’t already, it’s important to plan ahead and think about your budget for the move. For instance, you’ll have to think about whether or not you want to spend money on professional movers. They can definitely be very helpful and ease your own physical burden, but at the same time, hiring them can be expensive.

You’ll also have to think about how you’ll get yourself to your new place, which depends on how far away you’re moving. If you’re going somewhere within a reasonable driving distance from where you currently live, it makes the most sense to drive yourself — which means you’ll have to allocate a certain amount of gas money. If you’re planning to move across the country, you’ll need to consider whether you want to fly or drive. Right now, given the circumstances of COVID-19, plane tickets are drastically cheaper than they normally would be, but you will need to weigh the pros and cons of stepping on a plane versus driving in the safety of your own car.

Research moving companies.

As previously mentioned, it’s a good idea to think about whether or not you want to hire a moving company to help you move all your stuff. Your decision might depend on how much stuff you have, but generally, it may be more convenient for you to hire some professional movers to help you out. Make sure you give yourself enough time to properly do your research — there are many options out there, so do your homework to find out which moving company will be the best fit for you. Also, it pays to be cautious here; avoid getting scammed by fake moving companies online by familiarizing yourself with some of the warning signs, such as the company not having a telephone number or physical address listed on their website, having pricing that’s probably too good to be true, and not being certified by the US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Doing your research on moving companies will ensure that you don’t get scammed and that you have the smoothest moving experience possible.

Be aware of moving companies’ hygiene policies.

Once you’ve decided to go with a moving company and have confirmed that it’s legitimate, you should familiarize yourself with the company’s new hygiene policies. As with many things, this was probably not something you or these companies had to think about a mere few months ago — but with the current reality, it’s crucial that these companies abide by certain rules to ensure their employees’ and their customers’ safety. You should do your part as well by making sure you know what the company’s hygiene policies are and keep yourself safe by taking proper precautions, such as wearing a face mask and/or gloves when interacting with the movers.

Wait before decluttering.

Although it’s usually a great idea to get rid of items you no longer need, you may want to put a temporary hold on your plans to declutter this time. Everything you would normally do with your unneeded or unwanted things — like donating, selling, or giving to someone you know — is pretty much off-limits during this time. With many people being extra wary of coming into contact with new or unfamiliar items and people, it may not be a great idea to get rid of too many things in your home. You can certainly pack them away in a designated box for future donations, but for now, plan to hold onto all your belongings. Doing so will give everyone else peace of mind.

And if you really can’t afford to keep something unneeded — perhaps a huge piece of furniture that will take up too much space during the moving process — you can always leave it curbside. This might not be the best option, especially if it’s in good condition and you were hoping to find a home for it, but leaving it behind may be in your best interest to save you space and extra effort while keeping others safe.

Make lists of what you need to pack.

Although you will end up having to keep most or all of your stuff with you, for the time being, making a list can still be helpful. Writing everything down can be a good reminder of how much stuff you actually own and may even help you organize your packing process. For example, you can list all your cookware together — pots, pans, bowls, utensils, cups, you name it. And feel free to make your lists however you want. If you prefer writing everything down by hand, go for it. If you are more of a spreadsheets kind of person, that works too!

Label your boxes.

Staying organized also means having a smart packing strategy. To ensure that you keep all your belongings well organized, label your boxes with the room they’re designated for and a brief description of their contents. For instance, you could write on one box: “Bedroom – bed linens.” Adopting this strategy will help you keep track of which belongings go where in your new place, which will definitely make things easier for both you and the professional movers who are helping you out. And when it comes to packing your boxes effectively and efficiently, there are a number of strategies you can deploy to make sure everything fits — such as using the right size boxes for certain items, taping up the boxes securely, and bundling items together in the boxes to reduce the risk of breaking anything.

box, cardboard, moving

via Pexels

Keep the essentials near you.

The day or night before the big move, make sure you keep a number of essential items packed and ready so that you can easily grab them the next day and have them with you while you’re traveling, whether in the car, on a plane, or on public transit. These essentials may include your phone, wallet, keys, and other important things such as any necessary paperwork, medication, a change of clothes, etc. You never know what might happen during the moving process, so it’s always best to be prepared.

Notify your utility providers and other subscription services of your move.

Once you know the official date that you’ll be moving out of your current home and into your new place, you’ll want to notify your utility providers and any subscription services that you’re moving out. Doing so ahead of time will ensure that you don’t pay for these utilities longer than you need to and will give you peace of mind.

Schedule utilities for your new home ahead of time.

By the same token, you’ll also want to contact your utility providers to schedule service at your new home. Make sure to do this ahead of time as well; after all, you wouldn’t want to arrive at your new place only to discover that the electricity and water aren’t running. Scheduling things ahead of time will ensure that your move-in experience goes smoothly.

Change your address.

mailbox, address, number

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Once you’ve made the move, it’s important to change your address both on your driver’s license and with the IRS. It’s vital that you are able to receive any important information that could be mailed to your residence, particularly from federal and/or local government entities.

If you’re moving to another state, you should also change your driver’s license and state residency. The latter is primarily for income tax purposes, as some states, including Florida, New Hampshire, Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, and Tennessee, don’t require residents to pay income taxes. What’s more, establishing residency in a new state can help you obtain lower state and business taxes, qualify for in-state tuition at a university or college, or potentially vote in a swing state.

Ensure that your WiFi connection is working.

Assuming that social distancing will still very much be in place by the time you’ve settled into your new home, it’s important that your WiFi is working. Whether for school or work or both, you’ll need a decent WiFi connection to get your work done and communicate with others, both for professional and educational reasons and, of course, for your own sanity. You’ll also need WiFi to stay plugged into your usual news sources so that you can get updates on what’s happening in the world around you.

Locate essential services near your new place.

grocery store, supermarket, vegetables

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Although you probably won’t be going out very often, you will still need to know where certain essential services are located — such as the nearest grocery store, hospital, and urgent care center. Relying on food delivery services isn’t your best bet at the moment, as it could take upwards of two weeks for things to arrive at your doorstep these days. That’s why it’s important for you to know where the nearest grocery store is. Even if you have to wait in line just to get into the store, a weekly grocery run is worth it if it means you can buy enough food to sustain yourself.

You should also definitely find out where the nearest hospital and urgent care center are. Of course, you shouldn’t be expecting or giving yourself any reason to expect that you’ll need to take a trip there, but it’s certainly better to err on the side of caution in this situation.

It’s also not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with the new neighborhood you’ll be living in. Take a quick walk or drive around just to have a general sense of where things are; you’ll have more chances to do so later on as well.

Wait before getting new stuff.

If you didn’t get rid of a lot of your old clutter, now is a good time to continue to put that stuff to use. Sure, maybe it’s old and clunky and not the most ideal thing at the moment, but using your old items might be better than buying new stuff right off the bat. After all, it’s not exactly the best time to completely redecorate your new place with new furniture. A number of stores are closing or have already been closed for a few weeks, and ordering online can turn out to be a hassle due to delays and rescheduling issues with the company. Who knows — maybe holding on to some of your old things will spark some creativity and inspire you to arrange and decorate your new place in a unique and interesting way.

Moving is hard. Moving during a pandemic is even harder. But if you make sure to follow guidelines, be safe, and stay organized, your moving experience should go smoothly — and you’ll be living in your new place before you know it.

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