How to Move in the Middle of a Stay At Home Order

Moving is a huge undertaking. There is a lot of planning and work involved in addition to the stress of having your world upended for a time. Whether you hire a moving company or do it yourself, there are certain steps you have to take and decisions you have to make. Moving is a complicated endeavor under normal circumstances, but attempting a move during stay at home order presents added challenges.

Therefore, many people are choosing to postpone their plans to move until orders are lifted and things return to normal. But that is not always possible. Our hope is that reading this article will assist you in making adjustments and accomplish your move during this difficult time.

General Guidelines

Services

Conditions are constantly changing, so it is important to stay informed about your area and the area to which you are relocating. Availability may be diminished for items or services you will need such as packing supplies, storage facilities, donation centers for your unwanted items, groceries or restaurants for your trip, and so forth.

Your ability to set up utilities and services in your new location might be affected. For these reasons, navigating a move during stay at home order will require a little more time and some creativity.

Cleanliness

Consider packing your belongings yourself rather than hiring a moving crew to do it. This will reduce the risk of exposure for everyone. Make sure you and your helpers wash your hands before and after packing. You may want to designate someone to manage that aspect if you have more than two or three people helping.

Even things you don’t want may need to be disinfected, if possible, before they are donated. If you are moving into or out of an apartment building, be respectful of shared spaces and take steps to wipe down elevator buttons and so forth.

Pro Tips

Mark a couple of boxes “Open First” with bold letters and brightly colored tape. Pack in these boxes items that you will need right away when you arrive. These could include soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, device chargers, sheet sets, and basic kitchen tools.

Important papers and irreplaceable items should travel with you.

It is important to have a support network in place. Let members of your family or friends know your travel plans and check in with them periodically.

Preparation

Moving companies are currently considered an essential service, so that is good news if you would like to use their services. Like most other companies, they are operating under new protocols and procedures to ensure the safety of their employees and their customers.

Previously, someone would visit your home for a survey to provide an estimate, for example. That step is now done virtually, either over the phone or through video chat.

It is important to communicate with the moving company well in advance of your move and often in the weeks leading up to the moving date. You may want to discuss the following considerations:

• Learn their cancellation and rescheduling policies, in the event that your moving plans change. In most cases, agreements are non-binding, but you may not be refunded your deposit.
• Inform the company if anyone in your family has been diagnosed or shows symptoms of the illness in concern.
• Ask what protocols or procedures you need to be aware of with regard to the handling of your belongings.

There may be precautions they will request that are different from the norm. The workers will likely keep a safe distance from anyone in the home. They may need to be able to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer as they enter the home. Some companies request that no people be in the house when they come, to avoid any contact.

If possible, you may want to leave your packed boxes untouched for a few days prior to the pick up day as an added safeguard. The same can be done after delivery as a kind of quarantine for your belongings.

One of the major questions you may have is what to do with all the items you can’t take. You may be downsizing your living space or you may simply find that you have accumulated too much stuff over the years. Normally, you would just donate those items to a second-hand store, but most thrift stores are simply not operational during this time. In some communities, people put things with a sign on them out on the street for passers-by to take.

Another idea is to advertise on social media and hope people will respond in time to pick it up before you have to leave. However, it takes quite a bit of your valuable time and attention to monitor and respond to inquiries during a time when your attention and time are probably already stretched paper-thin. Thankfully, certain donation service organizations are still willing to come pick up your items. This saves you time, and your donations help the organization.

Traveling

Check the regulations for travel in the state in which you live, the one to which you are moving and any states in between for restrictions or warnings. Keep up to date on changes. You’ll want to be aware of road closures and any problem areas that might develop that would affect your travel plans.

Although it is not advisable or optimal due to social distancing concerns, staying at a hotel or another accommodation is an option you may have to consider if your trip will take several days. The companies undoubtedly have protocols in place with regard to hygienic practices. You can also wipe down items before you use them.

Many fast food establishments may only offer drive-through services, so if you are driving a large moving van, you may need to watch for drive-through services that can accommodate your truck.

In summary, although conditions are not ideal for moving, it can be done with a few adjustments. Using the information discussed here along with your local resources, you will be able to adapt to your circumstances and work things out in your favor. Then, if you have to move during stay at home order, you can do so with confidence and success.