This blog post is a guest publication contributed by Leenan Property Management
Getting everything to work as planned when you are moving house is a lot of work. Even when things are normal, moving house can be hard; there are so many tasks to take care of and it is easy for things to fall apart. But the Coronavirus pandemic has now made what was an already difficult e even harder.
Now, you not only have to think of how to safely and securely pack and transport your belongings, but you now must also worry about how to keep yourself and your loved ones from getting infected. If you are moving house during the pandemic, it is going to be a bit harder because you must do it while maintaining COVID-19 protocols.
Each stage of the house moving process will present you with different challenges. If you are able to get through the packing and transporting of your stuff, you still have to think of the third and final part. Your new home must be sanitized and you have to make sure you and your family’s safety is not compromised when the movers arrive with your stuff.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, what steps should you take to make your new home ready before the movers arrive? Below you will find the recommended steps to make your transition into a new home as smooth and safe as possible for everyone involved.
What to do with your new home before the movers arrive
Discuss COVID-19 guidelines
This step should happen before you even hire a mover. Professional movers recognize that moving house is one of those activities that will force you to come into contact with strangers.
They should constantly improve their procedures to reflect updated COVID-19 guidelines. These guidelines should include steps that ensure your boxes are handled in a way that minimizes the risk of your belongings becoming exposed.
Read more about our response to COVID-19
Move on a weekday
To minimize contact with strangers, arrange to do the move during the week. On a weekday, unlike the weekend, most people will be away at work or school. Choosing a weekday when there will be fewer people around in your new neighbourhood will help you retain control of your surroundings. It will also help reduce the amount of stress on your movers.
Have a backup plan
Be prepared for any last-minute changes to your plans. Even though you have your moving day planned out, you don’t control what happens on the mover’s end. Events may happen that make it necessary for the mover to delay their arrival. If this happens, you don’t want to find yourself stranded. Identify a local hotel where you and your family can stay if the need arises.
Reserve storage near your new home
This could be a necessary step even if there are no disruptions to your moving day plan. Most times you only need a storage space is if you have excess stuff that can’t go into your new home. But you may also need storage if you don’t have sufficient time to sanitize your boxes properly before unpacking them. Storing them will let you do this at your own pace.
Schedule a cleaning
If someone else lived in your new home previously, you certainly need to sterilize the home. You will naturally want to clean the home before you move into it, but sterilizing the home is a lot more than cleaning it. The entire home should be cleaned, from top to bottom. All hard surfaces should be wiped, with special attention given to high-touch surfaces.
Schedule home improvements
Even if you are moving into a new construction home, there will likely be one or two things you need to be fixed before you move in. Try to do all your home improvements before your things arrive.
The fewer people in the home and the less cluttered it is, the easier it will be to observe social distancing rules. Make sure you check your contractor’s processes for observing COVID-19 guidelines before hiring them.
To learn more about home improvements, read our tips for home improvements to celebrate leaving the house.
Transfer your utilities and other services
You should start this well before your moving day. That’s because there may be delays with some services due to backlogs caused by the pandemic. Of particular importance are electricity, gas, and water, because without those you may have to arrange temporary accommodations. Also, remember to connect your TV and internet services.
Get your home ready
This is the time to identify and mark out a dedicated path for moving your stuff out of the truck into the house. Keep the path free of clutter. You may also need to designate an area in each room where you want the boxes deposited before you get a chance to sanitize them. If the doors in the new home are not wide enough for your furniture, you may need to have them removed temporarily.
We also have a separate guide about the best way to pack for moving.
Reserve parking before the truck arrives
You can’t complete your move if there is no place to park the truck. This is something that is easy to overlook. Make the arrangements ahead of time to avoid unpleasant surprises. Find out if you need to pay for parking. If you have to ask to use a neighbour’s parking, ask them early.
Buy all your supplies in one go
There will probably be tons of stuff you need to buy. Most will be everyday household items that you could not transport from your old home. Some will be things that you need to clean and sanitize your home. Do your best not to go to the store multiple times; make a list of everything you need.
You can also check our range of moving supplies which we can deliver to your doors.
Arrive ahead of the movers
Arrange your schedule to make sure you get to the house before the movers. It is expected that you would have taken care of some of the above steps during a prior visit. But even if you have done this, you should still get to the house before the truck arrives.
Use protective gear
Even if you have discussed COVID-19 guidelines with the movers, some of the workers may still arrive at your home without masks and gloves. To make sure everyone complies with the rules, keep soap and water handy as well as have face masks and gloves at hand for anyone who might need them.