Relocating is stressful enough on an ordinary week, and doing it in the middle of a health crisis raises an obvious question: is it even sensible to go through with it right now? The short answer is yes, provided you approach the day with a little extra care. On top of the usual work of mapping out your logistics, protecting your goods, and lining up a dependable crew, you now have a pandemic to factor in and a household to move without putting anyone at risk. Below we walk through the steps our team leans on to keep everyone safe from the first box to the last.
Choose a crew you can rely on
Your first job is finding a company that is actually equipped to work under these conditions. Plenty of outfits paused operations when the pandemic hit, while others adapted, tightened their protocols, and kept going by the book. The second group is who you are after: a licensed team that understands how a relocation should run when infection control matters. A quick round of online research is usually enough to surface a handful of candidates near you.
From there, weigh their rates, look closely at what each service includes, and spend a few minutes reading through past customer feedback. Make sure whoever you shortlist carries the proper licensing and shows up with the right gear for the job. Most important of all, ask what safeguards they have adopted to limit exposure to the virus. Right now, a slightly higher quote from a careful company beats a bargain from one that cuts corners. Start looking early and you will land on a good fit without much fuss.
Pack with a little extra caution
Your packing routine barely changes, with one addition: plan to wipe everything down as you unpack at the other end. If your budget has room, upgrade to sturdier, better-grade supplies this time around. Here is the short shopping list we recommend picking up before you begin:
- Cardboard moving boxes
- Packing tape
- Bubble wrap
- Labels
- Stretch wrap
Box your things up the way you normally would, then once a carton is sealed and taped, mark it clearly and cocoon the whole thing in stretch wrap. That outer layer helps block dust, grime, and any lingering germs from settling on the contents. If handling all of this feels like too much, our packing services can wrap and load your entire home for you, so the heavy lifting and the sanitizing both come off your plate.
Keep disinfectant close at hand
Cleaning your belongings before they go in the box is optional, but sanitizing once you land at the new address is not. Ideally, give the whole property a thorough wipe-down before a single item comes through the door. You can tackle this yourself or bring in a cleaning service, and either way it is smart to do it roughly a week ahead of move-in so the space can air out and the fumes have time to clear. When your shipment finally arrives, take the unpacking slowly and disinfect each piece as it comes out.
Rent storage to lighten the load
Gloves, masks, and sanitizer for the people are a given, but your cargo needs protection too. Wrapping boxes and furniture alike in stretch film goes a long way. When the sheer volume gets to be more than you can comfortably manage, though, consider renting a storage unit and parking a share of your belongings there for the time being. It tends to make the move faster, safer, and easier on the wallet. Treat it as a chance to declutter as well: pull aside anything you rarely reach for and set it in storage until things calm down.
Moving during Covid 19 is entirely doable as long as you honor the current rules and safety guidance from start to finish. Hold your movers and any friends pitching in to the same standard, and once everyone is properly protected, the day will feel much like any other relocation. Take your time, stay patient, and stay well.
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