Moving house during the coronavirus lockdown
The entire world is currently fighting a war against an invisible enemy – the coronavirus. Many countries have implemented a series of measures in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. One of those measures is putting entire cities under a lockdown. Because of this measure, people should not leave the house or the city. However, this can be difficult for people who need to move. For this reason, moving house during the coronavirus lockdown is tricky. Should you reschedule your moving services Baltimore or continue with relocation? Let’s find out.
Working hours
Many companies are temporarily closed due to coronavirus. For this reason, you will have trouble finding a new home. Real estate agencies are mostly closed. You can probably contact the real estate agents via email or phone as some are working from home. Buying a home is delayed. You can maybe check the house online but visiting the place is forbidden in many states. However, you can collect all the necessary documentation for the purchase if you already have a house in mind. Be prepared to wait longer than usual even if you are buying or selling a house. In addition to this, check with your bank about the mortgage as those have been delayed as well. Lastly, moving companies are advised to move only a small number of people. Therefore, you should call movers in Maryland and check if they are still working.
Moving house during the coronavirus lockdown – is it possible?
If it is not urgent, do not move house during the coronavirus lockdown. As you might know, you have to gather the necessary packing supplies. This means you will have to visit your local supermarket to get them. Then, you will have movers inside your home. This can be dangerous as you do not know if someone of them is infected with the coronavirus. The incubation time is usually 14 days, but in some cases, it can last longer. During this time, those people can still infect others. If you have some chronic disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of heart or lung problems, you will be in life danger. For this reason, it is definitely better to be safe than exposed to the virus. If you can wait, do not move house until the situation stabilizes.
Hiring a moving company
In some cases, it is not possible to delay the move. For this reason, you should find a moving company. Here is how.
- Ask your friends and family for recommendations
- Search on the Internet
- Check your local newspapers
- Pick three to five moving companies
- Compare moving quotes
- Check if they have a license issued by the FMSCA or local government
- Read moving reviews on Yelp
- Check the track record on the BBB
In addition to these usual rules when hiring a moving company, you need to check their policy regarding the COVID-19. See what measures they implemented in order to protect their crew and customers. All the employees should wear protective gear, such as face masks and gloves. Furthermore, they should disinfect their moving equipment regularly, especially cardboard boxes. The novel coronavirus can survive 24 hours on the cardboard.
Moving house during the coronavirus lockdown – clean the house
Even if the coronavirus was not a huge threat to humankind, you would still need to clean your home before the relocation. It is a good way to get rid of all the items you no longer need. You can get money from a garage sale or online sale while saving money on a smaller shipment. However, since the situation with the COVID-19 is very serious, you have to clean the house and your items. It might seem like a waste of time, but it is better to bring clean and virus-free items into your new home. For this reason, wash your clothes, buy disinfectants, and wipe every surface in your home. In addition to this, you should disinfect packing supplies, especially cardboard boxes. If movers will bring packing supplies, make sure they disinfected boxes before taking them inside your house.
Moving day tips
The usual moving day rules still apply but you should be more careful. First, get protective gear. This means gloves and a face mask. Secondly, try not to be stressed. This may sound silly, but you should keep your immune system strong. People with a weak immune system will likely get affected by the coronavirus and stress is one of the main causes of the weak immune system. So, make sure to sleep, do not overtax yourself, eat well, do not skip breakfast, and stay dehydrated. In addition to this, you should keep the social distance. This might be tricky, especially in a small apartment, but there is always a way. Do not stand too close to your movers. Let them carry the boxes. The same thing applies if you opt for a DIY move. Do not invite 10 friends, but 3 to 4.
Moving house during the coronavirus lockdown – general rules about COVID-19
In the end, it is important to read again about the COVID-19. First, avoid leaving the house unless it is necessary. Even if you leave the house, make sure to keep the distance. You should be 6ft away from other people at all times, even in supermarkets, pharmacies, and similar places. Next, make sure to wash your hands regularly. This should last for 20 seconds. In addition to this, use a face mask and gloves. Some experts say it is unnecessary to wear a face mask unless you are sick. However, many people do believe it is good protection against the virus. Next, do not touch your face if you sneezed, coughed, touched anything that is not clean, and similar. Lastly, avoid social contact, especially with people that traveled abroad, had contact with infected people or they are sick at the moment.