Moving to a new home is a crazy, hectic endeavor. Ideally, it would be nice to hunker down and avoid the chaos of moving during a pandemic, but that can be easier said than done. Some decisions just can’t wait, as much as you would like them to.

If you find yourself faced with moving during a pandemic, you might be understandably worried about how to make it happen safely. But, with a lot of preparation and safety precautions, you can make the move while minimizing your risk. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you plan your move.

Find Your New Home Safely

You’ll probably have to jump over a few extra hurdles to find your new place during a pandemic. If you are traveling to look at homes, be aware of health restrictions in place along the way and in your new area. On your trip, and while you are looking at homes, make sure to practice social distancing, wear a mask, and use good hygiene. If you can’t visit in person, find out if you can take a virtual tour of the property. Many properties, like the Sherwood Apartments, have online floor plans and photo galleries that can help you make your decision.

Talk to Your Movers

Sure, you can avoid risk by moving everything yourself. Unfortunately, that may not always be practical or even possible. Whether your movers are professionals or kind friends and family members, talk to them beforehand about how the move can be done safely. Ask the moving company what safety precautions they have in place, and make sure you know who to talk to if those measures aren’t being followed. If you have friends and family helping, let them know what your expectations are. Have masks and hand sanitizer available for helpers, and practice social distancing.

Be Flexible

If there’s one thing people have learned from this pandemic, it’s that plans need to be more flexible than ever before. Give yourself some wiggle room in case something throws your move off track. If you are feeling ill, be ready to push the move back so you can isolate until COVID-19 is ruled out. Likewise, those helping with your move might need to postpone if they have symptoms. 

Clean Your Home

You are less likely to get COVID-19 from surfaces, but keeping things clean can reduce your risk and ease your mind. Follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to clean your old home after the move and your new home before you settle in. Use cleaners only as directed, and don’t mix chemicals, or you could do more harm than good.

Moving to a new home is hard enough without the added stress of COVID-19. If you have the right precautions in place, you can make sure moving during a pandemic goes safely and smoothly.