The year 2020 will be marked as the toughest year for mankind due to the spread of the deadly Corona virus leading to a high number of fatalities all across the world. Australia has seen the worst times in modern days when the government had to announce a total lockdown asking people to remain indoors. Putting a curb on businesses and their operations was something that was done with a heavy heart by the Australian Government.
While there are a few restrictions and many businesses will be operating with limited resources, moving has been kept under essential services. Moving becomes an essential service since people have planned their moves in advance, given advance payments to the place where they are moving and aligned their finances to adjust the bond back money they going to receive from their ex landlords.
Moving is essentially stressful. Moving during corona crisis has been more stressful due to the added level of anxiety that hangs over almost everyone these days. Moving businesses have just been as busy as they were past summer due to prior planning and engagements of people, new procedures are in place to keep everybody safe.
A few pointers if followed in letter and spirit will surely go a long way while moving to keep you and your family COVID – free.
Contact Less Booking is the new norm
The outbreak of corona virus has led many Moving Companies to search for ways to create contact less moves. If you plan on moving your home to a new place, talk to one of the moving companies thats offering a contact less move. Many movers will call you up and ask for the inventory you are looking forward to move and provide you a quote based on the details you provide. After you and the mover agree on the pricing and date of moving the moving company will ask you to move out of your home after packing your goods and wait in your car or make a move towards your new abode. Removalists from moving companies following contact less moving will never ask for any signatures or paperwork from you.
Get Estimates from moving companies that have been around for sometime
Just like in normal years, you’ll need to obtain estimates from at least two moving companies once you have decided to move. Some movers were already providing virtual and online estimates, many other companies are also offering this option in case potential customers wants to restrict access to their homes. If you prefer a home visit, the consultant will wear a mask and will ask you too to put on a mask.
Preparation: Disinfect Donate or Sell
Clear your belongings before you move is a smart idea. It just doesn’t make sense to pay for things if you want to get rid of them before you arrive at your new home. During quarantine, many of us noticed that we don’t really need or use a lot of stuff in our homes. Your move represents a perfect opportunity to purge. Begin as soon as possible with your belongings. It’s easy to forget how long it takes to go through everything, and how many choices you need to make before you start taking stuff out of cabinets and drawers. Many people find decision-making much more difficult during the pandemic, so consult with friends and family members whenever possible.
Pack your belongings before D-day
Ask neighbors, friends, and family members to start saving boxes, newspapers, and bubble wraps. Movers normally charge for the moving boxes and any packing material you might ask them to provide you at the time of the move. Other supplies you may want in abundance are wrapping tapes and markers for label boxes. If you are planning to buy boxes and other moving tools, try to buy everything in one trip to the store, and buy more than you think you’ll need. Start packing things you don’t use every day. Books are a great place to start. Extra linens, decor, casual wear, framed photos, and art can also be packed early. Keep the kitchen and bathrooms last, as well as your daily wardrobe. Pack the items together or with items from the same room, and label the boxes with the contents and the room in which you want to place the box in the new home.
Ensure your moving company is available and ready to move
A lot of moving companies have mushroomed up in the recent past since a lot of businesses shut down. A few of these newly created moving companies don’t even have a proper website, you can forget about any staff or trucks and expertise to move. If you plan to use a new moving company to move, check and double-check everything is good with them. Not only do you need to ensure that your moving company is still running but also that they have established safety protocols issued by the Australian Government. Speak to your movers and get verbal and written assurance that your move will not be affected. Ask about the policies and procedures they have introduced to protect in the wake of coronavirus. They should have a schedule for actual communication with you. This should include how the organization keeps its employees secure, as well as how the trucks and equipment are being sanitized. Your movers should be in masks and gloves on the moving day with a large bottle of hand sanitizer in their vehicle. They should do their utmost to stay away from you maintaining a safe distance. Try to sit in rooms where movers don’t pick up or deliver stuff to make it easier for social distancing.
Moving day Protocol for movers and you
Local movers are checking their customers the day before moving to make sure no one in the home has been infected. In addition to requiring employees to wear masks and gloves and undergo daily temperature checks, Professional Removalists gives each crew a corona virus safety kit at the start of each day that includes personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, disinfectants and paper towels. It is also helpful to have hygiene products available for staff use. Make sure there are paper towels and hand sanitizer in the bathroom. Make sure everybody in the family who is present has a mask.
Provide extra sanitizing products for moving day
Make sure to have ample sanitizing material and protective equipment on the moving day for everyone involved in the process. It is best to have access to a sink and hand soap at both places, but if that is not feasible, try to store plenty of hand sanitizer. Furthermore, you may want to have gloves and face coverings.
Prepare the new home in advance to avoid trouble
Since it is not possible to stay for a night at a friend’s house due to the social distancing and restrictions, do not forget to turn the power on, make sure all utilities are set up before moving into the new home, apartment or building. This includes water, gas, electricity and Wi-Fi. If you are unable to set up completely before moving in, at least call in early to arrange a time so you have as little wait as possible for things to fall in place. Remember that these utility companies may also be affected by the corona virus, so you may want to schedule your service as soon as possible.
Skip your move if you feel sick
If you or someone in your family is feeling sick or showing signs of the virus, the best thing to do is postpone your move until a health care provider gets the all-clear. While this may not be the most convenient turn of events, it is necessary for the safety of those involved. You might lose a few dollars however you might save several lives.
Author Bio: Kathe Jonson has been associated with the Moving and Packing Industry for more than 10 years she is an expert in the logistics and transportation niche. Kathe has been associated with CBD Movers, a leading Moving Company and having the best movers and packers in Sydney, Australia. She loves writing and shares a variety of blogs within the logistics realm.
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