Are you thinking of moving houses amidst Covid-19? Some people might have purchased a new property before the lockdown, and some people might have bought property during the lockdown while some potential buyers might be searching for a new property during the pandemic. Pandemic or not, moving homes is always a huge ordeal. From packing everything up to sprucing up the new place, from finding the right moving company to settling into your new home, there is so much that goes on while you’re moving houses. Whether you’ve hired the best real estate agents in the city, be it Marylebone estate agents or estate agents in Manchester, no one can ever prepare you for the amount of work that it requires to move homes. According to the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kay & Co estate agents in London, if you’re thinking about moving houses during Covid-19, here are the top 7 tips that you will want to keep in mind.
Hire a moving company
Do not use a man and van service as they rarely follow strict COVID-19 protocols to protect you and your family. Put your trust in a professional moving firm like White and Company as they have the experience and measures in place to ensure your complete safety.
Don’t try to do it all on your own. While you might be worried about strangers entering your home, packing up your things, and transporting them to a new home all while the world is amid a pandemic, it is not wise to try to do it all yourself. It is highly recommended that you find a good, experienced, and trustworthy moving company that follows all the sanitation and hygiene protocols that are required. That way, you won’t have to worry about Covid-19 while shifting houses. Make sure that you follow social distancing protocols, you and the moving team wear masks and gloves, and most importantly, ensure that everything is properly sanitized before and after removal.
Get rid of unwanted furniture
The best way to reduce the effort it requires to pack up and move is by getting rid of old and unwanted furniture. If you’ve been meaning to change the couch that has been sitting in your living room for the past ten years, now is the time to do so. There are so many people who are unemployed and almost homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic, so you could donate old furniture, old kitchen appliances, extra bedding, and many other such old items that you no longer want to homeless shelters. Instead of throwing these unwanted items away or selling them at a garage sale, it is better than you donate them to charity. You’ll be helping the needy during a pandemic, and you won’t have to pack up anything extra!
Get the right moving supplies
Usually, the right moving supplies include bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, and lots of old newspapers. However, during the times of Covid-19, the new ‘right’ moving supplies are gloves, sanitizers, and masks. Of course, you do need essential moving supplies like cardboard boxes for your books and personal items, bubble wrap for your fragile items, and old newspapers to wrap kitchen appliances and showpieces. But, you need to ensure that you have enough sanitizer so that you can sanitize the new place thoroughly before moving in. Also, since people regularly dispose of their gloves and masks after using them for a short while, you need to have quite a few extra handy.
Opt for a virtual tour
Before moving into the new place, most buyers want one last tour. Instead of physically going to your new home and walking around the area, you should opt for a virtual tour. That way, you will be able to see the condition of the property and if there is anything that still might require repair or fixing. Not only is a virtual tour much safer, but it will also save you a whole lot of time and effort. Keep in mind that virtual tours are the thing of the present, and the future, so most real estate agents will readily agree for a virtual tour. It is essential to choose safety over physical inspections!
Minimize social contact
When you’re moving, you’re going to have to interact with the moving people, your real estate agent, your new neighbors, and possibly many other service providers. Since you might be meeting multiple people in a day, you should avoid as much contact as possible. If a conversation can be made via a phone call, then opt for that instead of meeting up physically. Ask your moving company to leave your belongings in the new home and once they have left, only then go into the house. And instead of taking a pie over to the next-door neighbors, wave to them from the garden and ensure that you follow social distancing protocols. In fact, make sure to maintain social distance while talking to everyone!
Don’t move if you’re not feeling well
Even if you have the slightest symptom of Covid-19, from a slight fever to a sore throat, from unbearable body aches to a loss of smell, don’t start the process of moving. You don’t want to risk spreading this deadly infection to anyone else. If you’re not feeling well, opt for home isolation or self-quarantine till you’re feeling better. Once you’re confident that your health is alright, only then make the move. Keep in mind that if you are unwell, which could be for any reason other than Covid-19, your immunity will be very low, and you’ll just increase your chances of catching this disease. So, it is much better to wait it out instead of being in a rush to move.
Keep older people and children away
If you’ve got older adults or children living in your home, then it is highly recommended that you do not include them in the moving process. You can ask them to check into a hotel for a night or maybe stay with family or friends, but do not expose them to the risk of Covid-19 while moving homes. Everyone who is involved in the moving process will have to meet various service providers and multiple people, which will only increase their chances of catching this disease. If it is impossible to keep the elderly family members or children away, then make sure they are not an active part of the move. Ask them to wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing protocols. Remember, it is always better safe than sorry.
