Most of the world might be on hold during this unprecedented time, but beautiful and exciting life events are still occurring. One milestone that continues, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, is families, recent graduates, medical residents, and others are moving into new apartments and homes.

Whether because of a job change, going off to school, a lease ending, or other major event, people may still need to move from one place to another. Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take to adhere to recommended social distancing guidelines, reduce exposure, and make your move a safe experience.

Is Moving Allowed Right Now?

The good news is that there are no bans or prohibitions on moving during COVID-19. Even in cities and states with shelter-in-place or safer-at-home orders, delivery, moving and rental truck companies are listed as essential services. This means they’re legally allowed to operate during this time.

In addition, the National Apartment Association notes that leasing agents, property managers, maintenance, and related residential property service personnel are also considered “essential critical infrastructure workers” under federal guidelines. So, there should be someone at your new apartment community to help guide you through your move.

Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tips to protect yourself and steps to take to slow the spread of coronavirus. However, if you are in a high-risk category — older adults and those with a severe underlying health condition — or if you or anyone in your household has tested positive for the virus, consider postponing or rescheduling your move.

How To Move Without Hiring a Moving Company During COVID-19

If you have a move coming up, now is the time to DIY. Do-it-yourself moving is probably the safest, and let’s face it, most stress-free moving option to ensure you are still social distancing while moving.

Using portable storage units such as PODS or MI-BOX of Northern Virginia can be done with little to no human-to-human contact. You can rent the unit online or over the phone, fill it with your possessions, and have it moved to your new home.

Another DIY option is hiring a rental truck and moving yourself. Most truck companies are open and available for your business. Just make sure you ask about the specific measures they’ve put in place for the health and safety of their customers.

Some additional hygiene tips to keep in mind:

  • Keep six feet of space between yourself and others.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, steering wheel and gear shift with a household disinfectant.
  • Wear rubber gloves and cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering (even a bandana would work).
  • Purchase and use new boxes for your move. Since the coronavirus can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, free or recycled moving boxes aren’t your best option at this time.

How To Hire A Moving Company During COVID-19

As mentioned, moving companies are considered essential businesses. The American Moving and Storage Association suggested additional measures that many movers are using to mitigate risk at this time. These include:

  • Virtual estimates
  • Availability of protective equipment and hand sanitizer for employees.
  • Encouragement for movers to use gloves and masks.
  • No physical contact between movers and customers.

AMSA also offers tips to help you prepare for your move. They suggest:

  • Communicate with your moving company if anyone in the household is experiencing any symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
  • Provide hygiene products and wash space for the movers. This includes soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer.
  • Designate one family member to oversee the move and interact with movers.
  • Donate unwanted food items to a local charity, such as Move For Hunger.

How To Settle Into Your New Apartment During COVID-19

Now that you’ve got the keys and your moving arrangements are in place, you’ll want to stock up on essentials for moving into a new apartment, including a couple of weeks of food and cleaning supplies to keep your new place sparkling.

Make sure you reach out to your cable, internet, and phone providers ahead of time to discuss your options. Some providers aren’t providing in-person installation at this time but can mail you a self-installation kit.

Finally, take some time to figure out where the nearest grocery store, pharmacy, and emergency care clinic or hospital are located in your new neighborhood. This is also a good time to tap into the local expertise of your new neighbors (from a safe distance, of course). They’ll know all the best restaurants in the area and what delivery options are currently available.

You could even sign up for the NextDoor app and meet your new neighbors virtually. Who knows? Maybe someone in your new community is organizing an online happy hour.

Stay Safe While Planning Your Move

Southern Management is using technology to help minimize the challenges that come with moving to a new apartment during this strange time. Our doors might be closed but we’re still here to help.  We are offering phone consultations, virtual tours, and of course online applications. Take advantage of unbeatable online specials happening now.

Contact our team to learn more today!