Moving is already one of the top three most stressful life events, followed closely by death and divorce. Add in the complication of trying to move during the Coronavirus Pandemic, and it can feel nothing short of overwhelming.

With over 40 years of experience, Gentle Giant is here to walk you through the entire process, from choosing a reputable company to preparing for moving day.

Choosing a reputable moving company

Right now, all the same recommendations apply when researching a reputable moving company. Do your research, ask friends, family, or your Realtor for trusted referrals, and verify the company online.

In addition to the usual advice, here are a few more things to consider during this time:

• Phone or virtual estimates – In most cases, your moving company should be able to provide you with a free phone or virtual estimate, so there is no need to send someone into your home to get a moving quote. In the instances where an on-site estimate is required, they should come prepared with a mask or face covering, and you should wear one as well.

• Operational changes – Your moving company should be able to list specific operational changes they have implemented since the outbreak of Coronavirus. These should include precautions like daily wellness checks for all employees, heightened cleaning and sanitization of all equipment, social distancing on the move day, and contact-free interaction with your moving crew, including finalizing payment and paperwork at the end of the move.  

• Penalty free rescheduling – Make sure to ask your moving company about penalty free rescheduling in case you or someone in your household are asked to quarantine before move day. Reputable companies will not only offer this, but they will insist on it to ensure the safety of their staff.

Preparing for your move

Our blog is filled with resources on how to prepare for a traditional move, however in this post, we want to focus specially on how to prepare for your move during Coronavirus. In addition to organizing, packing, and preparing children or pets for move day, there are several other things that currently need to be considered.

• Boxes and materials – Avoid going out to try to purchase packing supplies, and instead have your movers deliver them to your door. When available, this is a great option to help you limit spending unnecessary time in public spaces, and usually the boxes available are sturdier than what you will find in a big box store. Packing some (or all) of your loose household items yourself will also make things easier when the movers arrive. Check out our Pack Like The Pros video series for DIY packing tips from the professionals.

• Safety essentials – Make sure you and everyone in your family has access to clean masks or face coverings for move day (the moving crew should come prepared with their own masks or face coverings). Use a box or small container to make a “COVID Kit” you can easily locate and bring along to your new home. In addition to masks, this should include soap, paper towels, and/or hand sanitizer so you and your family can clean your hands throughout move day.

• Wellness check – It is important to do a health check of you and everyone in your home 24 hours before move day. If anyone is sick, has a fever, or has been around someone who had/has been sick, you should reschedule your move to ensure the safety of the moving crew. Your moving company should be performing the same daily wellness checks on their employees.

• Move day plan – You will be asked to leave your home after the crew does their initial walk-through and instead communicate with them via phone or video. If this is not possible, you will be asked to isolate yourself to one location in your home, such as a bedroom or office. Packing an essential bag ahead of time will make this easier. In addition to the important items you want on hand – like your wallet, keys, phone, and medications – you will also want to pack something to keep you occupied, like a book or a well-charged laptop or tablet.

Tips for a stress-free move day

Make sure you are ready for the morning walk-through with your movers. This is where they will ask questions about what is being moved and what requires special attention. This is also when you will let them know your plan for social distancing and the best way to communicate with you throughout the move.

Here are a few suggestions to make move day easier:

• Hand washing station – At both moving locations, plan to designate a sink for the movers to use to wash their hands throughout the progression of the move. Make sure this area is equipped with hand soap and paper towels. During the walk-though on move day, point out the hand washing station to the crew.

• Social distancing – You and your movers will be safer if you are prepared to leave your home for the duration of the move, once the initial walk-through with your moving crew is complete. Gentle Giant is prepared to communicate with customers over phone calls, text messages, or video calls throughout the course of the move. Make sure to let your crew know what type of communication works best for you. As mentioned above, you should isolate yourself to one location in your home if you are unable to leave, such as a bedroom or office.

• Stress-free time – While your movers are working, you will likely have some downtime. To help reduce the stress of move day, try to spend at least some of this time doing something relaxing. This could mean enjoying a walk, reading a book, or spending time cleaning and preparing your new home, if it is nearby. This is where your essentials bag will comes in handy – you should have a few items on hand to help you occupy your time.

Are you planning an upcoming move? We have lots of great resources to get you started. Check out our moving check list and use our free move estimate tool to see how much your move will cost.