Top 5 Moving Tips during the Covid-19 Crisis

This summer, many Montrealers will experience their first move during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moving to a new home is hard enough already. Adding the stress and fear of infection to the mix is a burden that no one wants to have. To help ease your move, here are 5 tips that can help alleviate some of your worries.

1) Have your disinfection kit ready

Face masks, plastic gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitary wipes. Your move will expose you to unfamiliar people and unclean surfaces. And with most public bathrooms closed these days, washing your hands as often as you should will be difficult to do. Having your disinfection kit ready to use every time you step out of the house is a great way to fight against the spread of Covid-19.

2) Manage your moving team

Gone are the days when you could let just about anyone help you move in exchange for free pizza. Not only are fewer and fewer people comfortable leaving the house at all, but allowing friends, family and complete strangers to come in and out of your home to help you pack is risky to your health and theirs. When building your moving team, you should ask yourself: have they been infected or come across anyone who has? Do they have children that cannot be left alone because of school closures? How will you implement social distancing?

3) Interview Moving Companies

If you decide that hiring a moving company is the best solution, don’t be afraid to ask serious questions about their Covid-19 protection measures (if they have any at all). Will each mover wear gloves and a mask? Will the truck be cleaned and disinfected prior to arrival? How have their hours of operation changed? Would they be comfortable coming to a home with someone infected?

4) Deep Clean your new home

Once your move is finally done, you should wait a bit before putting your belongings into their new designated spots. According to many sources, this virus can stay alive on a surface even after days have passed. While you wait, you should do a deep cleaning of your home: disinfect floors, doorknobs, handle rails, your new kitchen and bathroom. Make sure that whatever dirt, grime and dust that came along with the move is cleaned up. And don’t forget to wash your hands frequently during the process!

5) Reset your expectations and take it (very) easy

We have all entered a new World Order. Every single one of us is trying our best to keep each other safe, to fight against this new virus. We are all figuring out the best possible solution to the challenges this virus brought forth. Old habits must change and mistakes will be made. Adopting a more relaxed attitude and radically lowering your expectations will ease your mental health during your move.