2020 has been quite the year for many families, with children attending school online and parents adapting to work from home arrangements. As daunting as those adjustments are, many families are also choosing to relocate, which is yet another dynamic element to process.
Although preparing to move into a new home during the coronavirus pandemic is a massive task, by considering the information below, you can develop an effective moving strategy to make the process much easier.
The first step to streamlining your move is choosing your move date as soon as possible so you have a clear sense of urgency. Once that’s done, you then need to set the dates for your movers to arrive, or if you’re tackling this yourself, when friends and family will arrive to help with packing and loading the moving van.
The next major step to take is determining which belongings should stay and which should go. Your children and yourself should go through your wardrobe and get rid of the clothing that doesn’t fit, is worn out, or simply is no longer in favor. Other key areas that are relatively easy to declutter include desks and kitchen cabinets since those spaces are frequently filed with irrelevant items over time.
When packing, it’s important to remain organized. You don’t need to itemize everything, but rather clearly label each box with a room (e.g. “Bedroom,” “Living Room,” “Office”), and place your belongings accordingly. This is invaluable for when you’re unloading items in your new home.
As tempting as it is to rush to pack everything possible before your move, you’ll still need to leave out the items that are essential for living. Toiletries, cleaning supplies, and clothes to hold you over are just a few things to hold off on packing.
Depending on the length of your move, you might want to adjust your grocery buying cycles. Try to avoid buying perishable items during the week or two before moving day. You can get creative with the ingredients you have on hand, and have takeout if needed.
As the challenges of 2020 have shown, it’s essential to develop a contingency plan for if the unexpected occurs, such as transportation delays or travel restrictions. If you’re hiring movers, you should ask about the cancelation policy and discuss how to handle roadblocks or delays. Many moving companies have adjusted their policies due to COVID-19 to offer favorable terms for homeowners.
To minimize contact during your move, look into using your garage to store your packed moving boxes. Providing hand sanitizer and masks for your movers and/or helpers (friends/family) is essential to staying safe and healthy during your move. Also, be sure to maintain a safe distance from persons outside of your household during the move.
After completing your move and are settled in your new home, it might be worth looking into some home upgrades and remodeling. For example, HomeLight notes in their Top Agent Insights Q3 2020 report that 45% of real estate agents are seeing parents turning spare bedrooms or playrooms into homeschool spaces.
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