The challenges of moving house during a pandemic and tips on how to make it easier

Moving house is stressful enough and on top of a pandemic, this can seem even more daunting. With unfamiliar restrictions in place as well as new protocols, we understand you might be thinking “maybe this isn’t the best time to move, let’s wait”. Which is of course understandable but if your feet are itchy and you want to stick to the original moving dates, we are here to reassure you and give you suggestions on how to still achieve a successful move during challenging and unprecedented times without any added levels of stress.

Communicate

First and foremost, communication is key. More uncertainty will unfold if you think your buyers aren’t likely to go ahead, but the position to put yourself in is to be positive and to communicate with them, to make sure that you’re on the same page in order to avoid any unnecessary complications at the last minute. There will also be other facets of your move that you will need to double check, so it is best to communicate with movers and travel providers. Ask questions such as whether they are still operating during the pandemic; do they have additional safety measures intact to protect everyone involved in the process and so on.

It is also essential to get in touch with your estate agent before their visit and establish what services they are providing as well as the measures they are practising to keep you and others safe.

Be prepared for the change

Usually, when moving homes, we are used to lots of viewings and meetings, but during the pandemic, it is best to avoid human contact as much as possible. Therefore, online viewings, pre-planned arrangements and sticking to social distancing measures are strongly encouraged to reduce the spread of the virus. Virtual viewings, vacating the property during viewings and ensuring the property is thoroughly cleansed before someone else moves in could be the new norm to adopt in the process of a house-move.

With virtual viewings in mind, when deciding upon which removal company you want to go with, it is worth asking if they are offering virtual video surveys. This software allows removal companies to perform virtual house surveys, gathering all the information that is needed for your move, which is helpful during the pandemic as it limits physical contact between you and those outside of your bubble, making it an essential safety tool.

Plan ahead

Planning is an important factor to consider during the pandemic. There will naturally be thousands of delayed house moves resuming and therefore a significant demand for removal companies across the country. Ensure that you plan by either reserving services early or provisionally booking your house move as this will certainly help to avoid further postponements.

Packing

With many things to think of ahead of the big day, the extra time provided during lockdown will be beneficial. Why not start organising your belongings and deciding what you want to bring with you or get rid of to fill your time? It’s always good to get the ball rolling in advance so you don’t feel panicked and it is good to get stuff like this out of the way because there will still be lots of other things to think about. On that note, make sure you do not pack the everyday items too early and stick to the lesser-used objects to pack up first!

When it comes to packing, we all want to be as eco-friendly as possible by using reusable boxes and so on but during a pandemic this might not be the wisest idea as cardboard can carry the virus for 24 hours so in this circumstance it is best to put your health first and invest in new boxes, just this once!

Steps to follow if you feel ill

Although house moves across the UK have been given the green light, we still must consider that global pandemic continues. If you or someone within your home develops typical symptoms of the virus, it is essential to suspend your move, making sure to self-isolate for the recommended period. We recommend you inform the necessary firms at your earliest convenience including your estate agent and your removal company. This can easily be rescheduled to a more suited date while not withdrawing from safety levels. We empathise that this is challenging and more time consuming, but it is imperative to prioritise your health and other people’s too before anything else.

Health and wellbeing first

As well as all of this, always remember to put you, your family, and your wellbeing first. If it all seems too much, then there is no harm putting the move on hold. At Zen Move we are here to help guide you every step of the way and reassure you with whatever doubts or worries that you may be having. At this current stage, yes it is important to wash hands, maintain an appropriate distance and wear a face mask but the ethos of Zen Move is to also prioritise your wellbeing so we will always encourage you to take some time out for yourself by perhaps doing some meditation, reading a book, going for a walk or even just resting your eyes for a while and focus on your breathing. These little things will go a long way to help you juggle an exciting life event along with an unprecedented global pandemic too!