Moving During COVID-19: How to Stay Safe

June 4, 2020

When it comes to moving, we at Bradford Moving know that this process can be stressful in general. It becomes a greater area of concern when moving during a pandemic. COVID-19 has caused many people to change their lifestyles.

If you need to move during the pandemic, you may be worried. Moving companies have been deemed an essential business and with that, we’ve taken care to implement stringent safety standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you’re moving to or from Bradford, Newmarket, Aurora, or Barrie, we are proud to be a team of expert professionals available to get you moved and keep you safe.

Table of Contents hide

1 What We Offer

2 Steps We Take to Keep Crews and Clients Safe

3 Setting Up for A Successful Move

4 Be Aware and Stay Safe

What We Offer

Our company is family-owned and operated for over 35 years. We offer world-class moving and self-storage services. Building lasting relationships and expert knowledge through our years in business, our staff has helped move individuals, families, and businesses of all shapes and sizes. Whether you need help with moving to a new home, moving things into storage, out of storage or any combination in between, you can count on Bradford Moving for all your moving and storage needs. Our pricing packages are competitive and flexible to meet the needs of the range of clients we serve. We welcome the opportunity to make your move as smooth and efficient as possible.

Our staff knows that each person has unique needs. We also know that safety comes first throughout the moving process. Not only for you, but also for our staff and your items. This is why we develop a custom plan for each job. If you hire us to help you move, we’ll work with you to understand the full range of services and expectations needed, so when the day of the move comes, everyone knows what’s next. We’ll provide the appropriate equipment to complete the job and make sure it’s done exactly as requested.

In order to keep our clients and staff safe, we are constantly keeping ourselves apprised of current COVID-19 governmental recommendations and making improvements to our health and safety policies accordingly. Below are some of the steps we are currently taking to ensure everyone stays safe while moving.

Steps We Take to Keep Crews and Clients Safe

We feel that it’s important to make sure our clients know how we’re approaching the current pandemic. We know that you can choose your moving company but want to make sure that you feel comfortable with what we offer. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we developed the following mandatory steps for our crews. We meticulously follow these guidelines for optimal safety.

1. Preparing for Work

When employees arrive at work each day, they are directed to a washroom where each employee is required to wash their hands before starting their shift.

2. Verifying COVID-19 Exposure Risk

The day of the move, the Crew Chief will come to the front door of your house, office, or apartment and ask about exposure risk. They will ask if anyone in the space has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or if anyone living there is in quarantine due to COVID-19. For an answer of yes to either question, the Crew Chief will return to the truck and then contact the moving company before proceeding. They will ensure that their crew is following appropriate safety procedures before starting the move. This is to prevent you or the crew from being exposed.

If the answer to these questions is no, then the move will proceed. Before starting the move, the Crew Chief will ask the client to let employees wash their hands. This is an additional preventative step to minimize any risk of contracting COVID-19.

3. Getting Ready to Leave

The next step is loading the truck. During this time, the client may be present but it’s recommended to wear a face mask and also follow social distancing. For any clients that may feel as though they are at high risk, it may be better to stay outside or stay away from the movers. For any moving concerns or delicate possessions, make sure to talk to the Crew Chief before the move. This is the best way to ensure a seamless move throughout the process.

After all of the boxes have been loaded, the crew will once again wash their hands. We know that frequent handwashing plays an essential role in preventing exposure and transmission so we take this seriously. The crew will also wash their hands after arriving at the destination and before unloading the truck.

4. Arrival and Unloading

It’s recommended that the space our crew is moving into be clean and sanitized. We will follow safety procedures while moving your furniture and boxes into the space. Once again, during the unloading process, clients may have specific instructions. Before you move, marking boxes with their desired location is a great help in the process. If you have any specialized instructions for unloading, make sure to talk about it with the Crew Chief. This will help the unloading process go smoothly.

Once the offload is complete, our crew will once again wash their hands before leaving the premises. After our crew returns to the facility, the Crew Chief will assign a team member to aid in disinfecting the truck. The cab of the truck will be disinfected with all of the handles, steering wheel, and other buttons cleaned. This ensures that the truck will not pass any germs from one spot to another.

Setting Up for A Successful Move

Now that you have a better idea of the steps we take at Bradford Moving, we’ve outlined some recommended steps that you can take as you prepare for your upcoming move.

1. View Your Property With Caution

If you’re moving into an unoccupied space, then you probably won’t have much to worry about when it comes to infection. However, if you’re moving into an area that is shared or currently occupied, then you need to be cautious. Landlords are recommended to avoid in-person showings and some may only be offering virtual tours. However, if you really want to view where you’re moving, you may still be seeing a space in person. Certainly, if you commit to a place, then you’re probably going to see it in person.

When you’re visiting a property with any other people present or with you, make sure that you’re wearing a mask and gloves. Practice good hand hygiene after removing gloves and avoid touching any surfaces that aren’t completely necessary. You should also practice social distancing with any people present for optimal safety.

2. Pre-Clean Your Space

Whether you’re moving into a house or an apartment, you want to make sure that you’re moving into a clean space. If you have time, you may want to visit your new spot and clean it thoroughly. Make sure that you use disinfectant on frequently touched spots like light switches, faucets, and door knobs. This will help keep you safe when it comes time to move in.

If you don’t feel comfortable cleaning on your own, it may be a good idea to seek out the services of a professional. Professional cleaning companies do a great job of cleaning a space thoroughly without you needing to expose yourself. Make sure that you look for companies or professionals that are following protective guidelines. They should be wearing PPE when cleaning and when coming into contact with anyone else. This will not only keep them safe but also make sure that they leave the house clean and ready to move in.

3. Minimize Contact While Getting a Moving Estimate

When you’re in the market for a moving company, they may want to get an idea of how much they’ll have to move. This is fairly common as they need to know how many people to use, the truck space required, and the equipment needed for a safe move. When you have an in-person estimate though, this can put you at unnecessary risk. Instead of putting yourself and the movers at risk, why not try a virtual estimate?

Many moving companies can provide you with an estimate simply by looking at a video of your home. You may also be able to do a virtual walkthrough of your space which can also be helpful. Ask the company you plan to use if you can take advantage of virtual options. Some companies are well-adapted to this while others may simply need to know the approximate size of your space and any specialized pieces to get started.

4. Plan for Stops on the Move

If you’re moving down the street, you don’t need to plan for much along the way. However, if your move is on the longer side, make sure that you prepare accordingly. Depending on the time you’re going to spend on the road, you should plan to pack drinks and snacks to keep you energized and hydrated. If you have the time and space, packing a cooler with your favourite drinks and snacks will help keep you moving. If you need to stop for food, plan out your route to make sure that there will be options along the way.

5. Plan for Storage or Closures

The regulations regarding moving always have the possibility to change due to COVID-19 guidelines. Depending on the move, you may need to adjust your move dates. For example, temporary government orders in certain cities could prevent you from moving into some condominium or apartment buildings, or shared living spaces. These delays can be unexpected and for unknown amounts of time.

If this happens, then you may need to store your items temporarily. Choosing a moving company that also offers a storage facility gives you one less thing to think about while navigating through new territory. Peace of mind and flexibility are what we aim to offer our customers with the combination of services available through Bradford Moving. Make sure you feel safe and supported through any potential situation when selecting your moving company.

6. Closing Up Your Current Space

If you’re moving away from your current space, talk to your landlord or real estate agent to prepare for your absence. For example, you should talk to your landlord about how to leave your current place. Most places require that you leave the home or apartment “broom-swept.” This usually means that the area is clean but not sterile. In cases of COVID-19, your landlord may want the place to be cleaner than earlier desired.

Although you may not be required to provide this deep cleaning, talk to your landlord or agent about any additional expectations to avoid losing any of your deposit or running into other problems. Chances are that if the space is left relatively clean and undamaged, you should be able to receive your original deposit back. Good communication before you leave will ensure that you avoid any problems after the move. If your landlord or new home owners want a deeper clean, it’s likely that they’ll have to be responsible for that. However, they may want to work with you to get this done close to your move-out time.

Be Aware and Stay Safe

Although you may feel as though moving is a dangerous activity at the present time, it’s possible to move safely with the appropriate precautions. At Bradford Moving, we take each move seriously. We know that our clients have moving needs during this time. If you need a company that looks out for you and your health, you want to make sure that the company you choose is following appropriate safety guidelines. Any company that you use for your move should be able to tell you how they keep their staff and you safe throughout the process. If they seem to be inadequate in any way, you’re better off choosing a different moving company.

Now that you have a better idea of how to stay safe during your move, make sure that you plan your move as early as possible. Guidelines around moving during COVID-19 are constantly changing and we want you to be prepared. Contact us to get an idea of what we can offer you for your move. This will ensure that you have a seamless move and get to your final destination as stress-free as possible.

Two movers loading furniture wrapped in moving blankets into a moving truck with its ramp down during a local move in Ontario

Contact Bradford Moving & Storage

We absolutely love to hear from our clients. Drop us a line and we’ll discuss how we can help with your move.