How to Move Safely During COVID-19: Best Measures and Precautions

The sheer logistics involved in moving to a new home or office can be a stressful experience in and of itself without the added fear of compromising your health and safety.

From the packing and the heavy lifting, to the truck driving and everything in between, it’s rarely fun to change 45263even when things are looking on the up and up. Now that COVID has rearranged the dynamics of relocation, you and your moving company will face a unique set of challenges that must be taken seriously.

The good news is that relocation can be done safely during the pandemic. Based on years of experience in commercial, residential and executive relocation services in Memphis, we have put together several measures aligned with CDC guidelines to make your moving experience safer and convenient.

We Prioritize Your Health and Safety

At Ewing Moving & Storage, the health and safety of our customers continue to be our top priority. As a response to the public health crisis due to COVID-19, we are closely monitoring ongoing updates with the CDC and World Health Organization and following best practices for cleanliness, sanitation, and other precautionary measures.

We are also following all necessary steps to protect our clients when moving during the pandemic. At this time, Ewing Moving & Storage is open for business and committed to giving you a stress-free moving service in Memphis.

Note: Memphis Movers Have Been Declared as an Essential Service

Local moving companies have been designated as an ‘essential service’ by the federal government and are open in all states across the US during the pandemic.

If you’re not too sure about moving and safety from the pandemic, be sure to get in touch with us here for recommendations as well as policies we take to ensure your safety.

COVID-19 Policies We Use for Our Customers

Limiting Exposure

Since most COVID cases spread through touch and proximity to infected individuals, there will be no physical contact between our moving crews and customers. This restriction also extends to shaking hands with clients. However, we will continue to be cordial (as always) and greet you with enthusiasm.

We also request our clients to limit the number of people in their house on moving day. It is best to keep crowds to only 2 or 3 people on moving day. This will allow our crew to minimize contact and limit the risk factors for all parties involved in the transaction.

Note: If you’re unavailable during the move, you should appoint someone over the age of 18 to supervise during the move day. This person will oversee everything, sign important documents, and provide important instructions to moving crews.

If you have many items that cannot be moved in a single day, we recommend a multi-day move to limit your exposure. This ensures that all parties involved have more space to move around. If possible, we will try to send the same movers every day to limit exposure to several people.

Social Distancing

During the pandemic, we are hard at work to reduce contact between our customers and service providers. To achieve this task, we double down on social distancing measures with our customers and team. This is one of the most significant steps we are taking as a business. Once our crews reach your location, we will do our best to maintain a distance of 6 feet from you as well as each other whenever possible.

Providing Estimates over Video

Thanks to virtual tools, it is now possible for us to assess your moving requirements so that we could provide you with moving estimates online. This is another step we’re taking to reduce the risk of COVID and keep you safe.

We can offer you free estimates via video conferencing software

Pre Move Health Evaluations

We encourage our clients to inform us if they, or others in their house, have or may have contracted COVID or are quarantining to prevent exposure. This also applies to various types of illnesses that could be misconstrued as COVID, especially if it leads to fever. In some cases, we may have to reschedule the move day to minimize the risk posed to customers and team members.

We may contact you a few days prior to the scheduled moving date to complete a health analysis as an added measure.

COVID-19 Policies We Take for the Safety of Our Movers

Below is a cursory overview of the safety practices we follow to minimize exposure to the virus:

• Providing movers with disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces such as steering wheel controls, truck handles, and moving equipment can be thoroughly wiped down before the start of each moving project.
• Allowing different departments such as sales and marketing teams to work from home.
• Implementing staggered work schedules to minimize large crowds at our workplace..
• All moving crews will be provided with adequate PPE such as masks, hand sanitizers, and gloves.
• Allocating the same moving crew for each moving task.
• Asking workers to not use each other’s phones, tools, and other work-related equipment.
• We are implementing an extensive housekeeping program in our offices. This means frequently disinfecting restrooms, countertops, and keypads.
• Interior of door handles, trucks, and moving equipment are thoroughly disinfected every day and after each moving project.
• Non-essential workers are not allowed to enter our workspace.
• Employees are asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID if they believe they’ve been exposed to the virus.
• All employees entering the building must take their temperature and log their vitals in a designated binder, and sanitize their hands before starting work.
• Inviting more communication and discussion about COVID at work.
• Managers are evaluated for their response and attitude towards the new safety standards.

Things Customers Should Do For a Safer Moving Experience

On moving day, you will likely touch your eyes and forehead to wipe away the sweat.  This is why it is important to have a disinfectant on you at all times, especially when you touch a new surface.

It is crucial to be extra diligent with your moving boxes. Speaking of boxes, we recommend purchasing boxes from Ewing instead of using recycled boxes from the dollar store. Our boxes are stored in a sanitized space and designed to hold dishes, mirrors and other breakable items. Allow your boxes to sit for at least 24 hours. Using new packing supplies will reduce the chances of the virus living on these surfaces. COVID can live on cardboard boxes for at least 24 hours, making these boxes a possible risk for everyone.

If that’s not possible, make sure that you (or anyone else who touches the boxes) wash your hands right after touching them.

We also ask our customers, who are not utilizing Ewing’s packing services, to pre-pack their items into boxes with labels indicating which room they belong to in the new house and where they should be placed.

Pro tip: It is highly recommended to have a designated sink with hand sanitizers and wipes for our movers to use.

As an added measure, once you are in your new home or office, make sure to continue washing your hands and give your furniture and walls a fresh wipe down. Just be extra careful to let your cardboard boxes sit for another 24 hours if you can. If you don’t want to wait that long, you should wipe down the boxes before handling them. Once that’s done, you can settle into your new home, safe in the knowledge that the virus is at bay.

Safety Tips to Follow Before Moving Into Your New Home

Before you move into your new home with your items, get ready to disinfect and sanitize the interiors thoroughly.

While the jury is still out on how long the virus can survive on various surfaces, there is enough evidence to suggest that they can survive for a few hours to a few days. This makes it important to sanitize your home and clean all hard surfaces with chemicals that can clean and disinfect simultaneously (most disinfectant cleaning solutions from a pharmacy will do just fine).

In the case of soft surfaces like rugs and carpets, it’s best to have them professionally cleaned and sanitized by experts.

We’re Here to Make Moving Easier and Safer During COVID

At Ewing Moving & Storage, we understand that moving is a stressful experience. This is why we’re working round the clock to make you feel safer about the entire experience.

If you have any questions about residential moving services during the pandemic, please reach out to us at our toll-free number 800.533.2315. You can also request a free moving estimate online.

If you found our COVID moving tips helpful, you may also enjoy our other blog posts that will keep you posted about all things related to moving and storage in Tennessee and globally.