Have you been making plans to move from your current location?

Relocating to a new home can be one of the most memorable events in your life. You may have just gotten a new job in a big city and you need a new apartment to work from. Or you could get a pay raise and decide to get a bigger and nicer apartment. Never a bad idea. It’s even better when you do it with family. Be it a newlywed couple or a family of five, moving can always be fun.

But we’re currently in a rather unusual situation. A time where a lot of people would prefer to stay at home than go out. A period where we want do not want to do anything that can put us in danger of getting infected with COVID-19. Therefore, if you are thinking of relocating, there are a lot of questions you would need to seek answers to.

Should I make the move? Currently, at least 31 states are planning to reopen the economy. Therefore, movement should be a lot easier. Yet, there could be a couple of reasons. Health experts warn that people with underlying health issues such as diabetes and cancer are more prone to the illness and they have a higher chance of succumbing to the virus than other people when infected. If you or a member of your family has such health problems, you might consider ruling out a move at least for the time being.

What if I booked with my Moving Company and Want a Refund? After thinking it through, you might decide not to make the move at all. It could be that it is something you can postpone without much trouble or there are health concerns for either yourself or your family members. You will new to contact your moving company to find out if you can get a refund or if rescheduling is the only option on the table.

How can my “stuff” be assessed? Before moving, it is the usual practice to first decide the quantity (usually calculated from the standpoint of volume, although weight may also be taken into consideration) of what you want to be transported and the price you’ll be charged for it. Ask the moving company you are considering what ways this can be done. Do you have to open your doors for a physical assessment, or can the company arrange for you to do a virtual inspection? Lately, moving companies have been organizing virtual assessments and people are getting used to it.

The idea is to limit physical contact as much as is possible. Studies show that 25% of people who get COVID-19 do not show symptoms at all and can still move around as normally as every average healthy human being. This means that they can transmit the virus unknowingly to another person who could get very sick without having the slightest idea where the virus came from. Besides, when someone visits your home it is hard to track where they might have touched so you can disinfect those places afterward.

With a good camera, you can take shots of your items, record videos, or have a live session with your moving company to evaluate them. And you would still achieve pretty much the same result you will get from a physical assessment.

What Safety Measures Are in Place? This should be the top of your concerns. You will need to know what precautions the moving company is taking to protect both workers and customers and reduce the risk of the transmission of coronavirus to the barest minimum. The current situation dictates that businesses do not wait until a worker shows up at the office with COVID-19 symptoms before they step up hygiene and safety measures.

What are their guidelines for delivering and handling packages? Are workers mandated to wear face masks? Are there hand sanitizers and disinfectants available? A lot of moving companies have adopted the method of wrapping boxes and packages with thin plastic sheets to prevent contamination. You should ask your moving company what methods they have also chosen. Don’t be afraid to make any suggestions you feel might better keep you and your family secure.

Are all the Necessary Equipment Available? Does the moving company have the right truck size? Or would they need to make an extra trip before all your belongings are dropped in your new home? You need to make certain that you’re comfortable with what they’re offering you in this regard.

The goal should be to minimize the time spent transporting everything, and if it’s possible to do it in one trip, that’s a very good thing.

What About Storage Facilities? If you have got items that would need to be preserved for the duration of the journey, you’ll need to ensure that your moving company has those storage facilities available and they work in a safe and proper way. If your moving company uses storage units provided by third parties, you may want to get all the necessary information and examine them personally.

Are There Sufficient Experienced Hands? Sometimes, moving companies become understaffed and so they turn to students who may be on vacation or persons who are just looking to earn a few dollars on the side. The risk with these kinds of workers is that their lack of experience could be costly when handling fragile or precious belongings. If you have sensitive materials among your things then it’s best to go for a company that has experienced workers available.

It’s not necessarily bad that a moving company is using fresh hands, however. After all, the economic turmoil is making many people seek employment anywhere they can find it. What is important is to be clear with the moving company about specific items that require experienced handling. A good company will work with that without any fuss.

Finally….

Getting the right moving company to help you relocate can be the first milestone in the journey. With the right people, you will save time, money, and go through the process with a good deal of calm. You have done the stressful job of planning your relocation and you need a moving company that will ensure your peace of mind and the safety of your belongings.

You would also need a steady, experienced moving company that will do a perfect job or at least not ruin your plans. Another important thing is the level of precautions they have taken during this pandemic.

A company’s health safety policies at the time is a representation of what they are about and how much they value the lives of their workers as well as their customers. So when choosing a moving company, choose wisely.

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you relocating right now isn’t the best idea.

Why? Because we are currently facing a huge health crisis nationwide. Probably the worst type we’ve had in decades. The figures are grim and it seems like there is little or no end in sight for the continued spread of the coronavirus. Plus, there are restrictions in place regarding movement, especially if you’re going to be crossing state borders.

Yet, most times, moving is not a luxury. Definitely, not something you would do simply for the fun of it. It could be a necessity, something paramount to your work or life in other ways. At the moment, it could even be long overdue. And if you’re waiting for the perfect time to execute your relocation plans, you just may never find it.

So if you’ve come to realize that relocating during this crisis isn’t something you can postpone, but what you want to do and get over with as soon as possible, here are a few things you should consider.

Check Your State’s Guidelines. It is to be expected that as time goes, states are going to review and make alterations to their different COVID-19 guidelines in response to the situation on the ground. At present, moving is still considered essential by most states, meaning that you would still be able to relocate from one place to the other.

Consider the Health Status of Family Members. Statistics show us that certain classes of people are more prone to suffer from the Covid-19 pandemic. If there are members of your family who have underlying health problems, you would want to take extra preventive measures to protect them. Gauge your options. Is it possible to wait for a little till it is safer to move them? If it is possible, then you should consider postponing or at least make an arrangement for them to join you later.

Ask if Your Moving Company is Currently Operating. As explained earlier, it’s unlikely that relocation companies will be stopped from working during the COVID-19 pandemic because they are generally taken as essential businesses. But it won’t come as a surprise to see a moving company out of operations temporarily as anything from the sickness of employees to logistic and financial hitches could affect their ability to attend to customers.

However, there are moving companies operating at the moment. You should contact one that is credible and with a history of good outcomes for clients to handle your move. Now more than ever, you need a moving company that’s reliable, to deal with anything that might come up.

Get new Supplies. It’s best that you get new supplies though it could seem far cheaper to go around gathering old boxes and cartons to stuff your belongings in. It is a usual habit for people to recycle boxes from the supermarket for different purposes, yet your priority should be safety over cost. In a report by the New York Times, the coronavirus can remain active on a paper or cardboard surface as long as 24 hours.

Make a list of the supplies you would need. They should include; small boxes, large boxes, medium boxes, mattress bags, furniture sliders, post-it notes, box cutters, measuring tape, packing tape, bubble wraps, glass pack kits, plastic bags, tv boxes, markers, tall wardrobe boxes etc.

Plan Ahead of Time. It is wise to order for your supplies 6 to 8 days before you would need them. This is to make sure that in the event of a delay in the delivery of your supplies, you would still be able to pack up your things and be ready in time for your delivery company to move them.

Handle Packages Carefully. We recommend leaving your ordered items outside the door for a day at least. You won’t be able to disinfect most of the packages without staining or otherwise damaging them anyway. Best to leave them out so any contamination can die off before you begin using them to pack. As they say, the sun is often the best disinfectant.

Get Adequate Sanitizers and Disinfectants. Speaking of disinfectant, in the process of moving, you may not have the opportunity to always wash your hands with soap and water but you need to stay top of your hygiene game at all times. Have hand sanitizers to constantly clean your hands. Take disinfectants for commonly touched surfaces. If you find yourself short on them, you can make sanitizers out of strong alcoholic spirits. Be sure any alcohol you’re using is strong enough though – alcohol percentage levels of above 60% are most effective.

Find out about your moving company’s policies. What are the safety measures being put in place? Are the workers to wear gloves? What steps have been taken to ensure the security of workers and customers during the relocation process?

Do they also offer virtual assessments of your belongings? Physical assessments could still be done with precautions put in place. But in a world where there is abundant technology to conduct remote assessments, why not take advantage and conduct some of the processes virtually to reduce time spent doing it in person?

You will also need to know about payment policies. If you change your mind about the move, is it possible to get a refund? Could you also reschedule your move to a later date? This is information your moving company ought to provide.

Other Helpful Tips.

While moving, make use of cloth masks. If you called friends to help you, provide masks for everyone. Standard moving companies will adopt safety measures like professionals but friends choose to be casual. Yet, since they are there to provide the assistance you should be looking out for their safety.
Label your boxes. Don’t just stuff everything randomly. If you do, you’ll have trouble sorting out your belongings when you arrive at your new home. Get a marker and name each box according to its contents. You could also make a list of what’s inside each box so you can detect if anything goes missing.
Give out what you can. There might be some things you’ve not used in a long while and most likely won’t be used in your new home. Why bother taking them with you when someone else could be needing them? Call your neighbors and ask if you can drop them at their front door. That way you can make someone happy while reducing your load as well.

Last thing: stay safe. By observing social distancing, using cloth masks and sanitizers, you will be doing your bit to ensure everyone involved in your move remains in good health. Happy relocation!

Whether you’ve bought a new house or rented another apartment, changing homes usually comes with a lot of excitement.

Yet a new home comes with a lot of responsibilities. You’ll need to ensure that the place is secure, and things are laid in their proper positions. Knowing exactly what to do in your new home is crucial to a happy and peaceful stay in it. Below are a few tips to help and guide you.

Ask Questions. Before you settle in, you’ll want to know a little about your new place. If you’re staying in a multiple floor building, keep in mind that a lot of things can affect you. What happens if the elevator stops working? Are there enough workers available? What steps are to be taken in case of an emergency?

Do a Thorough Cleaning. If the house has been swept clean before your arrival, that’s great! Yet you may not know who was at the house last or when exactly they left. At the moment, we are unsure of how long COVID-19 can last on surfaces like kitchen counters, doorknobs and sinks. Therefore, it’s better you clean the house before settling in.

Get a bucket. Add a mixture of detergent and bleach and clean as much as you can, focusing on commonly touched places. When you are done, take out your usual air fresheners and spray. You will be surprised how the scent and delight would help you settle in more quickly.

Security First. Don’t think about it and don’t delay it at all. Get a new lock and key. The real estate company may have changed the locks, but you can’t be sure that no one else has an extra key. Putting the extra effort might seem like a lot but having new locks will give you peace if mind and put you in total control of your home.

You would also need to install your home security. If you have a contract with a home security provider, call them or go online to update your details. There are also various user-friendly security systems you can install by yourself. A quick tour around your local store and you’ll be able to select one that is suitable for you.

Get the Basics in Place. You should always have items in place for an emergency. Things like first aid kits, analog radios, torchlights, bandages should be kept in easily accessible places.

Have food and water stocked up in your kitchen? Enough for you to stay at home for about three weeks without going out to buy anything.

Remember hygiene too. Place hand sanitizers at strategic places. At the dining table and close to the front door where visitors can use immediately, they come in.

Set up Your Workspace. This could be in a corner of your room or the far end of your living room. Make sure the place is comfortable, well-lit, accessible to electricity, and devoid of distractions.

A good workspace is important if you’ve got a remote job or you work as a freelancer. You will need a place that enhances your focus and helps to keep your productivity at peak level.

Inspect Your HVAC system. Your furnace and A/C are necessary for your daily living. Imagine a summer with a dysfunctional A/C or a fireplace that only gives you misery. Check cooling and heating units, ducts, and insulation for anything that might seem off. This will give you plenty of time to schedule an appointment with a technician in case you need to.

Find Your Circuit Breaker. In case there is a fault in the electrical system, a circuit breaker will automatically stop the flow of electricity. You will thereafter need to reset it after the problem is gone. Knowing where your circuit breaker is located will help you easily reset it even in the dark.

Decorate. Not everyone will be lucky to meet their favorite paint colors in their new home. Except you are the type that doesn’t care too much, getting the house repainted should be top of the list. It may give you a bit of stress but the look, the smell of freshness can be would more than compensate.

While everyone has unique preferences, it is never a good idea to use one color for all the rooms. For example, if your favorite color is off white, you can decide to use it for your living room and go for lime green in your bedroom. Or you could do it the other way round.

You can also decide to try out other colors apart from your favorites. You can select among soft pink, electric blue, light cream fuchsia, bright yellow, lemon, or orange. Variety is the spice of life, they say.

Whichever you choose, always go for bright colors that would allow sunlight and energy to circulate.

Arrange Your Home with Style. Figuring out how best to set your up your living room and inner rooms can a weighty concern. You’ll want the rooms to be functional and comfortable at the same time. Whether you’re buying new furniture or using the one from your old home, here are a few tips you’ll find useful.

Always keep a reasonable distance between the chairs and the TV. Having them too close to the screen is dangerous to the eyes, whereas keeping them too far will make viewing experience unpalatable.
Think of traffic flow. You’ll spaces in between chairs and in between a chair and a wall so people can easily move around the living room.
Make use of free online tools. These will help you arrange furniture in your new home.
Place drawers and cabinets at larger spaces.

When setting up your new home, you’ll discover there’s a lot of things to do. However it’s important you prioritize what needs to be done immediately, with security in mind before moving on to other less pressing matters. After all, designing your home is something that never really stops. You can keep tweaking the shape of things till you get what really satisfies you.

Experience, they say, is the best teacher. However, while some experiences prove vital when learnt the hard way, some are better avoided. Moving belongings from one home to another comes with enough stress as it is. We all hope for a smooth transition when moving, but some mistakes along the way may lead to an unexpected turn of events. Unfortunately, some of these mistakes can cost you your time, money, and energy – they can be really costly.

Yes, to err is human, but ensuring a mistake-free move guarantees a successful finish to your plans. Whatever you do, be sure avoid the following moving mistakes:

Planning a move involves more than simply transporting boxes and furniture. A few things must be put in place to ensure a successful moving process. As a result, it is not a decision you make one day and complete the next.

The good news is that everything wouldn’t have to happen at the same time. Learning what is required to break up huge moving tasks into bite-sized projects will help you go through a smooth moving process. This is where a pre-move checklist can help.

Congratulations on your new home! It is now time to move on to a bigger and better adventure. Now you will make new friends and possibly enjoy even better memories. But first, you have to figure out how to pack your belongings in a manner that helps you manage your time, money, and energy.

Efficiency is key to a successful moving project. While moving may feel like a drag and doesn’t exactly sound like fun, efficient planning usually leads to a positive outcome. Whether you are planning a move soon or you are well into your pre-move plans, you want to be as efficient as possible.

A professional moving company is a reliable option when it comes to a house move. With the right company, you will enjoy the peace of mind that stems from knowing they will handle most of the organization and moving. It not only takes lots of stress off your shoulders, but ensures your valuables arrive safe and sound into your new home. However, there are things you need to do to significantly aid the moving process.

Even if you hired a full-service move, you can play a part in speeding up the transition process and reduce the risk of setbacks, damages and other problems. Here are a few things you need to do with your new home before the movers arrive – applying these tips will help you unpack faster and settle into your new home sooner.

Moving day is right around the corner —are you ready? If you’ve already hired a moving company in New Jersey, consider the job more than halfway done. However, moving day can be a stressful and complicated process, especially if this is your first time transferring to a new home.

Nothing beats advanced planning and preparation to ensure the big day goes smoothly. Know what to expect on the day of the move, and how you should prepare for the task.

Moving to a new home can be an overwhelming experience. There’s so much to do, and you can’t always put your work or studies on hold to accomplish everything at your own time. Stay on top of everything by preparing for the big day in advance. Follow these smart tips from your reliable residential movers for a stress-free relocation!

It’s not uncommon to forget something in the frenzy of moving day. From packing up your stuff and loading up the truck to making sure kids and pets are out of the way and coordinating with commercial movers— the tasks you need to stay on top of are endless. Avoid overlooking anything with a detailed checklist that breaks down every part of the moving process. This list will help you remember everything you need to do on the big day!

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Residential Moving | Page 2 of 3 | Hercules Movers

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Can I Move During The COVID-19/Coronavirus Outbreak?

How To Prepare Your New Home To Move In During The Coronavirus Outbreak

The 7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Moving

A Pre-Move Checklist

10 Tips For A More Efficient Move

8 Things You Should Do with Your New Home Before the Movers Arrive

Prepare for Moving Day with Your Moving Company in New Jersey

Your Residential Movers Share Ways to Prepare for Moving Day in Advance

Commercial Movers Share the Ultimate Moving Checklist

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