House move tips during the coronavirus pandemic

As the rules and restrictions on what individuals and businesses can do as the Covid-19 crisis continues, and society and the economy begin to plan for opening up, the safest way for you to be moving house in the pandemic is to call in the experts.

The housing market in England has remained open throughout the various lockdowns implemented since March 2020. Removal firms have continued to assist home movers with the transfer of their belongings to new properties.

At Ants Removals, we have implemented a range of procedures to keep people in North London who are moving house safe from the potential risk of infection.

Our primary goal is to keep you and our staff safe at all times, but you can help us to do this by taking a quick look over the following easy-read checklist. This will ensure our removal services continue in the safe, professional, and efficient manner for which we have been long-renowned.

Plan well in advance

Times continue to be testing, and our operating procedures have changed for our services. This includes for removals North London-wide and storage North London.

Contact us well in advance to discuss your requirements for moving house during the Covid-19 pandemic. We continue to strive to keep people moving in the easiest way possible and in a manner that is safe for all.

The stamp duty holiday increased demand for house moves into the first quarter of 2021, so you may find we’re very busy. Contacting us early is the best way to secure your moving slot.

You may wish to email us some photos or a video of the items which make up the bulk of your removals to help us quickly provide a quote remotely to lessen the need for any visit to your home ahead of the move.

Think about your packing box safety

It may be a good idea to consider packing your items in newly bought boxes or ones you already have. Because coronavirus can survive on surfaces for some time, borrowing cardboard or plastic boxes from friends and family might not be a good idea at present.

You can find packing boxes available online from companies such as Amazon and Staples. Once you take delivery, wipe them down with an antibacterial spray.

Clean and disinfect your items as you pack them

We would also strongly recommend that you clean and disinfect your items as you pack them. This means that they will be safe to be handled by everyone involved in the move. The bonus is that they’ll be sparkling when you arrive in your new home.

To save costs, and maximise the use of things you already own and would consider to be safe, think about wrapping items in towels or bed sheets. This minimises the need to bring in packing materials from outside that you can’t guarantee are Covid-safe.

Socially distanced removals and PPE

Remember that we will be observing social distancing when operating removals. Our staff will also wear face masks at all times and PPE as necessary.

We would recommend that you do the same. With people coming in and out of your house on moving day, it will make you feel a little safer if you wear a face mask. You might also want to wear gloves when handling your goods, as will our team.

During these times when social distancing is a must, it would be a good idea to minimise the number of people at your old and new property on the day we move your belongings.

It is also a good idea, and in line with guidance, to ventilate your property before we arrive and during the time our team is in the house.

Above all, remember that you and any helpers must wash their hands frequently during the move. Our staff will certainly be washing their hands (it would be great if you could leave some soap out of the packing!). Our teams will carry hand sanitiser at all times too.

If you do feel ill on moving day

If you, or a member of your household, do develop symptoms of coronavirus, either before or on moving day, then government guidelines are clear and must be put ahead of all other considerations.

You must self-isolate if you develop any symptoms of Covid-19. Of course, this isn’t going to be convenient for your house move but it is crucial for keeping everyone involved safe. Naturally, we will work with you to reschedule your removal date.

We have strict internal procedures for staff who develop any symptoms of Covid-19 and they must stay away from work to keep everyone else safe.

When you arrive at your new home

Once you, and we, arrive at your new property, now everything above goes into reverse.

Continue wearing face masks and PPE.

You will want to give your new home a good clean and disinfect surfaces before you begin unpacking.

Throw open the windows when you first arrive to ventilate the new property as you work and our staff unload your belongings to bring into the house.

You might then wish to store all of your packing boxes in one area in readiness for safely disposing of them.

We’ve helped dozens of families in North London move home during the pandemic. Preparation and planning are always key to house moves, but never more so than at the current time. If you have any questions about how we operate safely during the coronavirus pandemic or what you can do to stay safe during a house move, do not hesitate to give us a call or send us a message and we’ll get straight back to you.