The pandemic poses a lot of risks for us and lifestyle changes. It has also made a lot of things far more inconvenient. One of the pandemic activities that has made it a lot more challenging to do is moving.
Moving is an essential part of the American lifestyle. It’s estimated that a single American will move about eleven times in their lifetime. That’s the highest rate of moving worldwide and one that proves that no one else moves as much as Americans do. However, the recent pandemic has made the act moving a lot harder.
People have struggled to make their move for the last two years because of quarantine restrictions. Unfortunately, many more are struggling because of the lack of the necessary services to do it. Here’s what you need to know about moving during the pandemic.
Get Vaccinated
The first thing you should do months before your planned move is get vaccinated. This is essential nowadays, and you almost can’t go anywhere freely without getting vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated is a lifestyle choice, but it’s a crucial one. The virus does not discriminate, and it will get you anywhere you go. So getting infected is not only inconvenient, but it will also change your plans forever. Moreover, if you’re someone with existing respiratory problems, getting infected can be fatal.
Vaccination will make your move a lot easier and a lot faster. It’ll also give you the chance to go down your car and visit some places if you pass through states you’ve always wanted to visit.
Plan Your Route
Planning your route is ideal if you’re not planning to utilize the services of a moving company. However, it’s crucial that you also do test runs with your route if you can see so that you’re sure that the route you’ll be taking is safe.
Various apps can help you plan your route. A simple app such as Google Maps has a route planner, but if you want something that’ll tell you the state of roads in real-time, an app like Waze can help you with that. Keep an eye out on the weather as well because you certainly don’t want to make your move in a middle of a snowstorm.
If getting vaccinated is not one of your plans this year, you should double your efforts to plan your route. Keep track of places that have high infection rates, and ensure that you don’t pass through them, or if you do, keep your physical contact at a minimum, and don’t go out of your car too much.
Item Checklist
There are a couple of items you should have with you alongside your baggage when you move. Here’s an item checklist of essential things you’re going to need:
- Travel cup
- First aid kit
- Non-perishable food for at least two days
- Water enough for two days
- Winter clothes
- Car emergency kit
- Spare cash
Now that we have the fundamentals out of the way, let’s talk about whether you should rent or purchase a home before your move.
Renting vs. Purchasing
Moving to a new state or country asks the fundamental question of whether you should rent or purchase a home. The primary tip coming from those who have moved during the pandemic is to look into the best house and land packages within the area a year before moving. If you can, purchase your favorite choice immediately. Renting during a pandemic can be a problem, especially if you have a family. Furthermore, home prices aren’t getting any cheaper, so it’s vital to get ahead as early as now.
However, if you’re not planning to settle in at the moment, you should move into a place with an excellent price-to-rent ratio. This ensures that you can have the best deal. But if you’re going to stay in that state or country for a short amount of time (less than a year), many experts believe that you should stay with a family member or live with a friend if you’re single. You should never waste money on rent if you’re not going to stay in a particular place for less than a year.
Visit the Place Before Your Move
Lastly, it’s important that you visit your new place before moving. Get acquainted with your neighbors and read local news about the area. Always keep track of COVID-19 cases months before your move to ensure that you’re safe and away from the virus when you do it.
Moving during the pandemic is going to be an arduous and daunting task. But once you do the necessary preparations, you should be able to make your move without thinking about it too much.
