COVID-19 Moving Tips: Protect Yourself When Moving During COVID Pandemic. Learn To Minimize Your Risks While Moving. Some Tips For Moving During COVID-19 Include “Washing Your Hands & Avoid Touching Your Face!”
Collegian Movers Is Open For Business
If you need to move during the coronavirus pandemic, Collegian Movers wants you to know that we are taking extra precautions to assure the safety of our customers & team members. Based upon moving industry guidelines and over 30 years of experience in moving and storage services, we have put together some Moving Tips to help guide you towards a safer moving experience.
Health and Safety of Our Customers is Our Highest Priority
At Collegian Movers Inc, the health and safety of our customers are our highest priority. In response to the public health situation related to coronavirus (COVID-19), we are diligently monitoring updates and following best practice guidelines for sanitation, cleanliness, and precautionary actions. We are also taking the necessary steps to protect our customers when moving during COVID-19. During this time, Collegian Movers Inc remains open and committed to providing best-in-class moving and storage services.
Movers Are An Essential Service
According to the American Moving & Storage Association, moving companies in CT have been deemed an “essential service” by the federal government and are open and operating in all states, across America during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moving services are considered to be essential because home purchases, home sales, and the end of a lease are not always flexible. Additionally, moving is also considered to be an essential reason to leave your home.
This means that if you are moving, it is legal to hire movers to help you. They are able to enter your home to perform their moving services. However social distancing still needs to be practiced and other precautions need to be taken.
What You Need to Know About Moving During a Pandemic – Coronavirus Tips & Policies
If you are feeling unsure about your upcoming move, be sure to ask about our tips for moving during covid and our policies, so you feel confident about your safety.
Not sure what you need to know? Well, we’ve put together some tips on moving during the pandemic, about how to protect yourself when moving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, please read to the end and if you have more questions, please do not hesitate to call the office. We’re here to help!
COVID-19 Is Changing The Way We Do Business
Below are the steps we are taking to minimize Coronavirus. All of these moving tips and practices help ensure that moving services can remain available in a safe way.
Policies for Schedule Changes for an Upcoming Move
During this time we are remaining extremely flexible with schedule changes. We do ask that you contact us as soon as you know about a schedule change or postponed move. Our local and long-distance moves do not require a deposit. However, payment is required on the day of your move delivery. So, please make the necessary arrangements.
If you have to postpone your moving services, do so earlier rather than later. The sooner you can let your movers know that you no longer need their services, the better. If you need to postpone the move to another date, please contact the moving company office directly to go over the details. When you postpone a move all of your move details will be saved, so you can easily reschedule the move once you know your new date.
COVID-19 Policies for the Safety of Our Movers
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- Supplying disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (such as truck handles, steering wheel, controls, moving equipment, etc.) can be wiped down by employees before each moving job.
- Allowing flexible work sites for sales and marketing (e.g., telecommuting).
- Staggered dispatch for drivers and movers, to increase the physical distance among employees and others as our social distancing strategy.
- Sending the same crews to work together.
- Discouraging workers from using other workers’ phones, hand trucks, dollies, or other work tools and equipment.
- Increased housekeeping practices in our offices and warehouses. This includes frequent disinfecting of keypads, restrooms, counter-tops.
- The Interior of trucks, door handles, and moving equipment are cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis and in-between moves.
- Non-essential visitors are limited to entering our workspace.
- Having employees to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 if they suspect possible exposure.
- Encouraging increased communications, and inviting discussion, questions at work.
- Reviewing with managers’ attitudes towards work arrangements, maintenance of safety standards.
- Digitally checking the crew’s temperature every morning with a non-contact thermometer.
- Supplying movers daily with sanitizing wipes and masks to be worn during the move.
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COVID-19 Policies For the Safety of Our Customers
Limiting Exposure
As the majority of cases of coronavirus are spread through touch. We are also stressing that there will be no physical contact between our customers and our movers. This includes not shaking hands with our customers. Our movers will continue to be polite and greet the customers. However, this common gesture of shaking hands is no longer permitted.
We request that our clients limit the number of people present at the home to 1 or 2 people on move day. Limiting the number of people in a home helps us to minimize contact and limits the risk factors for all of the people involved in the moving process.
If you have a large move, you may want to consider moving over time. Planning your move to occur as a multiple-day move may limit your exposure, as there will be more space for you and the movers. When possible we will send the same moving crew each day limiting exposure to multiple people. Plus, it limits the number of people in your home at one time.
Contactless Moving Approach for Senior Moves
Even though you do not need to be present during the move, we do require you to appoint someone to act as your agent during the move. The reason for this requirement is that someone needs to oversee the move, sign paperwork, and provide payment.
We recommend that you choose a younger relative or friend to act as your agent. It is wise to select someone who is less susceptible to the virus to represent you. The responsibilities of this person include directing the movers, performing a final walkthrough at both locations, signing the bill of lading, and providing payment for the move.
Social Distancing
During this pandemic, we are working hard to minimize contact between our service providers and our customers. To accomplish this task we are practicing social distancing with our teams and customers. This is one of the most crucial steps we are taking as a company. After our movers arrive at your location, our moving crews do their best to maintain a 6-foot social distance from customers and each other when possible.
Virtual Moving Estimates
With video technology, we no longer need to enter your home to assess your moving and storage needs. To reduce the risk of COVID-19, we are offering our clients the option to receive a free estimate via phone, email, or virtual estimate. We have replaced all in-home moving surveys with virtual surveys to provide estimates. Our virtual surveys can be done using Zoom, Face Time, Google Meet, or Team Viewer.
Changes to Staff Scheduling
In an effort to reduce large gatherings at our office, we are staggering the start times of our moving crews and other team members and allowing office staff to work from home. Moving crews are also provided safe moving supplies such as gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer.
Pre-Move Health Surveys
Before each move, we encourage our customers to contact us to explain if they, or anyone in their home, has or may have contracted coronavirus, or are isolating to limit exposure. This also includes any sickness that develops a fever. At this time, we are working with our customers to reschedule moves to mitigate the risk for team members and other customers.
Additionally, we are contacting our customers for 5 and 1 days(s) prior to the move date to complete a preliminary health questionnaire to assure the safety of our movers and customers.
How Can I Protect Myself While Moving During The COVID-19 Outbreak?
While you may be allowed to move during COVID-19, you do still need to take some precautions. Below are some Corona Virus moving tips to help you protect yourself while moving during the coronavirus pandemic.
Helpful COVID Virus Moving Tips
Use Extra Care with Good Hygiene & Infection Control Practices
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- Frequently and thoroughly wash hands. If soap and running water are not immediately available, use alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your face. Unless you have just washed your hands, do not touch your face.
- Practice respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette including covering coughs & sneezes.
- Let your movers know if you or your family members are sick, or isolated due to exposure.
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Don’t Skimp on Boxes
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- Your health should be your #1 concern. To assure that your boxes are not contaminated, we recommend that you avoid using recycled boxes & buy new ones. Or, even use boxes that you already have in your home.
- Using fresh packing supplies & store-bought boxes will limit the chances of the virus living on these surfaces. The coronavirus can live on cardboard boxes for as long as 24 hours.
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Limit Interactions by Pre-Labeling Furniture & Boxes
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- In an effort to limit interactions between our movers and customers. We ask that our customers pre-pack their belongings into labeled boxes.
- The labels should indicate which rooms they belong to in the new home and exactly where you want them placed.
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Wipe Down Furniture & Moving Boxes Before Moving
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- Before you load the moving truck, we advise using some type of disinfectant wipes or a damp cloth with bleach and water to clean the surfaces of the items you are moving.
- Cleaning your items helps to limit the risk of carrying germs into your new home.
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Disinfect Boxes & Furniture After Your Move
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- Your move went well and everything has arrived and there were no signs of visible illness among your family or the moving crews. Even in this perfect scenario, we still recommend disinfecting your belongings, as the coronavirus can still be present even when no symptoms appear.
- We suggest erring on caution and wiping down everything that was moved with us and then washing your hands and clothing thoroughly.
- Time Your Move Carefully
- If timing allows, we recommend that you move your items into the house and let them sit for a few days.
- Adding extra time between you and your moved items helps to minimize the risk of spreading the germs as the virus will die on most items within 4 days.
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Create an Essential Box
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- If time does not allow & you must move in on the same day of your move, be sure to create an essential box for your arrival. Be sure to include all of your must-have items for the first day in your new home. Mark the box to differentiate it from the other moving boxes or items. Perhaps use large lettering or bright tape to indicate it as your “Open First” box.
- This essentials box should contain all the things that you use on a regular basis, plus some extra sanitizing essentials. Include a garbage bag, toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant spray, and soap. Plus, be sure to include your personal items like sheets, linens, towels, change of clothes, your toothbrush, phone chargers, and a wine opener.
- As a result of taking the time on this easy step, finding everything you need on your first day in your new home will be simple. Plus, you’ll have all the necessary supplies you need to make your move-in day a safe one.
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Provide Cleaning Supplies
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- To limit exposure to the virus customers should have a hand cleaning station available to movers. We recommend at minimum having a designated sink with hand soap and paper towels for the movers to use.
- Additionally or alternatively, if you have it in stock, the movers would greatly appreciate having hand sanitizer available to them.
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Washing Your Hands and Wearing Masks
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- Depending upon the size of your move and the number of movers in your home at one time, it may be difficult to properly practice social distancing.
- Therefore, since U.S. health officials now recommend people wear cloth masks in public areas where social distancing can be difficult, we are also recommending that you wear one during your move for situations where social distancing is not possible.
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The Smart Way to Move During a Pandemic
Be smart when moving during the pandemic. Being smart basically requires that you follow all of the standard pandemic rules and apply them to your move. We appreciate your trust during this challenging time. We will continue our mission to deliver you an exceptional moving experience with an added focus on the health and safety of all of our customers.
As your move date gets closer, if you have more questions regarding scheduling, the moving process or, information surrounding our COVID-19 Moving Tips, we encourage you to contact our office to discuss these questions and/or concerns. If you have not yet booked your move, click the link below to get started.
If you have enjoyed our COVID-19 moving tips, you may also enjoy some of our other blog posts to help keep you on track and to get organized for your move.