Preparing for a Move to the East Bay During a Pandemic

Published: December 07, 2020

Moving is stressful enough as it is, and in a pandemic, it may seem downright impossible. It IS possible to move right now, and just in time for May’s National Moving Month and the busy spring and summer season, the local pros at UNITS Moving and Portable Storage of East Bay has created the ‘Pandemic Moving Plan’ to help locals pack up and head out safely.

Locals on the move

If you were already planning to move this spring, chances are it’s difficult to postpone.

●      The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), reports federal rules allow movers to continue to operate.

●      That’s great, since about 35.5 million Americans move each year! (Move.org)

“We’re hearing from panicked homeowners and renters alike who need to move right now and want to make sure they practice safety tips before, during and after the move,” says Michael McAlhany, CEO and founder of UNITS Moving and Portable Storage. “We created the ‘Pandemic Moving Plan to answer their questions and provide an easy and safe moving  game plan during the pandemic, one of the most stressful moving seasons in our nation’s history!”

Pandemic Moving Plan

Tips for moving to a new home while stay-at-home orders are in place

1. Use new boxes – Don’t recycle cardboard boxes for your move. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, so it’s best to purchase new moving boxes or use boxes you already have at home.
2. Buy your supplies together – It’s easy to get carried away with multiple shopping trips for everything you need to pack and move. Right now, it’s important to limit your trips to the store. Organize your packing with a list of tasks and the supplies you need.  If you can’t buy supplies online, purchase them in one trip.
3. Clean before and after – Sanitize your belongings while you pack them, then again after you move when you store them. It’s also a good idea to clean your new home — both before and after you bring in your boxes. Keeping your boxes in a portable storage container allows you the flexibility to clean at your own pace.
4. Leave instructions and visual moving markers (and leave) – Social distancing helps keep you AND your movers safe. Leave detailed instructions with your movers or storage delivery drivers about where you want everything to go. You don’t have to be home for a UNITS delivery driver to pick-up or drop off your storage container. You can use our new contactless delivery!
5. Check ahead of time – Research companies to find out the safety measures their workers take when moving you. Shelter-in-place policies vary by location, so moving and storage companies will offer varying levels of service. UNITS monitors each market’s policies to ensure its customers and workers stay safe.
6. Consider portable storage – You can’t bribe your friends to help you move with pizza right now, and hiring movers to come into your home may not feel safe. If you rent a portable storage container, you can pack and unpack it at your own pace. It can be dropped off in the driveway of your old home and then delivered to your new one according to your schedule, with minimal or NO interaction with anyone.

Portable storage companies like UNITS Moving and Portable Storage bring the container to you and set it in a convenient, ground-level location so you can load stuff at your own pace. Once the container is ready to go, the portable storage company moves the container to store it in their climate-controlled warehouse or moves it to your new home, so you can unload it yourself.

UNITS is monitoring information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local government officials to ensure the safety of our workers and clients:

●      Enforcing frequent and thorough soap handwashing for our associates

●      Associates who do not feel well are required to stay home

●      Customers sign documents electronically

●      Delivery drivers follow instructions left by customers, and customers do not need to be present