The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people are doing almost everything, from going to the grocery store to cleaning their homes. If you need to move to a new house during this pandemic, you may find that you also need to do a few things differently. Movers are considered essential personnel in most cases, so you should still be able to hire a moving company, but there are a couple of tips you should follow while doing so.

1. Give the moving company plenty of notice.

Like most other businesses, moving companies are having to implement strategies to maintain social distancing and keep their workers safe. They might have some employees who are staying home, and each job may take longer due to these new safety measures. As such, you must give the moving company as much notice as possible before your move. Call weeks in advance, if possible, so they can get you on the schedule at a time that is convenient for you.

2. Pack up as many things as you can yourself.

In order to reduce the risk of exposure, it's a good idea not to have the movers touch every little thing in your home. So while you might ordinarily hire a team to pack your possessions and transport them, it's a better idea to do your own packing this time around. If there are a few things you need help packing, that's okay. And the movers can still carry the boxes out to the moving truck and drive the truck for you.

3. Wear a mask, and keep sanitizer on-hand.

The movers should be prepared with their own sanitizer and masks to keep themselves safe, but make sure you also have these supplies on-hand. A cloth mask or bandanna around your nose and mouth is better than nothing. Keep a bottle of sanitizer around so you can sanitize your hands after touching anything that belongs to the movers — or anything of yours that the movers might have touched.

4. Try to pack in totes, rather than cardboard boxes.

As much as possible, try to pack your items in plastic totes, rather than in cardboard boxes. This way, you can easily wipe down the totes with sanitizing wipes before bringing them into your new home. Cardboard boxes are so much harder to disinfect.

With the tips above, you and your movers can have a safer moving experience during this unfortunate pandemic. For more information, speak with residential movers.