Perhaps your apartment or condo lease is up, and you either do not want to or cannot renew it. Maybe you have found a lovely home in a great neighborhood, and low-interest rates make this a great time to buy. Here are some tips and answers about whether or not you can or should move your family to a new house during the quarantine.
Decide If Your Move Is Essential
Decide if moving right now is essential to your health and well-being. If it is possible for you to wait a few months or even a year until there is a COVID-19 vaccination available, it may be wise to do so. If your move is not urgent, and you are not in a rush, it may be safer for you to wait a while. On the other hand, your and your family’s health should come first. If your current living arrangements are unsafe, you should move now. For example, if your apartment lacks, heat, central air conditioning, hot water, window screens, or adequate ventilation, it could be putting your health and well-being at risk. If the place you live now does not have enough space to maintain social distancing in case someone in your household gets sick, moving is a good idea.
Find Out If Moving and Storage Services Are Available
If your move is essential to your health, well-being, safety, or comfort, you will also need to consider if moving and storage services are available. You might need help moving into one of the new homes for sale in Temecula, and hiring movers makes the process go more smoothly. Most moving companies are still offering packing and storage services, furniture assembly, and transportation, but some may need to temporarily suspend some of their services if their employees become ill.
Learn If Your Moving Company Has a COVID-19 Policy
If you will need a moving company, find out if they have a policy related to COVID-19. If a member of your household becomes ill, you need to be forthright about it and contact the movers. They might want to postpone your move until the health department or your physician clears you from quarantine. You should also inquire about policies if the movers get sick and have to cancel your move. Find out if your deposit is refundable and how rescheduling of your move would work.
Determine Ways to Avoid in Person Interactions
If you are worried about catching COVID-19 from a real estate agent, try to do most of your interactions through calls, text, or video chat. You can search for homes online and do 360-degree tours with your smartphone. If you need to get pre-approved for a loan, and an in-person meeting is the only way, ask the bankers for an appointment early in the morning, when fewer people will be in the building. You could do your own packing and rent your own moving truck if you’re physically able to do your own move.
Use Flexibility and Technology When Possible
According to the Chicago Tribune, your search for a new place to live may need to be conducted differently. If you have usually gone to open houses or taken private tours of a home with a real estate agent, this might not be possible. Virtual tours or video-based tours in which you watch the real estate agent walk through the home and talk to them at the same time may become the new normal. If you have typically met with a home inspector, appraiser, and mortgage lender in person, you may need to instead do a video conference. When it comes time to sign the paperwork and complete the real estate transaction, you might be doing this outdoors instead of in the office of a title company.
When deciding if you should move your family during a quarantine, prioritize health and safety for your own household, the movers, and anyone else with whom you might interact. If you do decide to move, make sure you have personal protective equipment, including face masks, disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, and access to hand soap and warm water for hygiene. Moving during a stay-at-home order, self-isolation or quarantine is not as easy as a pre-pandemic move, but it is possible with careful planning.
