If you need to move during the global coronavirus pandemic, safety is top of mind. Most reputable movers are utilizing rigorous sanitation and social distancing protocol. In addition, you may need to take further steps to maximize safety during these times. Olympia Moving & Storage has worked with vulnerable clients who requested we execute no contact moves. Thinking you need to take this measure to move safely during coronavirus? We break down how we perform a no contact move, the pros, and cons, and things to consider.
Pros and cons of no contact moves
There some scenarios where a no contact move might be the best choice for your family. As a client, you will have peace of mind knowing that the move is being executed while with the most distance possible. If you or a family member are at high risk for the virus’s symptoms, this is the best way to ensure everyone’s safety involved.
A major con to executing a no contact move is communication barriers. Historically, we have found that having the client on-site during the process gives us the best success in meeting their expectations. It is important to have a back and forth between the foreman and the client in regard to certain pieces being moved and any preferences during the process. Having the client on-site ensures everything is double-checked and executed to their liking. While we can perform virtual walkthroughs for no contact moves, it is more likely to have miscommunication. This can be especially tough if your home has a weak wifi or cell phone service.
The other negative is non contact moves create much more work for the client. If you’re considering delivering everything to a garage, you’re then faced with the challenge of moving everything to the proper place in the home yourself. The purpose of hiring a mover is to receive full service, have everything placed exactly where you’d like, avoid any heavy lifting yourself. In order to keep the crew out of your home for a no-contact move, it would be incumbent on the client to pack their items, move furniture and boxes to a pick-up area in the home. All this hassle and heavy lifting typically completed by Olympia’s move crew. In a no contact move, the crew would just provide the transportation of your belongings from home to home.
Instead of a full no contact move, you could request that the crew complete a full move while your family is off-site. This plan would still entail some communication hassles but would allow your family to have a more re
How to plan a no contact move
Our no contact move protocol begins with our standard COVID-19 move procedures. To begin, a move consultant will schedule a guided or self-service virtual video survey. This will allow the move consultant to take inventory, provide you a detailed estimate, and schedule your move without meeting with you in your home.
If you’re a self-packing, Olympia can provide a pre-paid, no contact delivery of new packing materials before your move date. Also, if your family is concerned in this coronavirus environment, do not utilize used boxes for your move.
On the day of the move, your foreman will perform a virtual walkthrough of the home with you upon arrival, using video chat. This is your opportunity to explain any needs you may have during the process. The foreman will perform a second virtual walkthrough with you before they depart origin. This will be to ensure all work is done and nothing was left behind. Upon arrival at the destination home, a third virtual walkthrough is conducted to discuss details of unloading and placement. Your foreman will do a final virtual walkthrough when items are unloaded and unpacked.
If it is important that you minimize the number of people inside your home, you can ask Olympia to deliver items to a garage or only certain spaces as an extra measure of distancing. These practices allow you to move without ever having people outside your household enter your home.
Regardless of which no contact move measures you would like to take, you must notify your move consultant in advance. They will need to design your move quote and organize the team in comply with these requests.
Things to consider when doing no contact moves
You should consider the health risk factors of you and your family before requesting a no contact move. If you are at low risk, we highly recommend a traditional move with our extensive sanitation and distancing protocols in place. This will allow for the most efficient move possible. If you choose to not be on-site, make yourself available and engaged with the crew via video chat. Coordinate a drop off in your garage? it’s important to consider your ability to move larger items into your home. You may want to make sure you have someone to assist you with the final steps to the process.
Our crew has been working relentlessly to make sure we strictly follow guidelines to ensure safety for all. This also means executing no contacts move if necessary. If you are looking to schedule your no contact move, please click here for a free estimate.