Moving during the Coronavirus pandemic? Here are some things to consider

Moving under normal circumstances can be stressful, but the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic has significantly elevated anxiety levels. For those of you with a closing, lease termination or work-related deadline, postponing the move is not always an option. Below are some suggestions for how to safely move during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pre-Move Health Check

Moving companies should be asking their employees on a daily basis how they and their family members are feeling. If anyone is showing signs of illness, the employee should be sent home immediately.

Clients also need to be vigilant and, if anyone in the home is feeling unwell, the move should be postponed. If there are higher risk individuals within the residence (those over the age of 65, or with immune deficiencies), they should be removed from the premises prior to the move or, if this is not possible, they should be quarantined within one room of the house.

Sanitizing for a move during the coronavirus pandemicProtective Gear and Sanitizing for Move Day

Movers have been doing their best to source PPE in the interest of protecting all stakeholders. They should be sanitizing truck interiors and facilities on a daily basis. Gloves and masks (as available) are becoming part of the standard uniform.

If possible, clients should also wear masks and gloves for the duration of the move. Clients also have the option to provide additional PPE to the moving crew. It is a good idea to sanitize door handles, railings, and bathrooms prior to the mover’s arrival and immediately following their departure. Some clients are taking extra precautions by cleaning furniture after the move.

Distancing Before and After the Move

Before the move, pre-move surveys for estimates can be conducted virtually using various mobile video solutions. This best practice is safe, efficient, and accurate.

During the move, refrain from any direct contact (shaking hands) with your crews. You should maintain 6 feet of distance at all times. It is best to only have one point of contact on move day. Once the initial walkthrough with the foreman is complete, it is recommended that family members remove themselves from the premises or isolate themselves in one area of the residence.

Identify one bathroom for the movers to use and leave soap and, as available, sanitizer and wipes for the movers.

Pre-Move Preparationboxes of items for a move during the coronavirus pandemic

Even under normal circumstances, the client’s preparation largely dictates the success of the move. If clients are packing themselves, it is preferable to use new moving boxes. You can avoid a trip to the store by asking your mover if they provide a packing materials delivery service. While packing, make a “first-night” box filled with immediate essentials such as clothes, linens, toilet paper, cleaning products, toiletries, and hand soap.

We want to minimize any potential confusion. Make sure that all boxes are completely sealed and clearly labeled on the top and two sides. Organize the space so that all items are accessible and, if you are able, stacked around the periphery of the room. Some clients are asking the crew to move boxes to or from a garage or having their belongings moved into their new home a few days before moving in themselves.

Communication Leading Up to Move Day

Communication is always the essential ingredient to a successful move. It is incumbent upon the client to keep the moving company apprised of any relevant developments (packing progress, potential date changes etc.). If you are moving to or from an apartment building during the coronavirus pandemic,  check first with your management, as some residences have revised moving rules during shelter-in-place. As much as possible, we want to avoid surprises on moving day.

Be Respectful of Your Moving Team

On a daily basis, movers make the impossible look easy. They expected to work incredibly hard and maintain a great attitude without exception. Many moving companies have been working around-the-clock to assist organizations with COVID-19 response efforts. Moving crews are doing their best, in uncertain times, to protect their families and their clients, so please be respectful and appreciative.

Staying safe while moving during coronavirus pandemicShared Responsibility for a Healthy Move

During this pandemic, it is incumbent upon moving companies to do everything within their power to protect both their clientele and employees. Similarly, you also need to take all available precautions to secure your own safety and that of the moving team.

We are all operating in unchartered territory. The above precautions will limit the potential for exposure.

If you need to move during the coronavirus pandemic, or any other time, call Olympia Moving & Storage at 800-222-4744 or click here for a free moving estimate. We can start with a virtual video survey.

On the Move: Boston MA, Beacon Street

Location: Boston, MA Moving Services

Boston, MA to long-term storage move | June 2019

Move Overview

On one of the city’s busiest streets, the Olympia team handled the partial pack and load of this third floor, four bedroom condo. This $6.9 million dollar home sits on Beacon Street, overlooking the Charles River and esplanade in downtown Boston. The homes that line this street are home to tech innovators, artists, musicians, journalists, and many Boston’s brightest minds. Our crew spent two days helping the family move out of this beautiful space.

The crew faced a few challenges unique to city moving and high-end historic brownstones. Of course, parking is always a challenge in Boston. Thankfully, posted parking permits saved the team from that particular headache. The real challenges was the with space and value of the homeowners belongings.

Art Packing & Crating

The crew performed a full pack for the customer. Although it was a two-day move, the crew planned their work so the family was still able to sleep in the home after the first day of the move. The packing included several oil paintings. Custom crates were built to protect several pieces of valuable art.

Challenging Load

Interestingly, the this beautiful condo lacked the tight corners of a classic Boston space. Although the bedrooms shared a narrow hallway, the rest of the space was wide open for our crew to easily maneuver. This made protecting the homeowner’s most expensive and valuable items easier, including large belongings like paintings, couches, and tables.

The true challenge was the use of the elevator to transport everything from the third floor. The elevator was relatively small, and the design of the building meant that once the furniture was shimmied out of the elevator, it had to be carried several yards through the lobby and across the sidewalk. Despite the added difficulty, the crew tackled the day with high energy and were rewarded for their hard work by the homeowner with a freshly delivered lunch.

Long-term Storage

This shipment was not going to a destination home. Instead, it bustled down the Pike to our Watertown warehouse, where it will be stored for about a year while the family’s new home is being renovated.

Olympia offers a variety of storage solutions to our customers. We can hold your belongings for a few days while you get your new home ready or for a full year if you’ve decided to spend some time abroad or need time to prep your dream home. Our warehouse utilizes unit storage, rack storage, and pallet storage in our secure, convenient facility. Regardless of your needs, we have options for every situation. For more on the storage services we provide, check out our Full Service Storage page or our Watertown warehouse.

 

If you are moving to or from Boston, contact Olympia Moving and Storage today at 800-222-4744 or fill out our free estimate form.

How a Mover Can Make Your Boston Home Renovation Easier (and 4 Other Tips!)

financing-home-renovation-ftr1

Home renovations can be stressful and expensive. Keep these tips in mind to ease the difficulties that
come with giving your home a make-over.

35ffbCNChoose an Off-Season Project

The summer season is the busiest time for home projects, which can lead to  increased costs. When choosing what to update this summer, consider taking on a winter-oriented like, adding insulation or installing energy efficient windows. Usually you can find a deal the necessary supplies and services needed for the renovation in the off-season, and you are more likely to schedule vendors for your project to your preferences.

Hire a Mover to Assist with Storage

CrewWhat are you going to do with all your furniture and belongings when you’re demoing your living room wall? Instead of attempting to protect your furniture with plastic sheets and painters tape, consider moving your furniture into storage for the duration of your renovation. This helps you avoid drywall dust, sawdust and insulation that likes to take root in your furniture and leaves the space necessary to get the renovation job done right. The most cost effective way to store your furniture is full-service storage with a local moving company. Hire the movers to pick up your storage or load up your own truck to drop off our belongings to storage.

Keep Chaos In Check

Have a designated area for cooking (if you’re remodeling your kitchen) and cleaning. Whether this means grilling outdoors or re-purposing your guest bathroom, you’ll be happy when these messes are confined to certain areas instead of spreading around the house.

Balance the Budget

suppliesBalance the expenses of your supplies and new fixtures for your house. If you can’t resist splurging on marble counter tops, find other areas where you can save, like on the light fixtures or window covers.

Buy Early

When buying fixtures and supplies, do it early! Before you meet with your electrician or contractor, it is best to have the placement of your outlets and appliances already planned. It’s also helpful to order these items far in advance, ensuring on-time delivery and the widest selection.

In the midst of your renovation, remember, it will all be worth it at the end when you are enjoying your like-new home!

If you need a Boston, Washington DC, or Philadelphia mover to assist with the moving and storage for your upcoming home renovation, call Olympia Moving & Storage at 800-222-4744 or request an estimate online. Whether you just need furniture moved to the basement, into storage, or relocation to a temporary resident, we are ready to help make your home renovation easier!

Olympia Moving & Storage Adds Second Boston Area Storage Facility

New Olympia Moving & Storage facility in Canton, MA
New Olympia Moving & Storage facility in Canton, MA

Olympia Moving & Storage, a Boston moving and storage company headquartered in Watertown, MA, has seen double-digit growth each of the past four years. As a result, we have exceeded the capacity of our full-service warehouse in Watertown, MA and are proud to announce the opening of Olympia’s second Boston area storage facility in Canton, MA.

The Canton storage location is a 50,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art warehouse. Olympia Moving & Storage acquired this facility more than a year ago and has been working diligently to ensure that the Canton facility met the high standards of the Watertown location, including: 24-hour security systems, temperature control, a dedicated warehouse staff, and immaculate condition.

Not only will the Canton warehouse allow Olympia Moving & Storage to serve more clients, but it will allow us to better serve our South Shore and interstate clientele. The Canton location will make storing with Olympia more convenient for our clients in the surrounding towns of Medfield, Dedham, Norwood, Milton, Randolph, Weymouth and Hingham. This new facility is also optimized for tractor trailer access.

No matter the location, we are confident that Olympia Moving & Storage can provide the best full-service storage experience. Click here to learn more about our storage services.

Back to School with Olympia Moving & Storage

Olympia helping students move in

Boston and Washington DC are home to some of the most prestigious universities in the country. For many years, Olympia has been a proud service partner for a number of these universities. Whether it’s relocating faculty and professors or moving offices, Olympia appreciates our role in assisting the educational institutions in our markets.

As the fall semester approaches, Olympia is gearing up for another year of moving students into their dorms. Move-in day is exciting and hectic, but Olympia helps to ensure the process goes smoothly. This year we’ll be helping students move in at Northeastern University, Boston College, and numerous others. It will be a big relief for many parents to see an Olympia crew member ready to help them unload when they pull up to their child’s dorm!

Olympia has also worked with College Boxes for the past decade. At the end of every school year, Olympia picks up thousands of student boxes from dorm rooms and keeps them in our storage facilities for the summer. When the students return for the fall semester, they will find their boxes waiting for them in their new dorm room, already delivered by Olympia.

Best of luck to all the Boston and DC area students for a successful fall semester! Study hard!