Moving with the Kids During COVID? Here’s How

If you’re one of the many people taking advantage of the current real estate market — congrats! You’ve taken a step that many have postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19. Whether you’re selling and buying or just entering the market to purchase a home, a move is in your imminent future. Let’s talk about how to stay sane and tackle a move with kids during a global pandemic.

The time is right

Leading real estate referral company, HomeLight, conducted a third-quarter survey of more than 1,000 of their top agents across the country. The survey findings lend evidence to it being a fantastic time to buy and sell a home. Almost 90 percent of agents say inventory levels are lower than they expected, which is why 92 percent of agents report a seller’s market. This means you can easily get the top asking price for your home. Historically low-interest levels are also creating a steady influx of buyers to the market. Simply put, it’s an excellent time to buy and sell.

Getting it together

So, you’ve made the decision to buy, or sell, or do both. Now you need to figure out how you’re going to pull off a move, during a pandemic, with kids. The first thing to do is to avoid panicking. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to get to planning.

Determine whether you’re making a DIY move or if you’re enlisting the help of professional movers. If you’re going the professional route, make sure moving companies are open in your area and try to schedule as far in advance as possible. Thankfully, most of the industry surrounding real estate has nailed-down their best practices for conducting business safely during the pandemic. This, however, doesn’t mean it’s business as usual, which is why planning is a large part of your moving process. 

Pair the emotional with the practical

One of the best ways to help children adjust to moving to a new home is to involve them in the process. Whether you’re moving right down the street or a state away, you should plan on quarantining your boxes for at least one day after the moving professionals drop them off. For this reason, and for comfort, allow each of your children to pack a small box or bag with a handful of their coveted toys or items. Not only will this provide a semblance of comfort while their world is shaken, but it ensures that your kiddos will have their prized possessions with them without a quarantine wait.

Moving in and moving out

In a perfect world, you’d have childcare to make sure your children are out of the way when moving out and into your new place. If you don’t have anyone who can help, plan to have the kids in a space in the yard or confined to a room in the house. Not only will this keep them out of the way, but it will also keep them from the chaos. 

Depending on your children’s age, you may want to have movers put boxes in a garage or other covered area to quarantine. Eager little hands can’t resist touching, well, everything, so having your boxed home goods will relieve the temptation to touch. On that note, you may also want to enlist a professional cleaning service to thoroughly clean and sanitize your new home before your arrival. And at the very least, arrive with a box of sanitizing wipes so you can quickly disinfect door handles, light switches, and cupboard pulls.

The reality is that moving with kids, even without a pandemic, can be chaotic and stressful. However, the more you’re prepared, and the more you prepare your children by involving them in the process, the smoother your move will go. In the end, the most important thing — apart from getting your household items from one home to the next — is that everyone remains safe, happy, and healthy in the moving process.