Holidays hold a different meaning for everyone. While some see it as a time to visit family, others make drastic choices like shifting to a new city. Planning such a move requires curbing hazards like unpredictable weather, skyrocketing gas prices, and moving scams.
In addition, with the pandemic, you cannot travel as liberally as you wish. But, with a proper plan, you can make most of your holiday move and safely land in your new house. Here’s how you ensure that you can safely transition to a new phase in your life:
Find Out About Good Moving Companies
The holiday season is an excellent time to move to a new location. You have ample time on your hands to plan, budget, and relocate, all the while researching moving companies. According to a reputable moving company report, approximately 1 in 13,000 people get scammed during a big move. That means the company you hire may steal from you otherwise be a detriment to your wellbeing and, in some cases, sanity.
So to keep yourself safe, take the time to read up on different companies. Check on their reviews, experience, and credentials for legitimacy. If you’re satisfied with a company, call them to get shifting quotes, especially learning about moving options suitable for your situation. Moving Options are resources that inform you about all types of shifts, such as commercial to residential. The option you pick helps companies facilitate you.
Follow Guidelines That The CDC Has Laid Out
From the first day of planning to the minute you’re about to leave, make sure you follow CDC guidelines to ensure you and those around you are safe from contracting any viruses. Holidays are a busy time – almost everyone is traveling, raising the chances of transmission. It is essential to wear masks as frequently as possible, especially when stopping at rest houses or motels. You need to wash your hands and keep a sanitizer to maintain hand hygiene. In addition, be sure to talk to people from at least six feet away to minimize the risk of the virus spreading.
Before hitting the road, you should get all the necessary vaccines to combat the symptoms. While it’s frustrating at first, it is the only way you can keep your family safe.
Pack A First Aid Kit
Injuries and illnesses can occur while you’re on the move, aside from having training at First Aid Oakville, bringing a first aid kit handy can prevent the situation from escalating. While handling heavy luggage, it’s possible to injure your hands or knees; and bandaging them helps prevent them from becoming infected. One may also have motion sickness or develop a fever while shifting, so having medicine on standby is helpful.
Healthcare staff may not be readily available during the holiday season, so it can get risky to travel without a first aid kit. In general, a first aid kit should contain all over-the-counter medication such as bandages, alcohol swabs, and even anti-diarrhea medicine. Prescription pills need to stay with you along with a doctor’s note so that you don’t get into trouble by not carrying them.
Check The Weather Patterns
If you’re moving between December and January, you need to keep an eye on the forecast especially. Depending on where you live, you may experience snowfall, heavy rainfalls, and even incidents of black ice. The Northeast coast, such as Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, get immense snowfall, and if that’s where you’re from, you could get snowed in.
The southeast coast, such as Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, experienced torrential rain that makes it difficult to drive and can cause a car to slip.
In the Midwest states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska, you have to deal with black ice, a thin ice surface coating road with no friction. If your car drives over black ice, you may lose control and fatally skid ahead. Reading the forecast will help you prepare your car by buying snow tires, an ice-resistant overhead luggage bin, and a GPS system.
Have A List Of Important Documents
You will need copies of all essential documents such as passports, insurance details, driver’s license, and your children’s birth certificates. These documents, including your PCR test and vaccine card, ensure your smooth travels if you’re going across state lines. If you don’t have any of the above mentioned essential documents then buy documents online easily.
A travel documentation list also ensures that you don’t accidentally leave behind sensitive information that could result in legal trouble. In case someone tries to steal your identity, the documents help in proving the theft and verify your authenticity.
As much as everyone wants a trouble-free move, always anticipate the worst from happening.
Inform Your Family
Keep your immediate family in the loop so they can help you in case of an emergency. You should discuss your move and the unavailability of certain facilities such as motels or inns so they can help you find a place to stay. Email or send them digital copies of your identification documents and itinerary for safety purposes.
It is important to have the same conversation with your children. Instruct them on how to behave and explain the moving process if they are young. Go over emergency training such as calling for help, using first aid, and minimizing injuries. The Christmas season is busy, which is why you need to exercise autonomy to keep yourself safe.
Final Thoughts
When you’re planning to move during a busy month, there are certain factors you need to watch out for. Winters and moving from one location to another is not a good combination, but you can make it happen. Ensure you have a proper plan which includes researching movers, looking up the CDC guidelines, and studying the weather forecast.
Don’t forget to make copies of important documents and inform your family of what’s to come to avoid last-minute disasters. Since the pandemic is steadily becoming the new norm, make sure you get vaccinated and tested before the big move to curtail the spread. So, plan today and keep yourself safe as you begin your new journey.