Why I Moved During a Pandemic
Moving during COVID-19 was a difficult decision and one I did not take lightly. I felt scared of getting sick from the movers, from buying boxes at Lowes, and even from the stress of packing. I took every precaution possible and I am very fortunate that it all went smoothly.
Make sure to stay tuned for a before and after post on my new apartment! ⭐️
Why I Moved
My lease ended in June and I did not plan on moving when quarantine first hit. It felt too dangerous and the unknowns were too unpredictable. My old apartment was comfortable, safe, and in a good location. However, it was more expensive than I had hoped. I rented it last summer during peak season and had a difficult time finding an apartment. When May finally rolled around, the first few months of the pandemic were over and a new normal had settled in. The option to move seemed a bit safer.
Compared to last summer, I noticed dozens more “For Rent” signs in my neighborhood. It felt like every actor, assistant and other non-essential entertainment employee had moved out and headed home. As a result, the prices plummeted. I started poking around online and found super cheap apartments with good amenities.
Touring Apartments
I wanted to stay in my neighborhood because it’s close to my office (not that it matters now 😅) and very walkable. Last summer, I toured about 30 apartments, so I am familiar with the nearby real estate market. I used HotPads and Apartments.com to narrow down my search, and only visited 4 places. For anyone looking to move in Los Angeles, HotPads is key - it’s how I found both of my post grad apartments.
Most of these tours were self guided: I arrived at the building, buzzed in, and walked around the property by myself. I preferred this rather than touring with an on-site manager or agent. I didn’t have to worry about the realtor being sick or wearing a mask incorrectly. I could also easily FaceTime my mom and sh*t talk the apartments without an agent judging me.
Staying Safe On Moving Day
Throughout the moving process, I was most nervous about interacting with the movers. Unfortunately, I had too much crap to move myself (see above 😂) and little ability to drive a U-Haul truck. I got a recommendation for 123 Moving & Storage, a great moving company based in Los Angeles. I asked them a ton of questions about their safety procedures and they wore masks and gloves, and sanitized their truck and equipment before arriving at my apartment.
During the move, I made sure to be fully packed and hid in my kitchen to stay as far away from the movers as possible. I left all of the windows open for good air flow. Once they finished unloading, I wiped off all of the doorknobs and other surfaces. I felt safe enough since I was able to keep my distance and the movers correctly wore PPE.
Settling In
My new apartment is adorable and I am so happy that I moved. I have a little balcony that overlooks our pool and lots of natural light. I’m saving money with my new place and it’s only a few blocks from my old apartment. Even so, it’s fun to explore my new area and get to know my new neighbors (who are so friendly!) Changing apartments also gave me a much needed distraction. Organizing and decorating the new space has felt normal and I’m happy with how the new place turned out. I’m working on a before and after post now!
Check out a sneak peak of the “before” of my new living room below! 🙈
More Moving Tips 📦
Keep disinfectant, hand sanitizer, soap, and paper towels handy
Give yourself enough time to pack: This was my first move out of college with my own furniture and space. I underestimated how long it would take to pack because an entire apartment worth of stuff is a lot more than just a college room.
Understand that it’s going to be stressful: Moving stinks no matter what. Schedule out time to pack and call utility companies so you don’t get overwhelmed. Make sure that you make time for some self care.
Keep track of your belongings: Label your boxes in as much detail as possible with which room they’re going to and what is inside. This will make unpacking so much faster and easier.
Move your own valuables: I packed up my valuables and moved them to my new apartment myself. That way, I didn’t have to keep track of them on moving day.
Buy new boxes: I considered renting moving boxes and I know people re-use boxes, but now is a good time to minimize sharing.
Have you moved during COVID? What did you do to stay safe?
