COLUMBUS, Ohio — April through September are the busiest moving months, and COVID-19 hasn’t slowed that down. So, whether you’re getting ready to move or are still looking around, there are some things you can do to stay safe during the pandemic.

What You Need To Know

  • April through September are the busiest moving months

  • There are options to tour spaces by yourself

  • FaceTime, Zoom or Skype tours are available

“Virtual tours are something that have been around for years. They were common practice in people that were looking at job relocations from out of state, but it’s something that has really progressed forward during the COVID pandemic,” said Brad Clapp, of Champion Companies.

Champion is a property management and real estate company in central Ohio. Clapp says there are plenty of ways to look at a space, without ever actually stepping foot in it.

“Do a click-and-drag through the floor plan that you're most interested in, and then you’re going to be able to kind of give yourself real feedback and see if that is the right fit for you.”

But if you’re looking for something more interactive, Clapp says FaceTime, Zoom or Skype tours are also available.

“This is going to give you the ability to take a look through the community and maybe through the exact home you’re going to be leasing, with the community manager, and from there, you’re able to ask questions, have them open things up, and in real time ask the questions that are important to you, like natural lighting, which direction does this face, what view does it look out at," said Clapp.

And, if you feel comfortable enough to look on-site, there are options to tour spaces by yourself.

“You can essentially walk through a home once you get to the community, on your own, be able to look at the home that you’re actually going to be living in.”

When it comes to cleaning after showings, Senior Vice President of Operations for Champion Companies Jenny Donnellon says many facilities sanitize throughout the day.

“We’re going to sanitize it after people come into the office, after people leave the office, we have cleaning logs, and that’s for all high-touch areas within the model, within the clubhouses.”

And when moving day finally comes, there are safety tips to keep in mind, too.

“I would always recommend speaking with the property manager ahead of time and finding out what steps they're taking to clean the apartment and make sure the apartment is disinfected prior to moving in, and then also talking with them, if they’re going to have a moving company, talking with them and seeing what precautions their going to take.”

Clapp says many companies even offer furniture rentals for those looking to avoid stores.

“All of their furniture is going to be wiped down, disinfected, sanitized, and goes through a really rigorous cleaning process before it's leased out, bought, or rented to the next person.”