There have been many people who have decided to pack up a truck and move during the pandemic. Moving company move.org surveyed 700 Americans who made the decision to move in 2020 to find out their biggest challenges, mistakes, and what would make people’s move easier. The data was gathered by a Pollfish survey with the stratified results based on US demographics to make the report.

As many as 22% of Americans moved or know someone who did during the pandemic, but 32% of respondents said they weren’t planning on moving this year. Which isn’t surprising. According to the survey, 75% of respondents said moving is ‘stressful’ or ‘gives them anxiety’ — and that’s without considering COVID-19. 

So what extra challenges did Americans face during their moves in 2020? Taking precautions like wearing masks and gloves, using hand sanitizer, avoiding large groups of people, and social distancing added extra moving stress. (Although some people do experience discomfort and their breathing is heavier while moving, it’s important to note that masks do not reduce oxygen levels.) On top of health considerations, our working lives were also disrupted by COVID-19. Customers and moving companies alike faced high unemployment, reduced income, fluctuating hours of operation, and a shortage of supplies.

According to the move.org study, Americans who moved this year experienced the following COVID-19 related issues:

55% had difficulty donating items - again, because of the pandemic.

But even without a nationwide public health crisis, moving comes with challenges. Pandemic or not, the best way to prepare for your move is to make a moving checklist like this one to keep track of everything before, during, and after your move. Preparing in advance and staying organized along the way will save a lot of time, money, and worry.

Along with being more organized ahead of time, many people said they would prefer to hire moving help if they were to move again. Of course, you can hire moving companies for both local and long-distance moves. Each company provides different service levels, ranging from packing and prep supplies to lifting furniture, transporting it, setting it up in your home, and more. If you don’t want to deal with closed donation centers or fluctuating hours and lines for the landfill, some companies include junk removal too.

By giving yourself the time to organize and plan, you can still enjoy moving to a new home despite the impact of COVID-19.