While the COVID-19 pandemic is halting business in many sectors, moving companies in southern Alberta are as busy as ever.
“Our demand has not diminished; in fact, it’s actually increased,” said Francois Dodier, a foreman with 1Up Moving and Delivery in Lethbridge.
Dodier adds although business is booming, they aren’t being lackadaisical with sanitation.
“We’ll put on our gloves, put on our masks,” he said. “We’ll greet the client – of course not shaking any hands.”
He says they haven’t had any clients in Alberta who have shown symptoms of COVID-19.
“As long as the government doesn’t shut us down, we’re still planning on doing all of the services that anyone needs to do.”
Jeff Lockridge, manager of media and public relations with U-Haul Rentals, says its 22,000 locations haven’t been impacted yet, and it’s aiming to help college and university students stuck in limbo.
“They’re forced to go back home,” Lockridge said.
Lockridge encourages students with valid identification to consider applying for free 30-day storage.
“We know how they’ve been impacted by these university schedule changes,” he said.
Being able to physically move personal items may not be an issue right now, but several real estate agents have stopped in-person showings to increase social distancing.
Lethbridge resident Cayleigh Duffield says this could be an issue for those looking to rent.
“It is kind of hard because it can kind be sort of deceiving when you look at pictures so it’s hard to tell what a place looks like.”
Duffield considers herself lucky, having started the moving process before the pandemic took hold of the industry.
“Just stay calm about the whole situation,” said Duffield. “That’s just how I’ve been taking it.”
Peak moving season in Lethbridge typically occurs between April and September.