Moving away from a home that has been a part of someone’s life can be pretty overwhelming. But with the help of senior relocation services, the process can become a hassle-free job and help the senior citizen moving away from their home be a well-managed and professional move into a newer home much more manageable.
Moving and relocation can happen at any point in life. However, moving and relocation as a senior citizen needs a lot of planning and some additional services to allow seniors to have a stress-free transition into their new phase of living in a new home. With the help of moving companies that specially cater to senior citizens, moving to a new home can be done with ease and professionalism.
Seniors move because of one or more of several reasons. The most common motivations behind a senior move are
A senior move requires elaborate planning and systemic planning. A senior move specialist will ensure the process runs smoothly as it is hassle-free.
Senior & specialty move management covers everything related to assisting seniors and their families with relocating or aging in place. This covers not only the physical but also the emotional aspect of the move.
Senior move management encompasses a whole gamut of services right from space and moves planning to provide post-move support. The specific services offered may vary from one senior move management company to the next.
As mentioned, the specific services will vary among different senior moving services providers. That said, typical senior moving services include the following:
You can choose any one or more of the services that senior moving services providers offer, as outlined above. Choose what works for you and get a plan customized to your needs. Most senior moving companies are quite flexible in the type of packages that they offer to their clientele. Whatever services you choose, be it for relocation or senior downsizing service, gentle transitions are the ultimate goal when hiring professional movers. Some managers will take a more direct role in providing the outlined services, while others offer a more supervisory or oversight input.
With a full-service moving, you can expect the following services for both local and interstate moving services:
Is there a moving company for seniors? Professional moving companies like Sunshine Movers of Sarasota provide full-service catering to a diverse clientele, including seniors. However, you may not have too much luck finding a moving company that caters exclusively to seniors.
Yes. Some, including Sunshine Movers of Sarasota, provide expert senior move management. On the other hand, other moving companies do not offer this service but may pack and move your items. You will want to confirm the range of senior moving services the company provides and whether the moving company has move managers for seniors.
A senior moving specialist is one specific individual who helps senior citizens and their families relocate smoothly. They provide diverse ways to ensure that all the parts of moving as a senior citizen are done most suitably. Additionally, the specialist should understand the needs and requirements and plan accordingly. A good senior relocation company will provide you with a senior move specialist that will spend time with the client working through each obstacle.
Nonprofits like the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) have made finding a professional senior moving manager easy. Check with the organization’s database, and you can have your pick of professionals, from which you can choose the best senior moving company that best matches your needs.
After selecting the moving manager, you can look forward to developing a relocation plan customized just for you. The manager will walk you through the senior moving guide, highlighting what you can expect and what may be expected from you.
From disposing of your unwanted belongings to packing up and organizing your items to the new place, you can expect professional handling of every moving service for seniors that you choose as part of your relocation plan. Professionals at Sunshine Movers, Sarasota, need you to select the senior moving services you need and your timeline, and they will take over doing all the work.
Senior moves involve planning for and executing so much. Senior move managers allow for so much flexibility that you can choose the moving company to handle only certain aspects of the move. The rest? You can have friends and family volunteer for senior relocation tasks such as packing up your belongings. There is also Sunshine Movers of Sarasota who works with senior moving helpers.
These volunteers can help to make the process run more smoothly. A senior looking to relocate may, for starters, feel much more comfortable when a familiar face is sorting through their belongings and packing them for the big move compared to having a stranger take care of that particular aspect. In addition, it’s always a good time to catch up on the good old times and feel nostalgic about the items being packed.
Additionally, volunteers help to cut down the relocation cost for seniors and their families. When you volunteer for a senior move, the relocating senior and their family can get away with hiring the senior moving company for only a few of their services, which is a great save.
There is a wide range of senior support services, so structured with the cognizance of just how hard it can be for older adults to enjoy the best quality of life while on a fixed income. These older adults’ benefits help pay for housing, food, health care, and other typical services for older people.
Before relocating a senior citizen’s possessions, creating a proper list to ensure that every item is appropriately packed with adequate precautions, in addition, if there are any special offers or discounts available, it is essential to ask about them and use them if applicable.
For all the activities that a move entails, senior moving can certainly get quite expensive. However, the good news is that some moving companies do have a discount program in place for seniors.
That being said, different moving companies operate quite differently. As such, if you are looking for a senior moving at a low cost, you better engage each and find out what discounts the company offers.
Some offer a blanket moving company discount for all older citizens or seniors. Other moving companies may have special discounts for particular groups of seniors, such as veterans. The best thing you can do for yourself is research, ask what deals each company has to offer, and compare before making the final decision.
Moving companies may also have different discounts for different types of moves. That is to say that while you may enjoy a 5% discount on a local move, the same may not apply if you are looking to make a long-distance move across the country. Ask the right questions to ensure you get all the correct information before committing to having a moving company help with your move.
Our friendly customer support team at Sunshine Movers of Sarasota will be happy to talk to you about any of our moving company discounts for which you may be eligible.
Find a senior moving specialist at the best price, and you can look forward to saving big on your relocation. With that in mind, you also don’t want to be reeled in with a ridiculously low price offer only to find yourself in the hands of scam artists. Even before you start making a price comparison, invest in due diligence and ensure you are dealing with a senior citizen moving company that is licensed and insured.
The first thing you will want to do is have the moving companies do a home visit to provide an accurate in-home estimate. Be wary of any moving solutions company that claims to give an estimate without an in-home visit.
Go ahead and ask for an itemized quote from the various senior moving companies. Price variations in the quotes you will receive will undoubtedly have everything to do with the extra services related to senior moving assistance. The best senior moving manager will be more than glad to walk you through each item on the quote.
Of all senior moving assistance services offered, which ones can you do without? For example, can you have friends and family or volunteers help with the packing, so you don’t have to pay the moving company for the same? Identify areas where you can save some money and drop these extras.
Again, you may be able to secure quality senior moving solutions at the best price by downsizing. While some moving companies charge a flat rate, others will charge you depending on the materials and time it takes to complete your move. Downsizing by donating or selling off some of the items you don’t need will reduce how much you will need to be moved and reduce your moving costs by extension.
Another great way to get the best price is by booking your move early. Some moving companies do charge for last-minute bookings. On the other hand, you may be able to enjoy a discount on the quoted price if you are flexible with your moving day and agree to a day and time set by the moving company.
Remember that it never hurts anyone to negotiate. So negotiate your way to a better price, as much as you can. More often than not, a senior moving company will be all too willing to match or even beat their competition to secure your business.
As you actively look for a senior moving specialist at the best price and ways to save on moving costs, ensure you ask about any extra charges. Such may apply for moving large or specialty items. Ensure you are on the same page with the senior moving company regarding any such additional costs.
You need not worry about breaking the bank on your senior move. Instead, shop around and compare rates to identify which company offers value at a price range within your budget. You can always negotiate your way into a much better price at any time.
One too many seniors have found themselves frustrated and overwhelmed after engaging unlicensed movers. To avoid any hassle as you get ready for and during your relocation, finding a licensed mover should be the very first item on your checklist for senior people moving.
You can use several ways to check whether or not a senior moving company you are interested in working with is insured. Here is a highlight of what you can do;
One of the rules imposed on moving companies by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is that movers must register a USDOT number. This USDOT number makes it easy for potential clients and interested parties to check the moving company’s credentials.
After getting a mover’s USDOT number, enter it into the DOT site. Search results will include information on licensing, insurance, flight size, safety, and compliance history.
Most, if not all, insured and licensed moving companies have an active online presence. The lack of an online presence should serve as a big red flag. Check that the company has a robust website and a presence across different social media platforms.
Licensed moving companies will have a proven and solid track record, which they will no doubt not want to taint by engaging in any unprofessional conduct.
Find out what others have to say about the company by reading online reviews on sites such as Yelp. In addition, some industry-specific sites list details on moving companies, such as licensing and insurance status and reports of any misconduct.
You can also find out more about what to expect from the moving company through reviews on the Better Business Bureau site and similar online directories. For a moving company certified by the American Moving and Storage Association, you can rest easy knowing that due diligence, including whether the company is licensed and insured, was observed before such certification.
If you are looking to get into the senior moving business, you first want to do an Employer Identification Number (EIN), a federal tax number. After getting your EIN, you will want to decide on the type of legal entity that you want your senior moving company to be, that is, a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC.)
The next step is to get state licensing and insurance. To get licensing, you will need to prove that you meet the set requirements, including having the skills for the job. Superb organizational skills, patience, and generally being a people person are top among such skills. You also need to prove that you have the equipment required for the job.
Consult with your local authority about the requirements for getting a permit. Similarly, get in touch with the relevant certifying authorities on the eligibility criteria for getting certified.
Organizing is one of the most crucial pieces of a senior move and if done right, can make the difference between a stress free move and a stressful move. Having family or friends to help with the organizing process will definitely help ease the situation. If you do not have anyone to help, Sunshine Movers of Sarasota has professional organizers that work specifically with seniors.
Hiring professional organizers that have experience working with seniors can simplify the downsizing process in a way that relieves the client and their family. During the organizing process there will be a decision phase and then a packing phase which your organizer can help with from start to finish. Once the organizing phase is complete, the movers are able to come in and pack up the rest of the home to prepare for move day.
The very first thing you want to do as you prepare to relocate or downsize is to sort through your stuff. Having years’ worth of things may make this particular task seem so daunting, but with the help of Sunshine Movers and a professional move manager, you can certainly sort through your items without concern. Of course, you undoubtedly wouldn’t want to bring everything with you or keep it all, so be prepared to do some serious sorting.
How do seniors organize their stuff? This is no doubt one of the most frequently asked questions. The good news is that it can be quite easy, and you may even be able to have some fun while at it.
A method that’s been tested and tried with great success is sorting your stuff into four main categories:
With this simple outline of how to organize my stuff, you may want to enlist some help. Have friends and family over to help you with sorting your stuff. If you so choose, you can leave this part of the process to the senior moving company.
Give away to friends and family and donate the items in your “to give away” pile to charities. You can organize an estate sale or post some of your things online and earn a decent amount while at it, which may help cover some of your relocation costs. Call in a garbage removal company to remove the items you have designated as trash for disposal.
If you have too much stuff, the first thing you want to do is reduce your load. Use the criteria outlined above and pick what has to go and what items you keep.
Start packing early enough. What would qualify for a realistic timeline is between a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Organize room by room. Avoid starting with the bigger rooms or the ones carrying stuff you have a significant emotional attachment. The laundry room, for example, may not have much, if anything, that you would be emotionally attached to.
Eliminate the rooms you will not have in your new home. If, for example, your new home will not have a garage, then think of getting rid of everything you have in your garage, be it by giving out or selling.
The easiest way to pack fragile items for senior citizens is to ensure you have suitable packing materials and enough of them. First, ensure you have a moving box for delicate articles. These are divided into specific dimensions for glassware and other fragile items. Additional supplies for packing fragile items include bubble wrap, packing paper and bubble wrap, towels, rags, packing peanuts, and tape.
Individually wrap your fragile items in bubble wrap or newspaper, packing paper, and towels—line the insides of the boxes with packing peanuts or bubble wrap to create a cushion base. After carefully placing the items in the box, you will want to use packing peanuts, paper, and towels to fill out any space in the box, which will prevent your fragile from moving around inside the box.
With the fragile items out of the way, you want to get down to packing the rest of the things you intend on keeping. Packing tips for the remaining items will, of course, depend on the type and size of the item. For example, with fragile and delicate items, you’ll need first to gather all the right materials such as moving boxes and packing paper. If these tasks seem too much, you can always count on Sunshine Movers to handle the packing portion of the move for you.
The last thing that you want to pack is everything that goes into your essential bag or box. These are items that you will need immediately after or soon after getting to your new home.
Among these items that should be last on your packing list include:
There isn’t a definitive list. You know best what you’ll require, and therefore what to pack in these boxes or bags.
Is it something you really need? Is it in good condition? Is it something you’d buy again today if you had the choice? Is the item worth the space that it will be taking up in your home? Will it blend in or match your new area?
These are only some of the questions that should guide your decision on what to keep and lose. For example, you may want to keep something of sentimental value to you even if you will not be using it as such in your new place. You can also choose to keep such items just to give them away to close family and friends.
On the other hand, you may want to throw that very old item you have been keeping saying you’d repair it but never quite got around to it. It’s not in great shape and won’t be needing it, so you may as well get rid of it. You can always invite some friends and family and have them go through your items to choose for themselves the items they’d like as keepsakes.
Start with the items that you want to throw away. It can be anything that’s too old or which can no longer be used. Keep it all in a pile for disposal. You can call a garbage removal company to take away the items immediately or wait until the final day of your move.
For the items you intend to keep, the first ones to pack should be the ones that you have in storage. Start with the things you have stored in your garage or attic. These items will be easier to pack because, more likely than not, these items will already be in boxes.
The next lot is your fine china and decorative pieces. You are not likely to hold any parties as you pack, so you won’t exactly need china. Similarly, you don’t need the artwork and other decorative pieces up while you pack. Ensure you pack your china properly and use the right boxes.
Next, you will want to move to your linen and towels before moving on to the books. If you love reading, you may want to keep a title or consider an obvious read when you are enjoying some downtime during the packing. You can enjoy the same on your drive down to the new home. Pack up the rest in boxes, ensuring you use tape to reinforce the bottom side of the box to avoid having the box crumble under the weight of the books.
With Sunshine Movers, Sarasota, you can rest easy knowing that we have you covered and will provide fast, easy, and effortless packing. Packing is easily one of the most time-consuming tasks during any move, and senior moves are no exception.
Yes. Let us know what you need to be packed, and our team will be more than happy to ensure you are all packed up and ready for your move. If you’d like us to pack only part of your items while you pack up the rest, that is something for which we can make the proper arrangements.
If you are not looking to do the packing yourself, limit your search for a senior moving partner to pack and move companies. Research on moving companies that pack for you, since some companies will only move you but don’t offer packing services.
Most reliable moving companies that will pack for you, such as Sunshine Movers of Sarasota, will extend this packing service to include documents, frames, and other important items. However, other movers may not pack items of severe significance due to risk. Your documents, especially financial and medical records, may fall in this category.
That being said, the best thing for you to do is to check with the moving company you hire for your senior move. The company should be able to provide you with a list of all allowed and prohibited items.
Set apart your fragile and essential items as these will require special attention and specific packing materials.
Before you can think about the best way to pack fragile items, you must first ensure that you have the right packing supplies.
For fragile items, here are some of the supplies you may need for packing:
There is no correct answer to this question since the best packing material will ultimately depend on the fragile item you want to pack. Take, for example, electronics, for which you will need bubble wrap or anti-static foam to prevent the electrostatic discharge from these electronics. On the other hand, you can get away with wrapping up some fragile items in towels and rags before putting them in the moving boxes. Custom foam inserts would work best for irregularly shaped fragile items.
In addition to your choice of packing material, apply fragile item packing tips and tricks as they best suit the specific items you are packing.
Start by throwing away unnecessary possessions other than your toiletries and medicines cabinet, including any medication that has already expired. Then, set aside the rest, everything you use, and put it all in one place, ready for packing.
Please note that any medicines that you may need during or shortly after the move, should be kept separate from the move so that you have access to it at all times.
Pick out a sturdy moving box of the correct size. Put some crushed packing paper at the bottom of the box to create a cushion base. Ensure you put all your small toiletries, liquid toiletries, and medications in zip-top bags before placing the bags in the box. While these plastic bags will undoubtedly ensure no leaks onto the box, you also need to be deliberate about properly tightening the lid on these liquid bottles.
Once everything is packed in the boxes, use more packing paper or towels to cover up any space left. Next, use a marker to name each box. You can then put all these smaller boxes into one bigger box, so you have all your toiletries and medicines in one place.
Whether or not the mover has the right and adequate insurance is undoubtedly one of the first things to look at when choosing a senior moving company. You may also need to get insurance as an individual to cover your move if you have extremely high value items or special circumstances that may require higher levels of coverage.
As a senior, you have no doubt spent so many years working for what you have today. When downsizing or relocating, you want to be able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your belongings are safeguarded and covered in case of any accidents. You can rest assured knowing that licensed professional moving companies do in fact carry insurance that covers your items in the event of damage or loss.
There are some 3rd party insurers you can speak with to provide additional coverage you may need for your move. Due diligence is a must, so find out if the insurer is licensed and knowledgeable about your circumstance. At Sunshine Movers of Sarasota, we are more than happy to point you in the direction of a reliable and professional 3rd party insurer if needed.
Moving trucks serve an essential role in moving to a new location. However, when it comes to Moving trucks for seniors, a few things should be kept in mind to ensure the safe and proper moving of belongings to the new location.
Among the top considerations to look at when choosing a truck for your senior move includes the following:
These, and more, are some of the critical points you can trust professional movers like Sunshine Movers Sarasota to keep in mind when selecting the right truck for your senior move.
How long does it take movers to load a truck? There is no short answer for this question as it all depends on several moving factors, as outlined below:
From the above, it is easy to see that loading time can vary based on the number of items you need to be moved and the challenges the movers are likely to encounter while getting the job done.
If you are seeking labor only services such as finding help loading a moving truck that you rent and plan to drive you may want to understand the costs associated. The cost of loading a truck will depend on a few variables including how many items you have, if there is a long walk from your home to the truck as well as if you need help packing items. As you can see, there are many variables to determine cost for loading a moving truck therefore Sunshine Movers of Sarasota offers free estimates where we will come out to view your items, discuss your needs and put together a moving quote. One other item to consider is if you will need moving blankets to protect your items which can increase the cost by quite a bit since most furniture requires 2 or more moving blankets at a cost of $15 each.
At Sunshine Movers, we take great pride in being fully equipped to help with your senior move. Engage us, and you can look forward to a smooth and hassle-free relocation. We have a fleet of moving trucks for relocation for senior citizens. We have everything you need, be it for a local or long-distance move.
There is a wide range of moving truck sizes. However, each size can only hold so much, usually measured in cubic feet. As such, the primary consideration when selecting a moving truck size is your belongings.
A senior moving specialist will be able to select the right size of truck for your move. A moving truck size calculator is one of the tools movers use. In addition, an in-home visit will help to give an idea of the volume of belongings the movers will be working with.
Among several things that have set us apart as the best senior moving company in Sarasota include selecting the best truck sizes like pros. Expert movers will consider the number of rooms and the specific number and size of the items you are moving. We will be able to assess this during the in-home visit. As a rule of thumb, we typically assign one 26ft truck per move. That said, it will depend a lot on the number and size of your items which could add another truck to your move.
At one point in their lives, people move to a different location for more than one reason. However, as a senior citizen, moving to a new site from the old home can be quite taxing on you physically and emotionally. To cope with this unique situation, it is good to develop a few ways to handle all the rapid changes occurring around you and ensure that you get accommodated in the new living space easily.
Check that the company is compliant with the FMCSA licensing and insurance requirement using the company’s USDOT number. You should be able to find this number on the company’s website or have the company share it with you.
Moving companies such as Sunshine Movers carry their own insurance which covers senior moves as well. There are however additional insurance companies that clients may utilize for additional insurance; however this is typically only brought up when handling extremely high value items such paintings and delicate antiques. Regardless of paying for additional moving insurance, you can rest assured knowing that any licensed moving company is in fact insured.
To understand how professional move managers help, is better described by explaining the relocation process as a whole. Professional movers and packers are great at what they do but they do not typically handle the organizing and move planning. This is where move managers come in as they can help with everything other than the actual moving and packing process. Let it be known that move managers will help with some packing as it may be necessary during the organizing and sorting phase. To add to this, move managers will also help bring in outside services when needed such as cleaning companies and handyman services to help prepare your current or future home.
Not all moving companies operate as pack-and-move companies. Therefore, you should do due diligence and make sure the company you hire provides this service, which can be quite tiresome and time-consuming to do on your own. Also, find out whether there are any items that the moving company will not pack for you, and make arrangements to have them packed by family or do it yourself.
Don’t just take the company’s word for it about being a professional senior mover. Instead, find out what others have to say about the company.
Find the best moving company for seniors by reading through customer reviews. What has been the experience of other seniors and their families when they hired the downsizing helpers? You can never go wrong by choosing downsizing and relocation specialists with the best user ratings.
You may need to put away some of your items in storage. Understand your needs to ensure you get suitable storage units and packing.
Prepare a moving checklist that includes all the items you will pack and move to your new home. It shouldn’t have the things you will give away or trash.
Packing will depend significantly on the specific items you have. In addition, your belongings will inform the type of packing materials and techniques to use. Sunshine Movers, Sarasota, is well equipped with all the supplies and expertise in different relocation techniques.
Rule of thumb is if the item fits in a box, it should be packed in a moving box. Understandably there are items that don't fit in your typical moving box which can be left for the moving company to handle. On the other hand, you will not need to worry about any of this if you are hiring the moving company to handle all of your packing services.
It should also be mentioned that if you are downsizing and decluttering, that you do not pack anything that you don't need at the new home. If you are planning on sending items to family or friends, we may want to pack those items into move boxes so that they arrive at their destination safely.
For the essentials that you will need immediately after your move, ensure you keep them in a separate moving box or bag. You will want to keep this bag with you instead of having it with the rest of the items in the moving truck.
Planning for, developing, and executing a senior relocation or downsizing plan is no easy task. It can all have such a physical and emotional toll on seniors and their families. Sunshine Movers of Sarasota strives to make these moves and downsizing as hassle-free as can get.
We are a full-service company offering a range of services from packing to moving. We have a team of dedicated senior move managers who will work closely with you and tailor a moving plan to your needs and budget. We offer stress-free senior moving services. So get in touch with us today and get a free quote. Let us help you enjoy that smooth and hassle-free relocation and downsizing.
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