Moving isn’t just for the young, seniors and retirees move for many reasons. What stays the same, however, is that moving is a hard and lengthy process. Packing, unpacking, coordinating, and finding the perfect company can take weeks or months. But, by hiring a moving company that offers services specifically for seniors, you can make this process a whole lot easier. Whether you are moving to be closer to family, downsize your home, or find warmer weather, here are some of the many things seniors should look for in a moving company.
Full Service
The most important thing any senior should look for in a moving company is that they offer full service moving from start to the end. Seniors often times do not have the energy or ability to help the movers out like most people. This doesn’t mean doing the actual moving, but with the little things many people don’t think about.
A full service moving company should:
Pack and Unpack Your Stuff:
Many professional moving companies offer packing and unpacking services for a reasonable fee. The professional packers will safely and quickly put your entire stuff that you want to move, into boxes. This will also eliminate another issue: finding the boxes themselves. When the moving company does the packing, you won’t have to worry about collecting boxes and other moving supplies.
Reassemble Your Furniture:
It’s great if the moving company moves your table to your new home, but are they going to help you put it back together? A full service moving company will. Make sure they know how to reassemble any specialized items you have. They should know exactly what to do, especially if they’re the ones disassembling.
Clean:
Many full service moving companies will help seniors out by tidying up the house after they leave. This is especially true if they are unpacking your boxes as well. But you can never be sure; make sure to discuss it with them first.
Coordinator
Moving companies that cater to seniors will oftentimes have a coordinator to work with you and advocate for your needs. A professional coordinator is essential because you probably won’t be there on moving day with the movers. A coordinator will stand in your place during moving day. Before the big day, you’ll sit down with the coordinator and discuss where you want everything to go in your new home and how you want it to look. Make sure to describe everything the best you can! The coordinator might take pictures of your current home décor and then organize your stuff by room. Moving takes all day and is a tiring process, with a professional coordinator, you can ensure everything is done right while you relax and watch it happening.
Trustworthy
Another important consideration for seniors when hiring a moving company is their trustworthiness. Never hire a moving company that is not firmly established in the community. Better yet, ask your family and friends who they have used for their moves. A moving company should have an established place of business, website, and dedicated employees. Don’t hire just anyone to handle your stuff.
Trustworthiness is uniquely important for seniors because you will be handing over the keys to both your homes and leaving the moving company will free reign. That is, unless you plan on constantly watching them over the multi-day process. It is easy for movers to steal items or valuables during a move without you noticing. Moves are hectic and missing items are gone easily unnoticed. Thieves are also more inclined to steal from the elderly, thinking they are easy prey. Of course, no reputable moving company would ever steal from their customers, but still be wary of moving companies without firm roots in the community.
Take an Inventory of Your Stuff if Possible or Have Your Moving Company do that For you
If you still are uneasy about having strangers handle your most precious belongings, consider hiring a company that will take an inventory of your items. This process shouldn’t be too much of a hassle for the moving company, especially if they are the ones packing. During the packing process, the packer should write down everything that went into each box and provide a copy for you. That way, even if a rogue employee does decide to walk away with something that isn’t his, you’ll have documentation from the moving company themselves.
Communication
Many seniors and retirees will choose to go on vacation or take a day trip out of town during the move. That way, when you return you can go straight to your new, furnished home. If this is something you plan on doing, make sure your moving company is willing to stay in constant communication with you. They should immediately contact you with updates, issues, and any questions they may have. The company should also be willing to come out the day after and make sure that everything is how you expected it to be.
Find the Right Senior Moving Company for You
Moving companies that specialize in helping seniors are used to offering these services to their customers. They should be willing and able to talk you through their specialized process. But not all companies do; if a company seems confused or unwilling to offer these simple services, move on to someone else. You’ve worked hard for years and deserve to relax without the stress and challenges of moving. By hiring a moving company that specializes in senior moving, you will find it to be a pleasant and stress free experience. Getting old has its perks after all!