Dallas Senior Movers and Downsizers
Ask a group of retirees how they like to spend their time and probably none will say they enjoy packing up their stuff and moving it from one home to another. Still, moving is a reality for many older adults, either to a smaller home that’s easier to maintain or to a senior living community. As the number of seniors on the move grows, there’s a growing demand for senior moving experts who take care of clients before, during, and after relocation.
What Makes Senior Services Different From Regular Moving Companies?
Senior move experts can help you declutter and downsize your possessions, sell or donate the things you don’t want to take along, transfer your utilities, unpack, and arrange your things exactly as you want them in your new place.
These professionals are sensitive to the sentimental value of keepsakes and the emotional impact of leaving a longtime home. Senior move experts who are members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) take courses on senior move issues, abide by the group’s ethics guidelines, and follow NASMM’s insurance requirements.
When Should You Contact A Senior Move Expert?
The ideal time to work with a senior moving specialist is while you’re still active and thinking about downsizing. An early start means you can take your time choosing which belongings to keep, which to pass along to family members, which to donate, and which to toss out. You can also get creative about keepsakes, perhaps putting together a video or digital photo album of beloved but bulky items rather than keeping the items themselves.
If a sudden illness, injury or other disaster prompts a move on short notice, senior moving help can be a sanity saver for yourself and any relatives who are both helping with the move and dealing with the emotional upheaval that comes along with a crisis.
Where Can You Find A Dallas-Area Senior Move Manager?
NASMM’s Find a Senior Move Manager tool helps you locate SMMs by state or by zip code. There are currently 10 SMMs listed in Dallas and the Metroplex. You can check with the Better Business Bureau of Dallas and Northeast Texas to see which movers are accredited and to check their BBB ratings. If you’re moving to a senior-living community, the staff and residents may have recommendations for you. Check references and customer reviews before you choose someone to help you sort and transport your personal possessions.
How Much Do Senior Move Services Cost?
As with other highly personalized services, the cost varies based on the services you need, how much stuff you have to sort through and move, and your time frame for completing the move. Hourly rates can range from $30 to more than $100 for senior move manager services, and while SMMs coordinate the move, they usually don’t transport and unload your items themselves; that’s handled by movers hired by you and the move manager. The Dallas Morning News reported in 2012 that a complete senior move package can cost as much as $10,000.
If you’re concerned about cost, ask if there are package deals available or a la carte options that let you handle the sorting while the SMM concentrates on the move and placement of furniture in your new home. Remember that by selling some of the things you no longer need, you can recoup some of the cost of hiring a move manager, and that a low-stress relocation can be worth every penny.
Learn more aboutDallas Retirement Planning:
- How Much Does It Cost to Retire in Dallas, TX?
- What’s the Cost of Living in Dallas, TX?
- Dallas Financial Advisors
- Dallas Elder Law Attorneys
- Dallas Senior Realtors
- Dallas Neighborhood Guide
- Live Like a Local in Dallas
- Dallas Demographics and Lifestyle
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