Why You Can Trust Moving APT
At Moving APT, we know moving. Our team includes folks who worked dispatch, coordination, and (of course) packing, loading, and hauling. And with all that collective experience, we can bring you an insider’s look at how to make moving easier.
We’ve been doing this for over 20 years. Over all that time, we’ve helped thousands of people relocate, from local moving to long distance and coast to coast moves. We also offer a huge variety of moving services, custom-tailored based on the demand we’ve noticed through our 20+ years in the industry.
We take moving seriously. And if you’re helping an older family member relocate, we’re happy to share our knowledge. Let’s get started.
The Moving APT Senior Moving Checklist
Don’t hire your movers yet. Read through the step-by-step guide to senior moving, curated by the moving pros at Moving APT:
1. Downsizing and Cleaning Up (2-3 Months in Advance)
You’ve already talked to your loved one, and it’s been decided that A: The move is happening, and B: You’ll be helping out. Now, it’s time to do a little prep-work.
Instead of calling your movers or shopping for quotes right off the bat, you should take some time to clean up and reduce clutter. More stuff means a higher price tag if you’re working with professional movers, and even if you’re DIYing the whole move, more stuff means more trouble.
We recommend selling off unwanted or unused items, handing them down to other family members, or just donating them or junking them. Garage sales are a time-tested method. You can also use Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, provided you take every measure to stay safe when dealing with random people you meet on the internet.
Downsizing is an important part of preparing for a move, but make sure you keep your loved one’s wishes in mind. Some items may have sentimental value, so respect their boundaries and don’t go overboard if they’re uncomfortable with getting rid of too much stuff. Resolving to keep items in the family is a good compromise – but it does mean you’re just spreading around clutter.
2. Shop for Movers (2-3 Months in Advance, but After You Downsized)
As soon as you’re happy with the downsizing, it’s time to shop for moving companies. (If you’re DIYing, you’ll be shopping for truck rentals and possibly moving labor.)
2 to 3 months in advance seems excessive, but it’s important to get a jump on this as early as you can. Last-minute moving is convenient. However, it’s also expensive and hard to get the exact services you need. With a 2 or 3 month head-start, you can book the movers you want, the services you want, and even the time slot you want without all the extra competition from other customers.
Another bonus to scheduling in advance? It’s cheaper. Moving companies appreciate a little proactiveness, and by giving them more wiggle room, they can schedule your move for a date and time that’s lower demand (and therefore cheaper).
3. Take Care of the Administrative Stuff (2 Months in Advance)
Take note: This is actually good advice whether you’re moving an older relative, or just moving for yourself. Give yourself plenty of time to take care of the paperwork. Utilities may need to be transferred, home sales may need to be finalized, and mail will need forwarding.
When you’re moving, it’s not just about the boxes and bubble wrap. There’s a whole world of administrative stuff that needs to be handled. This is why we recommend giving yourself at least a couple of months to make sure it’s all squared away.
4. Start Packing (2 Months to 1 Month in Advance)
Ideally, you’ll have downsized everything (see step 1) so this step shouldn’t be too terrible. But, you should still give yourself a couple of months to pack – especially if you’re committed to a DIY job.
When you pack, you should start with the least-used items first. Seasonal decor is usually the first thing to get boxed up – and odds are, it’s already in a box someplace anyways.
After the Christmas lights, start by packing up the art on the walls, and the books on the shelves. These are obviously a must-have for a comfortable living space, but you’re not using them all the time. Then you can work your way up to little-used kitchen appliances, and all the stuff in that spare bedroom.
Anything that gets used every day should be last on your list. Toiletries, tablets, chargers, etc. – these should all go in an essentials bag a few days before your move (but we’ll get to that later). As for valuables, you should avoid putting those in a box that your movers will be handling. They may be best stored in that essentials bag, or even on your person or safe at your place during the move.
DIY packing can be quite the mission. If you don’t want to deal with all the wrapping, packing, boxing and taping, you can hire professional packing services. They’ll show up with all the required equipment and supplies, and they’ll handle every step of the packing process so you don’t have to.
5. Host a Farewell Party (1 Month to 2 Weeks in Advance)
Movers won’t transport any perishable food, so now’s your chance to get rid of it. If you’re feeling sentimental, this is also a chance to share memories about the old place before you say goodbye.
Farewell parties don’t need to be sad occasions. Granted, we’re in the moving business, and not the party-planning business, but we know these parties are good opportunities to support your senior family member before the big day. And from a practical standpoint, you can also convince some guests to help with the packing.
Of course, if your older loved one would rather not have a party, respect their wishes. Some folks just want to keep things low-profile, and that’s just fine.
6. Contact Your Movers (2 Weeks in Advance)
Right around the 2-week mark, you should call up your movers and confirm all the details. You want to know everything – or as close to everything – you can about the team that’ll be showing up, when they’ll be arriving, and how you should prepare the place for their arrival.
This is also a good chance for you to explain and answer any questions your movers may have. For example, if there’s a gate code or a certain location that’s best for parking, this information will be really useful for your moving team. Ask as many questions as you can, but be ready to answer any questions they may have for you.
7. Pack an Essential Bag (1 Week in Advance)
Before you completely pack up those day-to-day items, pack an essentials bag for your family member. This suitcase should contain everything they’ll need on a miniature vacation: A few changes of clothes, their toiletries, their medication, and any small electronics and associated chargers.
The point of an essentials bag is to avoid digging through dozens of boxes to find a toothbrush or medications. Your family member will be living out of this suitcase for a few days, so make sure they have plenty of input when you’re putting it together.
8. Use a Staging Area (A Few Days in Advance)
We’re getting close to the finish line. Before your movers show up, it’s a good idea to move all your boxes into one easy-to-access area. This can be a garage, a bedroom, or even just a corner near the entrance.
Staging areas speed up the whole loading process. Instead of running all over your home to track down that last box, everything will be within reach for your moving team. This means a faster turnaround time for them, and a faster move for you. And if you’re moving local (and being billed per hour) it also means a cheaper move for you, too.
9. Set Your Alarms and Get Plenty of Rest (The Day Before)
Tomorrow’s the big day. The essentials bag is ready, the boxes are taped and staged, and the movers have confirmed that they’ll be arriving in less than 24 hours. Now, all you have to do is rest up and be ready to support your loved one.
If you live in a different home, you may want to pack a sleeping bag and crash at your family member’s house the night before. This way, you can be up bright and early to help finalize the process and oversee the moving. Whatever the case, make sure you get plenty of sleep and set your alarms – tomorrow’s a big day!
Moving with the Pros (Yes It’s Worth It)
You may be tempted to go completely DIY, but there are a couple different professional moving options that can make your senior moving experience way easier. Some of these options are also downright affordable…
- Moving labor: Moving labor is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. If you’re trying to DIY the loading and hauling but there are a few items that are too heavy to lift and load by yourself, book moving labor and get some extra hands to help out.
- Packing service: You can hire professional movers to just do the packing. Since packing usually takes up the majority of your time, paying someone else to take care of it can really cut down on stress and frustration.
- Moving containers (PODS): Moving containers are pretty slick: A container company will drop off a pod, you’ll fill it up on your own time, and then they’ll transport it to your destination. Then, you unpack at your own pace, too.
- Full service moving: When you book full service movers, they’ll show up and handle everything. This means they’ll do the packing, loading, hauling, and unpacking, and you won’t have to lift a finger. It can be pricey, but the convenience is unbeatable.
Make Senior Moving Easier with Moving APT
On the surface, moving an older family sounds like a recipe for a lot of frustration, drama, and family infighting. That’s why Moving APT is here to help. Whether you need packing, moving labor, or all-in-one, full-service moving, we’ve got the moving team for the job. We’ve also made it quick and easy to book your movers. Check out our moving cost calculator to get started!
Senior Moving FAQs
How much does it cost to move a senior citizen?
It can cost as much as $8,000 to move a senior citizen, but that’s really if they’ve got a 5-bedroom home and they’re going all the way across country. On the other side of the spectrum, it can be as cheap as $1,000 for a cross-town, small apartment move.
The more you have to move, the more you’ll have to pay. And the farther you have to move, the more you’ll have to pay also. This is why we always recommend downsizing before shopping for quotes.
Do movers offer senior discounts?
We’ve seen our share of military discounts and senior discounts, but these are typically offered during certain seasons. It’s smart to call up your movers before you book to confirm you can snag a discount. We’ve also been offered other discounts just for calling up and asking if there was any way to shave off a few bucks.
What’s the difference between a local and a long distance move?
Local moving is anything under 100 miles and within the same state. Long distance moving is anything over 100 miles and across state lines.
Local movers charge per mover, per hour. It’ll usually take about two movers per bedroom. On the other hand, long distance movers charge per mile and per pound.
How long does it take to move?
Moving can take anywhere from 1 to 21 days. Like the price of your move, it all depends on how much you’re moving and how far you’re travelling.
Keep in mind, a small amount of stuff doesn’t always mean a shorter wait. If your items don’t fill an entire truck, your movers may bundle multiple moves in the same trailer to maximize efficiency. They’ll keep everything safe and separated back there, but there may be delays while they pick up and drop off other customers’ items.
What is a binding estimate?
When a mover provides a binding estimate, it means the price is set in stone. The amount on the estimate is the amount you’ll pay – and the services on the estimate are the services you’ll receive.
Binding estimates are great: once they’re issued, a mover can’t increase your price. Just don’t try to pull a fast one and add a bunch of furniture after the estimate’s been issued. That’s a surefire way to get a cancelled contract.
