Moving as an Older Adult? A Move Manager Can Ease the Process

DiCarlo calls this "misappropriate placement" and says it "happens far too often. It's so important that when you're looking for where you're going to move, you work with an expert who knows the options and can make the right housing recommendations."

They can take the stress off family members by taking on the logistics role

Emotions can often get in the way of making the best decisions when downsizing — for both the person moving and family members. A third-party move manager is not burdened in that way. DiCarlo sees hiring a senior or specialty move manager as a gift, allowing families to remain in the role of emotional support and not worry about the logistics of the move.

"You [family members] are greatly needed on the day of the move to be with the client — having lunch, seeing the community, keeping them emotionally stable while [the move manager’s team] can get the room unpacked and pictures hung. What the move manager can't do is be the daughter for your mom the day of, when she may be feeling emotionally overwhelmed."

How to find a qualified move manager for your needs

Be prepared with specifics. "Do you want someone to do all the sorting, organizing, packing, and unpacking?" Joe Scott, director of move management at Dovetail Companies, says to ask yourself. These move professionals take continuing education classes through NASMM and the Alzheimer's Association says to ask yourself. "The worst situations I've seen is when a client thinks [after we pack them] they can just hire a mover and have their stuff arrive. Imagine the challenges to getting someone settled. Whether you're 70 or 90, moving is exhausting emotionally. You want to come in and say, 'This is home.'"

Make sure they're certified. Carefully vet your mover. Start with the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM.org), an accrediting and resource organization for professionals. They can help you find a move manager that is certified, licensed, and insured. Use the "Find a Senior Move Manager" tool to locate a professional within a 50-mile radius.

You might need two. Keep in mind that if you’re moving a long distance, you may need to hire a second move manager on the other end, says Marnie Dawson of Dawson Relocation Services (NASMM Senior Home Manager Certified and A+ Accredited) based in Chicago. Dawson says you will have a contract with each move management company but that they work together to share information, reference photos, and well-labeled boxes. "You could still hire somebody to go all the way," she says, "but you save a little money by hiring one on each end of the move."

Have a contract with them — and review it. Dawson, who chairs NASMM's ethics committee, says NASMM's accredited professionals will show you a contract that outlines project scope, costs, how you will be billed, and how people are paid. "Move managers typically are paid by the hour but some are paid based on the scope of the project," Dawson says. According to NASMM's most recent association-wide demographic survey, expect to pay $60 to $120 per hour, with higher hourly rates in the Northeast and California. 

Ask a lot of questions. "If you're nervous about something, find out, do a proper interview," Dawson says. "It should not just be a sales call for the move manager." And ask about their network. Take advantage of the move manager's access to resources and a network of vetted professionals and vendors. But be wary of a move manager who says, "I've got a guy for that,” Dawson says. "You want someone who can explain why they chose a particular company to recommend to you."