Dear Savvy Living,

Do you have any tips for seniors who want or need to downsize to a smaller home but need help moving? The idea of packing and moving from my home of 45 years is overwhelming me. Any suggestions?


Dear Sandy,

Any move is stressful, and moving from a long-time residence is even harder. The idea of actually sorting through decade's worth of stuff can be terribly daunting. But today, there's a new kind of moving service that can make downsizing and relocating a lot easier. Here's what you should know.

Hassle-Free Moving

There's a growing new industry called "senior move managers" that specialize in assisting older adults and their families with the emotional, physical and organizational aspects of relocation. These are professionals who understand how difficult it can be to move from a long-time residence and they can make the move easier and less stressful. Although services will vary, most senior move managers can help with some or all of the following:

• Setting up a time-line and a comprehensive plan for your move.


• Locating and overseeing a mover.


• Drawing up a scale-model floor plan of your new residence.


• Creating scale-models of your furniture to help you plan your space.


• Helping you sort through your possessions.


• Packing those items to be moved.


• Arranging for the disposal of unwanted items (donations, estate sales, etc.)


• Unpacking and organizing your new home.


• Helping you prepare your home for sale.

Note: Costs vary depending on the services and size of the move, but you can expect to pay somewhere around $1,000 to $3,000, not including the cost of movers.

To locate a senior move manager visit the National Association of Senior Move Managers Web site at www.nasmm.com. But before you hire one, be sure you ask for references from previous clients and check them. Also find out how many moves they have actually managed, and get a written list of services and fees. And make sure they're insured and bonded.

If you can't find a senior move manager in your area, another option is to hire a certified professional organizer - many of whom offer moving/relocating services for seniors. To find one, check out the National Association of Professional Organizers at www.napo.net.

Hiring a Mover

If you don't have any luck locating a senior move or organizing professional or you don't need this type of service, you'll probably still need to hire a mover (see www.protectyourmove.gov). But before handing your money and your hard-earned possessions over to just anyone, it's smart to do a little research. Here are some tips to help you hire the right mover.

Start by getting recommendations for movers from family and friends. Real estate agents are also a good source. Look for companies that will offer you estimates in person - these are the only ones that will give you a reliable figure. Once you have a few options, conduct a background check starting with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org).

Next, get several in-home estimates and ask for a written, binding estimate, that guarantees the total cost of the move based on the weight of the items to be moved, the distance to be moved, packing, and other services. When an estimator comes to your home, be sure you show everything you want to have moved (the closets, the backyard, the basement, the attic) so there are no surprises. Also, find out what the mover's responsibilities are for damages that may occur to your belongings, ask for a list of references and get the company's USDOT and motor carrier license numbers.

If one company offers a much lower bid than the others, it's smart to be skeptical. Once you choose a company, make sure it has the license and insurance it needs to move you legally. Visit www.safersys.org and enter the company's USDOT number to check. You can also call the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hotline at 888-368-7238 to check if there have been any complaints filed against the company you are considering.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book. The articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.