Choosing the Best Moving Service for Seniors – What to Look For

Moving later in life, whether due to downsizing or wanting to be closer to the family, can be incredibly stressful. Relocating at any stage of life takes time, money, and effort, but for senior citizens, there are unique considerations to keep in mind.

That’s why choosing a moving service for seniors requires a different approach than it’s the case for traditional moving companies. Movers for seniors often offer discounts and are willing to provide a more guided process for the elderly.

But there are necessary services such as packing help for seniors and insurance coverage to consider in your research. If you’re unsure where to start planning a move, let us help you with the first step–choosing a moving service for seniors.

Why Choose a Moving Service for Seniors?

Before going into more details on what to look for when researching moving companies for seniors, let’s examine why you should seek a company that offers these specialized services.

While nearly every standard moving company will agree to work with senior citizens, not all of them will know how to approach it from the right angle.

So, what are the main advantages to working with movers that offer moving help for senior citizens compared to any other moving company?

Any reputable moving company can pack the boxes, move them into the truck, and drive to a destination. Still, the best movers for seniors account for the emotional and physical toll this process can take on their elderly customers.

Many are moving to assisted living facilities and leaving homes they’ve known all their life. Understanding the uniqueness of that situation allows moving coordinators to offer services with more flexibility and more adjustments to the customer’s pace and needs.

Furthermore, companies offering services of moving senior citizens have enough experience to anticipate specific problems and provide efficient solutions. Finally, and most importantly, they can offer advice and guidance along the way, making a move less stressful for their clients.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Moving Service for Seniors

When it comes to finding the best moving companies for seniors, simply Googling “moving companies near me” isn’t the right solution.

While you might be lucky and there’s an excellent moving service for seniors in your neighborhood, it’s probably unlikely. To successfully find the service that checks all the boxes, you first need to know precisely what to look for.

The Scope of Service

First and foremost, you have to check the type of services they provide. The priority on this list is whether the company offers packing services for seniors or are they labor-only moving company.

Nearly all movers offer packing services these days, so that’s likely not something to worry about. Still, it’s imperative to check first before providing any deposit.

However, you should be able to opt-out of packing services if you’ve planned to have your family and friends help you with that process.

Ideally, moving companies for seniors should offer complete downsizing packages and even assist with getting rid of some items from home, whether via estate sales or online auctions.

Lastly, you should consider a moving company that will clean the clutter after picking up the boxes and loading them into the truck. A moving company is unlikely to offer complete cleaning services, but many of them will make sure to pick up the mess and throw away the garbage.

Moving Distance

Whether you’re moving down the street or on the other side of the country, professional movers for seniors should be able to accommodate it.

You have to remember that even if a moving company exists in your state, it doesn’t mean they’ll be able to transport your belongings to the selected destination. Therefore, checking whether the moving company operates at the location you’re moving to is essential.

While doing your research, you’ll probably notice that some companies will perform interstate moves while others have no problem organizing international relocations.

Quotes and Pricing

At the end of the day, how much the move will cost will be one of the most significant deciding factors for many senior citizens. You probably already have a budget, so asking for a quote is always smart.

Some moving companies will insist on giving the quote over the phone after asking informative questions. Others will rather send moving coordinators to talk to you in person and give you an estimate on how much the move will cost.

There’s no right or wrong answer here, it’s more about what works best for you. However, keep in mind that the quote should be free of charge and non-binding.

As for the overall cost, plenty of factors will impact the final price, including the fluctuating cost of fuel and move distance. Also, a moving service for seniors may charge by the hour or a flat fee, which is something to note. The hourly rate ranges between $30 and $130, and a flat fee might be $3,000-$4,000 for downsizing a three-bedroom home.

Finally, always ask about senior discounts, regardless of whether the movers specialize in moving seniors or not. Many of them might offer some flexibility in terms of price, especially if it’s a sizeable project.

Deposits and Cancellations

It’s perfectly reasonable for moving companies for seniors to ask for a deposit to reserve their services. However, the deposit shouldn’t be astronomical but a fraction of the total price, and it should be fully refundable if the client cancels the service on time.

Some movers have more lax cancellation policies and will offer refunds even if you cancel a day before the move. That might be an essential consideration for those who aren’t sure about the precise moving date but need to schedule something just in case.

Auto Transport

Not all senior citizens drive, but many of them still do. Naturally, they’ll want to move their vehicles to their new home.

Auto transport is charged extra because your vehicle will need a different trailer to move it between states. Not all movers for seniors offer auto transport services, and if you’re not keen on driving to your destination, it’s an important question to ask during your research.

Storage

What happens if the home you’re moving to is still not vacant, but your move is already scheduled? In that case, you can connect with the moving company that offers temporary storage services.

That’s not always so easy to find, though. The amount of time you’ll need the storage for, the value of your items, and your budget are all crucial to keep in mind when thinking about storage.

If possible, it’s probably best to avoid storing your items for extended periods, but sometimes it’s unescapable. Note that the storage fee will also impact the overall cost of moving for seniors.

License and Insurance

A moving service for seniors may seem to have everything you’ve asked for and extra, but if they’re not insured and licensed, they should be an automatic no.

Every moving company, including those that offer moving help for senior citizens, should have appropriate licenses that meet the standards of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMCSA).

Ideally, your moving company will have all these licenses visible on their website, but if not, you can ask them about it.

Apart from all the required licensing, movers should offer comprehensive insurance coverage in case your items are lost or damaged in transport. Sometimes even with the utmost care, items break, so it’s vital to be adequately compensated.

Movers are required by federal law to offer valuations if they’re crossing state borders. Still, you should check what coverage they’re offering and if it works for you.

Online Reviews and Complaints

This might be a little tricky to navigate, but when choosing a moving service for seniors, taking the time to research reviews and complaints can be beneficial.

Naturally, you’ll run into unreasonable comments and customers with outrageous requests, but overall, it can be a treasure trove of information.

You might be able to spot a particular vulnerability of a specific moving company, like not maintaining their fleet properly and always having trucks that break down.

Another pattern you might notice is movers that lowball their quotes only to refuse to give the customers their items until they pay the inflated price.

Going through reviews and complaints can give you fundamental insight into how the movers operate and how they treat elderly customers.

Customer Service

Some might say that high-quality and efficient customer service is not the most critical factor in learning about moving companies for seniors.

On the contrary, a moving company that offers packing help for seniors and other services should have a seamless support line that can quickly answer any senior customers' questions and offer reassurance about their items being safe.

Being able to offer a more personable approach and having enough empathy for what it means to relocate later in life can go a long way for a company that offers moving service for seniors.

Organizations That Offer Moving Help for Senior Citizens

Whether a senior citizen is planning a move on their own or an elderly couple is downsizing, they don’t have to go about this process alone.

Some don’t have family and friends nearby to help them manage, but they benefit from connecting with organizations that can offer assistance instead.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

The AARP offers phenomenal resources in many regards, including the moving process. As a member of the American Association of Retired Persons, you are often eligible for discounts when hiring moving trucks and can even get free consultations during the downsizing process.

The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM)

You can also get in touch with the National Association of Senior Move Managers, a non-profit that offers assistance by assigning a qualified senior move manager to their members.

These individuals can help seniors plan the downsizing process and even help them modify their current homes to avoid having to move in the first place.

Eldercare Locator

This is a public service available to U.S. citizens and is a part of the U.S. Administration on Aging. While it’s not specifically designed to provide moving help for senior citizens, it offers valuable information on how to find affordable housing programs and other services for seniors.

Common Pitfalls When Choosing the Best Moving Service for Seniors

Many moving companies offer competitive prices and a broad scope of services, but not all of them will be the right choice for senior citizens.

The entire process can be overwhelming if you’ve never had to hire movers before. You might have difficulty discussing realistic price ranges with a mover who keeps making vague estimates and refuses to give you a number. That’s rarely a good sign.

If a moving company can’t give a free quote and explain what is included in the price, they’re likely to drop a bombshell later and make a serious dent in your moving budget.

Another common mistake is insisting to hire a mover that’s near you. Indeed, it can be comforting to talk to a mover that knows your area well, but their company might lack the infrastructure to transport your items to another state or move your car.

Lastly, choosing the cheapest option tends to backfire. Moving on a tight budget is stressful, that’s for sure, but going with the cheapest estimate could lead to other problems.

What if the mover is affordable because they are not properly licensed and insured? Perhaps they can offer low prices because they don’t maintain their vehicles properly. These are valid considerations and something to keep in mind when hiring a moving service for seniors.

Moving Safely and at Your Pace With the Best Movers for Seniors

No amount of preparation makes moving pleasant, but it can make a significant difference in terms of how stressful it can be.

Moving can be considerably challenging for senior citizens, so choosing the best moving service for seniors can be transformative. The price, moving distance, storage, auto transport, and customer service are immensely important factors to consider when deciding.

But you can also reach out to helpful organizations to ask for advice. Finally, make sure not to rush the process and always ask for those senior discounts.

Start planning your move by contacting Three Movers and asking for a free quote.