Moving in Your Senior Years? Here’s How to Do it Right

moving van

Guest post by Harry Cline.  Is there any task more dreaded than moving? While no one enjoys relocating to a new home, as a senior, you have it especially hard. In addition to the actual work of moving, you have to deal with the emotional labor of saying goodbye to the place you’ve called home for years. While moving is never easy, you can eliminate much of the stress by taking an organized approach to the task ahead.

Coordinating the Move

It’s enticing to handle the move yourself to save money, but it’s almost always more hassle than it’s worth. Not only is there lots to do, but if you sustain an injury while moving heavy items, you could be out for weeks or months instead of enjoying your new home.

While hiring movers is a huge labor saver, it still requires work of its own. You have to decide the level of service you want, find a trustworthy moving company, and coordinate schedules.

While younger households may choose to pack and load their own belongings and rely on movers for transportation only, seniors should opt for a full-service move. By letting professionals pack, load, and transport, you prevent accidental damage to your belongings, your home, and yourself. If the movers do break something or scratch a floor, the damage is covered by the company’s insurance.

Of course, you’re only offered such protections if you hire a moving company that’s licensed and insured. There are a lot of moving scams and dishonest companies out there, so it’s important to research to find a reputable company. Get references, read online reviews, and check each prospective company’s license number with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Protect Your Move website.

Getting Ready

Your move will be a lot simpler — and cheaper — if you prepare before the big day arrives. When you live in a home for many years, you inevitably accumulate a lot of stuff. By decluttering before the move, you avoid spending time and money moving things you don’t need.

Downsizing is an emotional process, so it’s important to approach it methodically. Take it one room at a time and spread the work out over several weeks so you don’t wear yourself out. As you organize, ask yourself if you use each item often enough to merit its space in your home. If you’re not using something now, you probably won’t use it in the future either.

It’s often easier to start with large items that are easier to part with that don’t hold any sentimental value — bonus points if purging them allows you to upgrade to new versions to take to (or purchase when you get to) your new home. For example, if your mattress has seen better days or is seven to 10 years old, it’s probably time to replace it with a new one that will help you sleep soundly in your new home (be sure to check out online reviews to find the best one for you). Then look closely at couches, loveseats and recliners. Assess the quality of each piece and whether each should move on to the next place with you or be left behind. Once you’ve gotten rid of large pieces of old, worn-out furniture, you’ll feel inspired to go through the smaller items you no longer need or want.

For sentimental items, select the most important pieces to keep, and memorialize the rest in photographs and scrapbooks before gifting, selling, or donating. Use The Spruce’s tips for help deciding what to do with sentimental clutter. If it’s too much to handle alone, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from friends or family. A third party can be helpful for separating emotions from the process.

Moving Day

Moving day is hectic, and it’s important to stay organized if you hope to get through it with your sanity intact. Before the movers arrive, pack a go bag with the necessities you’ll need for the first days in your new home. Your go bag should include toiletries, medications, pet supplies, clean clothes, basic cooking supplies, chargers, and tools for assembling furniture, as well as comfort items like blankets and entertainment items. It’s important to set these items aside before packing starts so they don’t get lost in the chaos.

Pet owners should make arrangements for animals to be out of the house on moving day. If you don’t have a friend who’s willing to look after Fido on the big day, check out local dog-boarding or pet-sitting options. This prevents escapes, spares your pets unnecessary stress, and makes it easier for the moving crew to do their job.

If family and friends are helping with your move, have them arrive before the movers so everyone knows their role before the work begins. Divide your help into shifts so you have some people to assist with packing and others with unpacking at the new house. Don’t forget to buy snacks and refreshments to keep everyone happy and hydrated throughout the day.

Moving in your senior years is a big change, and it’s normal to feel a little stressed. But while moving is hard, it shouldn’t feel utterly overwhelming. To keep your move as stress-free as possible, start early, minimize what needs to be moved, and find help that you can trust.

Author

Harry Cline is creator of NewCaregiver.org and author of the upcoming book, The A-Z Home Care Handbook: Health Management How-Tos for Senior Caregivers. As a retired nursing home administrator, father of three, and caregiver to his ninety-year-old uncle, Harry knows how challenging and rewarding caregiving can be. He also understands that caregiving is often overwhelming for those just starting out. He created his website and is writing his new book to offer new caregivers everywhere help and support.

winter Snowmobile

Real Estate in a Winter Wonderland

As I drove around the other day with my kids, I was looking at some ...
Read More →
Roche Realty Group Host Annual Toys for Tots Drive, Invites Community Participation

Roche Realty Host Annual Toys for Tots Drive

As the holiday season approaches, Roche Realty Group is excited to announce the kickoff of ...
Read More →
Small Business Saturday New Hampshire

Small Business Saturday: Living Gratefully in New Hampshire

We have so many things to be thankful for here in New Hampshire: plenty of ...
Read More →
Annie Brown Joins Roche Realty Group

Annie Brown Joins Roche Realty Group

Meredith — Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc., with offices in Meredith and ...
Read More →
Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, NH

Gunstock Upgrades for Winter as Real Estate Shows Resilient Growth

As the leaves of New Hampshire’s forests transition from the vibrant hues of fall to ...
Read More →
Preserving New Hampshire's Lakes

Preserving New Hampshire’s Lakes: A Community Effort

With over 250 lakes and ponds throughout New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, there are unlimited outdoor ...
Read More →
Home Inspections — The Uninspected Abode: A Spine-chilling Tale of Regret and Terror!

The Uninspected Home: A Spine-chilling Tale of Regret and Terror!

One night, not many years ago, in a quaint, somber town nestled amidst the haunting ...
Read More →
Interest Rates

Interest Rates Impacted by Treasury Yields

It looks like the national picture for housing stats has not improved in recent months; ...
Read More →
Local Housing Crisis: Challenges and Solutions

Local Housing Crisis: Challenges and Solutions

Our communities are facing a shortage of both residential and commercial properties, a scenario that’s ...
Read More →
Fall Splendor In New Hampshire

Fall Splendor in New Hampshire

New Hampshire in the fall is akin to stepping into a live canvas painting — ...
Read More →
Samoset Condominiums on Lake Winnipesaukee

Condominium Sales Surge in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region!

As we start entering October’s bright fall colors, I thought I’d take a look at ...
Read More →
Empowering your offer

Empower Your Offer in a Sizzling Real Estate Market!

As a seasoned real estate professional, I often consider the market conditions to keep myself, ...
Read More →
Reviews of New Hampshire's Lakes Region

Reviews of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region

We’ve had a great summer in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, and we’re approaching the brilliant ...
Read More →
Waterfont Sales Activity Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Waterfront Sales Activity in the Lakes Region

As we head into September, I have compiled data and insight into what is happening ...
Read More →
Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend in The Lakes Region

Labor Day Weekend has arrived, and the weather forecast for the Lakes Region looks fantastic, ...
Read More →
Interest Rates

The Mortgage Interest Rate Dilemma

This past week, we saw an increase in mortgage rates following a rise in bond ...
Read More →
Best State To Live In — New Hampshire at #3

New Hampshire 3rd Best State To Live In!

WalletHub just released its rankings of the best state to live in for 2023. It’s ...
Read More →
City/Town Comparison can make the research process easier

City/Town Comparison For Your Move

Some studies place moving to a new location as one of the top ten most ...
Read More →
New Hampshire Real Estate Lacks Inventory

New Hampshire Real Estate Inventory Crisis

A Multifaceted Analysis of Rising Interest Rates and Beyond New Hampshire is currently facing a ...
Read More →
Peaks of New England

Exploring the Peaks of New England

In my younger years in school, I always loved geography. Living in New Hampshire, there ...
Read More →
Climate Exodus: Insurance Companies Seeking Refuge from High-Risk Sates

Climate Exodus: Insurers’ Fleeing High-Risk States

Flooding, Forest Fires, Heat Waves, Tornados, oh my! The recent stretch of weather has certainly ...
Read More →
Real Estate News Headlines - Lakes Region NH

Real Estate Tidbits to Consider

Here are a few real estate tidbits I’ve pulled to keep you up to speed ...
Read More →
Roche Realty Group Sells out Lakeside at Paugus Bay

Roche Realty Group — 6 Months in Review

Closed sales for the first 6 months of 2023 have been impressive at Roche Realty ...
Read More →
Newfound Lake

Lakes Region Waterfront Sales Activity 6 Month Comparison

Below you will find data and insight into what is happening in sales activity on ...
Read More →
Buying Land

Buying Land in New Hampshire — Comprehensive Guide

New Hampshire, also known as the Granite State, offers a diverse landscape that includes picturesque ...
Read More →
Weirs Beach: A Tale of History, Community, and Natural Beauty

Weirs Beach: A Tale of History, Community, and Natural Beauty

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the oldest bike week in the country, let’s ...
Read More →
First Five Months of Lakes Region Real Estate

Five Months of Lakes Region Real Estate Activity

The month of May’s real estate statistics just came out for New Hampshire, and it ...
Read More →
A bird's eye view of Long Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee

South Down Shores and Long Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee — Its History

When construction started in 1981, Laconia’s South Down Farm offered a picturesque setting for condominium ...
Read More →
Memorial Day — rows of gravestones with flags in military cemetery

Memorial Day Weekend Arrives in the Lakes Region!

The long-anticipated Memorial Day weekend has arrived after a long winter, and the Lakes Region ...
Read More →
Unlike the dandelions new listings aren't popping up in the Lakes Region

Will Listings Start Bloom Like Dandelions?

Will Real Estate Listings Bloom Like Dandelions? During my rides around the Lakes Region, I’ve ...
Read More →
boat launch

Public Boat Launches in the Lakes Region

New Hampshire’s Lakes Region is a paradise for boating enthusiasts and we are now entering ...
Read More →
Real Estate Scams

Real Estate Scams to Be Aware of

One of my Realtors® received a call today from a gentleman purporting to be the ...
Read More →
Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket overlooking the ocean

From the Lakes Region to Nantucket

I spent a few days on Nantucket Island this past week for a quick getaway. ...
Read More →
Lakes Region Real Estate Is Still Hot

Lakes Region Real Estate Market is Sizzling

The real estate market in the Lakes Region and the state of New Hampshire is ...
Read More →
Lake Winnipesaukee Kayak

Buying a Lake House — Where to Start?

Owning a waterfront home in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region is a treasured experience. For many ...
Read More →
Home improvements

Home Improvements Before You Sell

One question I commonly get asked is, “What type of projects or improvements should I ...
Read More →
Single-Family units are down

How’s the Lakes Region Market Looking?

We’ve already passed the first quarter of 2023 for real estate sales in New Hampshire’s ...
Read More →
Moving into new home young happy couple celebrating toast Champagne

Buying a Home? Follow These Tips & Tricks

Spring has officially arrived and launches the beginning of our spring selling season for real ...
Read More →
Marketing

How Marketing Real Estate Has Evolved

Back in the year 2000, the world was at the beginning stages of a major ...
Read More →
Mount Washington, New Hampshire

New Hampshire — 30 Reasons to Move Here!

With lakes, beaches, mountains, forests, rivers, and the ocean for people who enjoy the outdoors, ...
Read More →
New Hampshire Ski Resort

Ski Resorts in New Hampshire Are Ready for Spring Skiing!

It’s been a good week, and mother nature hit our region with a blanket of ...
Read More →
Market Trends

Real Estate Market Trends to Follow

I’ve been pulling up some current research on the real estate market on a national, ...
Read More →
Carol Mattice

Roche Realty Group Welcomes Carol Mattice

Meredith — Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc, with offices in Meredith and ...
Read More →
Kevin Shaw - Roche Realty Group

Kevin Shaw of Roche Realty Group is Top Producer for 2022

Laconia— Frank Roche, president of Roche Realty Group with offices in Meredith and Laconia, recently announced ...
Read More →
Lisa Lewis

Lisa Lewis Joins Roche Realty Group

Meredith — Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc, with offices in Meredith and ...
Read More →
Wanda Keenan

Wanda Keenan Joins Roche Realty Group

Meredith— Frank Roche, President of Roche Realty Group, Inc. with offices in Meredith and Laconia, ...
Read More →
Land for sale

Buy Land in New Hampshire — They’re Not Making it Anymore

The science is in and the more trees a state has, the happier and less ...
Read More →
The Price of Real Estate

Did The Price of Real Estate Increase in Your Town?

Everyone’s always interested to see how their real estate values have performed over the past ...
Read More →
Laid off employee in recession

Are We Headed into a Recession?

It’s pretty big news lately; Microsoft, Amazon, and other tech companies have laid off more ...
Read More →
Price Reduced

2022 vs. 2021 — Is The Lakes Region’s Frenzied Market Over?

It’s that time of year to provide all of you with an update on real ...
Read More →

Leave a Comment