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Your Guide to Professional Downsizing Companies and Movers

Happy senior couple in their new home

Your head is telling you that moving into senior living is going to be the best move of your life. But right now, your heart is looking around your longtime home and saying, “I can’t do this!” Downsizing can be stressful on everyone involved. Fortunately these days, senior living communities like The Atrium at Navesink Harbor are being more proactive than ever before by providing helpful guides and advice for soon-to-be residents. 

Plus, you no longer have to navigate the process alone. In the last several years, a whole crop of professional helpers and tools has emerged to help make moving into senior living a smooth and successful transition. Below is a rundown of what’s available to you.

 

The Big Stress Saver: A Move Manager

 Of all the new solutions available to help seniors move into senior living, a move manager is tops on the list. A move manager is adept at helping you with just about everything related to relocating, and trust us, they’ve seen and heard it all. They understand how emotional a move like this can be, and they can share all the tricks and tips to put you at ease and keep everything running smoothly.
Many people in this profession are accredited by a national association called the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM). The association maintains listings for professional senior move managers in your area, so it’s an easy way to connect with tried-and-true experts.

 A professional accredited senior move manager is trained to assist with the following:

 Developing an overall move or “age-in-place” plan

  • Organizing, sorting, and downsizing
  • Customized floor plans
  • Arranging for the profitable disposal of unwanted items through auction, estate sale, buyout, consignment, donation, or a combination of the above
  • Interviewing, scheduling, and overseeing movers
  • Arranging shipments and storage
  • Supervise and oversight of professional packing
  • Unpacking and setting up the new home
  • Related services, such as cleaning, waste removal, shopping, senior escort, assisting with selection of a real estate agent, and helping prepare the home to be sold

Be sure to see the association’s FAQ page for more useful information about move manager services.

 

The Secret Weapon: Self-Storage  

 An important part of downsizing and moving into senior living is decluttering, i.e., the process of deciding what to keep, gift, donate, or toss. But of course, there are often items in your home that you’re just not ready to deal with. Many seniors have found that a self-storage unit is the ideal solution to keep these items safe in the meantime. The option of self-storage is also the convenient answer for storing seasonal items like lawn furniture and holiday decorations.

 Storage units come in a variety of sizes, and rental contracts can be set up in different ways depending on your needs. Be sure to confirm that the unit you want is temperature-controlled. You’ll find a great list of several additional features to look for in a self-storage facility here.

  

The Right Muscle: Choosing a Moving Company

 Move managers are experts at finding and securing moving companies for their clients, and also serving as their go-between for estimating, scheduling, and more. If you decide to hire a moving company yourself, keep in mind some key steps to vetting a reputable company. Experts recommend getting referrals from friends, family, and co-workers. Also make sure the mover is licensed and insured, has the appropriate accreditations, and also has a good track record with the Better Business Bureau. A reputable moving company will be willing to give you an in-person estimate, and will not ask for a cash deposit before your move.

 

The Space Saver: Using Apps to Arrange Furniture

One of the big challenges of downsizing is how to make the most of your new space. Rather than becoming dismayed over what you may have to give up in furniture and accumulated stuff, think of the move as a chance to refresh and rethink your lifestyle. Many seniors are turning to tech tools to help with planning their new apartments, and they’re exploring the growing options for great-looking, space-saving furniture available today. 

 

Our Promise: Downsize Without Compromise

A wonderful life awaits you when you move to The Atrium at Navesink Harbor. From our relaxing waterfront lifestyle to the superb amenities to floor plans that give you all the space you need to surround yourself in comfort, there’s no finer choice in independent living. Contact us today for more information and a tour!

Need information? Right this way.

outdoor area at The Atrium at Navesink Harbor

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