7 Moving Tips for Seniors
Senior moves can be a stressful event whether you’re moving yourself or you’re helping a family member. There are a lot of challenges that may come your way, and you might not know where to begin. Let us help you through your move with this list of moving tips for seniors.
1. Declutter Your Belongings
The moving process will go a lot smoother if you are not trying to move items you don’t wish to keep. Take it one room at a time and either throw away, sell, or give away anything you don’t want. It may be helpful to have a friend or family member help you make this step go faster. Once you declutter your belongings, the process of packing up to move will be easier.
2. Rent Storage
Perhaps you don’t have enough time to go through your stuff and decide whether you want to keep things, or you simply might not be ready to part with some of your belongings. Then getting warehouse storage unit is a great option. This way, you don’t have the pressure of a time limit as you sort through your items. This is also a good option if you need to temporarily store things during your move as you are between houses.
3. Pack The Essentials Separately
Moving can be a lengthy process, and it can sometimes take a while to get everything unpacked once the move is complete. It may help if you pack a bag that has all the essentials in it, so you don’t have to go digging through bags to get what you need. In your bag of essentials, you might consider packing a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, medication, brush, and chargers but it can be anything you feel is essential. This way, you won’t feel pressured to unpack all of your boxes right away, and you can’t take as much time as you need.
4. Organize Your Belongings
When it comes to packing, take it one room at a time. Figure out a system that will work best for you. Perhaps you divide the boxes based on rooms and put the kitchen items together and the basement items together. You could also be more specific and put all clothing and bedding together. This is entirely up to you to do whatever will make the most sense.
5. Know Your Limits
Moving can be exciting, and many of us just want to get it over with. It is tempting to try to do everything yourself so that it gets done faster. While it is okay to do some things yourself, make sure you know your limits. If one of the moving tasks causes your pain or you have items that are simply too heavy, then don’t push it. It is always better to have a task take longer and have someone else do it than to get hurt doing it.
6. Ask For Help
Moving is hard enough as it is, don’t be afraid to ask for help. We strongly urge that you don’t try to complete your entire move yourself. Ask your friends or family members to help you pack your boxes, organize your belongings and declutter your house to help prepare you for the move. If you have any large furniture, get help to load and unload it from the moving vehicles. Asking for help will also allow your move to get done a lot quicker.
7. Hire a Moving Company
If you need help with the entire moving process, hire a moving company. Make sure you find a reputable company, and from there, choose what services you need. Most moving companies offer everything from individual services for your to choose from to a full-service move. A full-service move is highly recommended however, the move will ultimately be tailored to your needs. The number one thing to remember when looking for a moving company is to make sure they are appropriately licensed and insured. An easy way to find this out is by going to the FMCSA database. This website will tell you the qualifications of a moving company.
