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    • Mar 9, 2023
    • 4 min read

Guest Blog: Moving Services for Seniors

Moving Services for Seniors

Whether for retirement, downsizing, availability of quality senior health care, or moving close to family, relocating later in life has its fair share of unique challenges. When asked about the most stressful event in their lives, 45% of Americans claimed that moving is the most stressful – a more stressful event than getting a divorce.

From the exhausting packing to heavy lifting to hours of driving, the moving experience can be incredibly demanding for older adults. If you have a loved one who plans to relocate soon, hiring a moving service is your best bet for peace of mind. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of moving services for seniors that can help your loved one make moving a less stressful experience.

With so many moving companies and storage services in the country, it’s difficult to find the best one for your needs. To help you or a senior loved one find the right moving company, we rounded up the best moving companies for seniors with key information about their services, features, service coverage, and more key details, with a focus on companies that offer the best moving experience and services for seniors.

How to Choose the Best Moving Service for Seniors

The most common complaints against moving companies include lost/stolen/damaged items, substandard service, and unexpected charges. To avoid these issues, you’ll want to vet your potential movers. To ensure you’re hiring a reliable moving service for seniors, consider these tips:

1. Check for Credentials

One of the best ways to avoid scam moving companies is to verify their credentials. You must ensure they have the proper license and certification to provide service. For starters, a moving company must have a number issued by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). This number acts as a license for commercial vehicles that haul cargo in interstate moves.

We highly recommend using the FMCSA website to check the registration status of the company to the agency. It’s also an excellent resource for researching a moving company since it contains vital information such as USDOT number, principal office address, fleet size, complaint history, and more.

2. Get Several Pricing Quotes

Comparing quotes from multiple different companies can help you establish what a fair market price is for your move. A good rule of thumb is to request price estimates from at least three different companies, either online, over the phone, or in person. Most companies will survey your inventory of belongings to provide an accurate appraisal. Some will even visit your location for an in-person survey and provide on-site estimates.

Be wary of unusually low estimates or companies offering quotes without sending a representative to scope your inventory. Furthermore, look for companies that offer binding or guaranteed estimates to ensure you’re only paying for the initially quoted amount and not a dollar more.

3. Read Lots of Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are a great way to kickstart your research process. After all, if many customers have a positive experience with a particular company, there’s a good chance you’ll have a similar experience as well. See what people have to say about the company by searching the company name with terms like “reviews” and “complaints.” Trusted websites like Google, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau (BBB) are excellent places to read reviews by actual customers.

4. Consider the Customer Service Quality

A company’s customer service quality can make or break your moving experience. You’ll want to hire a senior moving company with customer support that you can quickly get in touch with. When choosing a prospective mover, ask how they will reach out, how often they will call, and what information they will provide with each update. It’s also vital that they maintain open lines of communication with movers, drivers, and other people involved with the move.

5. Be Wary of These Red Flags

One of the worst things that can happen to a senior customer is to fall for scam movers or just downright dishonest companies. Scam companies will take your money without completing the move or hold your belongings hostage for double or triple the initial price. This highlights the importance of hiring a well-known and reputable moving company instead of a random listing on Craigslist.

Avoid companies that require cash payment or a large deposit upfront. In cases like high-volume areas or peak moving seasons, some larger companies will require a deposit to save the move date. However, cash payments and large deposits are one of the most significant telltale signs of a scam.

Another red flag to keep an eye on is if the company provides an unusually low quote. This is a common tactic to get you into a bait-and-switch moving scam where they’ll give you a seemingly attractive low initial quote but demand an excessive amount upon delivery.

Lastly, be very cautious of signing a blank or incomplete contract (sometimes called “order for service”). The contract should have clear language and contains essential information like agreed-upon costs, fees, liability coverages, etc. If some contract sections are left blank, don’t sign them!


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