What does a senior move manager do?

A senior move manager is a person or company that organizes the whole move for an older adult: sorting and downsizing, planning the new floor plan, packing, coordinating the movers, and often setting up the new home and emptying the old one. Not every company does every step, so the first job when hiring is to get a written list of exactly what is included.

What the work usually covers

The service is usually done in stages. A common order is a walk-through and plan, sorting the belongings with the client, deciding what to keep, give, sell or throw away, packing, moving day, unpacking and arranging the new home, and then clearing the old house for sale or rental.

Many managers also coordinate other trades: movers, donation pickups, estate sale or auction help and cleaners. Ask which of these they do themselves and which they subcontract, because the licence you check depends on who does the work.

Who needs a licence for which part

Check the licence or operating authority of whoever does each regulated task, since the manager may subcontract it.

The truck. Virginia law makes it "unlawful for any person to operate, offer, advertise, provide, procure, furnish, or arrange to transport property for compensation on an intrastate basis as a motor carrier without first obtaining from the Department a permit or certificate of fitness".^[1] There is a short-move exemption: "Household goods carriers transporting household goods for a lesser distance than thirty-one road miles are exempt from this article except the provisions of § 46.2-2168".^[2] For longer household goods moves, the DMV says a carrier "must keep a $50,000 surety bond or letter of credit on file with DMV's Motor Carrier Services for five years from the date your operating authority certificate is issued".^[3] Its insurance requirements for such carriers begin with "$750,000 Bodily Injury and Property Damage".^[3] Ask for the mover's operating authority and proof of insurance.

The sale. If the contents are sold at auction, Virginia's rule is: "Unless exempted by § 54.1-601, no person or firm shall sell at auction without being licensed by the Board."^[4] Ask whether the person running the sale is a licensed auctioneer.

Any repairs or painting before sale. Those are separate contractor jobs that need their own licence; see how to check a contractor's licence.

How to hire one

Ask for a written scope and a written fee structure, whether by the hour, by the project or by the stage, and what is billed separately: movers, supplies, disposal and storage. Cost varies a lot by region and by how much needs sorting, so compare at least two written quotes. For background on pricing for a related service, see what a professional organizer costs in Virginia and what local movers cost.

Ask for references from older clients and their families, and ask how the manager handles a client who changes their mind about an item.

If something goes wrong, the Attorney General's consumer office can take a complaint: "We handle a variety of consumer complaints against businesses operating in Virginia".^[5] Not every complaint falls within its jurisdiction, so check the topic list on the page.

Stop and call a pro if

• The move involves hazardous items, such as old paint or chemicals. Take them to your locality's collection program rather than the donation pile.
• The company wants to hold or sell belongings at auction without a licensed auctioneer.
• A mover cannot show operating authority for a long household goods move.
• A family member is unsafe at home today. Speak to their doctor or local aging services before the move plan.

Getting help in Virginia

If you want hands-on organizing instead of a full move manager, read is a professional organizer worth it. Browse interiors services or more interiors answers. When you are ready, describe the sorting and packing you need and local organizers can quote it.