Preparing for a Move

Questions To Ask

When people first begin thinking about right-sizing, they often ask:

These are exactly the types of questions we help families solve every day. A short planning conversation with us can save months of stress.

Emotions of Moving

“It’s going to be alright, may not feel like it sometimes, but trust us!”

Leaving your old home behind can bring feelings of loss, uncertainty, or even guilt. These emotions are completely normal and often shared by many seniors and their families

The key is to acknowledge those feelings while focusing on what lies ahead: safety, support, and an opportunity to simplify life.

The move can open doors to new friendships, social activities, and a renewed sense of community that often gets lost when living alone.

The Decluttering Process

Every long-lived home collects memories, keepsakes, and clutter. That’s normal — and it’s completely manageable with the right plan.

One Room at a Time

Tackle one room at a time in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Keep, Donate, Sell, Toss

Create four boxes for each room. Be honest about what you’ve actually used in the past year.

Take Photos

You can keep the memory of sentimental items without keeping them. Create a digital album of special pieces.

Measure It

Measure your new space first so you know exactly what furniture will fit before you move.

Pace Yourself

Begin decluttering 2–3
months before moving. This will give you time to pace yourself. Work in 2-hour sessions to avoid fatigue.

Get Help

Consider hiring professionals that specialize in assisting with decluttering and downsizing.

"Yup, 30 years of stuff and some big furniture pieces can seem overwhelming to move."

"Remember you’re hiring movers, it will be alright. People move every day and it doesn’t make the news."

Packing Tips

While sorting and packing, do the following:

Focus on the memories, not the objects
Keep one meaningful item from each category
Share stories with family members as you sort
Consider gifting special items to family now
Remember: less stuff means more freedom

Actions to Take

Timing Between Residences

Be sure you understand the timing between your new home becoming available and you needing to be out of your current home. Coordinate accordingly and have a backup plan should there be a delay in access to your new home.

Movers

If you’re using movers, then start calling now. Good movers are often booked out weeks in advance. You might want to call a few movers to get quotes and learn about lead times.

Shipping Things?

If you’re thinking about shipping something, just like with the movers, do your homework. Movers and shippers are notorious for piling on extra fees and not arriving on the agreed upon day and time.

Household Hazard Materials

People often forget about getting rid of household chemicals that they do not desire to take with them to their next destination and need to be disposed of properly. Typically, your local trash transfer station will accept free of charge a limited amount of paint and all your old electronics.

For other chemicals, there are various free events for drop offs, but these usually require an appointment which may not come up for weeks.

Cancel/Start Home Services

Don’t forget to cancel services and your home insurance at your old place and start everything again at your new place.

Consider the moving checklist on the following pages to assist you with notifying everyone necessary and making your transition as smooth as possible.

"Pick a location where you can stay active. It’s the healthiest thing you can do for yourself."

Moving To A Standard Home

Senior-Friendly Features

Most assisted living facilities are built to accommodate the special needs of seniors, but if you elect to right size into a standard home, then look for the following features in your new house:

Single-level living

Avoid stairs and step-down rooms

Wide doorways

At least 32 inches for future mobility needs

Accessible bathrooms

Walk-in showers, grab bars, comfort-height toilets

Good lighting

Bright, even lighting throughout

Low-maintenance exteriors

Minimal landscaping and durable materials or ground level condos where HOA maintains the exterior

Proximity to services

Healthcare, shopping, and social activities nearby

Replicate the Old Environment

Moving is a big change. It might be comforting to have some things look the same in your new home. Take photos of how things are arranged in your home (the arrangement of pictures on walls and the items on bureaus). If possible, try to recreate the feel of your former residence.

Information and Key Documents

The following list includes important documents and contact information that should be located & collected when moving. It’s an ideal list to keep in mind when you are packing or organizing your possessions.

Personal & Family Materials

Birth certificates
Marriage certificate
Citizenship papers
Divorce/separation papers
Adoption papers
Relatives (names, phone, addresses) awards
Social Security numbers/cards
Passports (numbers, expiration dates)
Driver’s licenses (numbers, expiration dates)
California ID Card
Military records
Education: diplomas, records

Medical

Have the contacts for all the following:

Physicians
Pharmacists
Dentists
Hospitals of choice (address/telephone)
Medicare numbers
Health care proxies, living wills, resuscitation orders
Medicaid/Medi-Cal numbers (caseworker numbers, address/telephone)
Social worker or caseworker contacts
Medications (dosages, purpose, prescribing physicians, pharmacy, address/telephone)

Legal

Wills (dates of documents, executor names, address/telephone)
Powers of Attorney (names, including backup, address/phone)
Durable Powers of Attorney (names, including backup, address/phone)
Guardianships & Conservatorships (names, address/telephone)
Trust agreements
Living wills
Health care proxies

Income Sources

Retirement
Disability benefits
Social Security

Financial Assets

(institution, account #s, address/phone, form of ownership, current value)

Cash
Life insurance
Annuities
401k or 403b
Retirement & pension plans
Bonds
Money market funds
Stocks
Bank accounts
IRAs
Mutual funds

Real Estate

(addresses, location of deeds, form of ownership, insurance, current value)

Primary home
Investment property
Vacation

Other Assets

(location of items, titles, documents, form of ownership, insurance, value, etc.)

Automobiles
Businesses
Inheritances
Collections

Other Info

Inventory of family historical records, documents, photos, keepsakes
Burial instructions (funeral home location, name of director, whether funeral has been prepaid, cemetery plot location, organ donor instructions, special instructions for grave markers)
Safe deposit boxes (institution names, address/telephone, location of keys and list of contents, other names on safe deposit boxes)
Tax records

Other Important Contacts

Attorneys
Accountants
Clergy
Bankers
Stockbrokers
Service providers (gardeners, housekeepers, drivers, etc.)
Club memberships, volunteer activities, senior centers (names, address/telephone)
Subscriptions (magazines, newspapers, book of the month, supplements, crafts, etc.)
Landlord (name, address/telephone)
Past employers (company names, address/telephone, dates of retirement, contact persons, employee ID numbers)
Close friends and neighbors (note who has keys to house/apartment/condominium)

Top Reasons for Downsizing

Why downsize? Discover the benefits of simplifying your home and lifestyle.

All About Senior Communities

Know the important facts and details about senior communities in the Bay Area, the wide range in quality and price.

Move within the Bay Area, US, or Abroad

Explore your options and see if moving within the Bay Area, USA, or abroad would suit your lifestyle best.

Unlocking your Home Equity

Explore different options on how to maximize the value of your home to support you next chapter in life.

Request for Downsizing Guide

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