Understand what you are moving. Have every detail and specification available when you call for a quote and bid – size, dimensions, weight (if you know it), make or model, if any specific temperature is required for Art or Medical equipment and if the item(s) require special handling (such as an upright position) during movement.
Convey any hazardous risk information or special handling needs during the company survey of your items.
Have your items surveyed IRL and bid accurately. This can only occur if the company meets you in both locales – if the destination is at a long distance or overseas, this will in all likelihood require a different bidding company representative to review the new location. Typically expect changes in bid pricing if you change details, add or delete items or require storage at short notice.
Ask about your rights and responsibilities during the moving process. This should be written and available as an online document 24/7.
Beware of any company that offers to quote and bid your items without surveying the item in place and without reviewing your new location. This is a critical element for moving specialty items.
Communicate when and how any specific environmental needs are going to be met prior to the delivery of your items – this could include additional security (in person or building), ambient temperature, electrical equipment etc.
Anticipate the worst and plan for the best – Metropolitan Movers are known for their dedication to you and your shipments however please know they may encounter unexpected weather events or other circumstances out of their direct control that may impact your pick up, moving and delivery of your items. This may also include a responsibility that is yours – for instance an ambient temperature requirement for an item, a miscalculation of internal access into a high rise building or a combination of all of the above. Whatever the events, if they occur, know that our people on the ground work hard to make you happy.
You are responsible for obtaining or buying specific specialty insurance for your shipment contract. To assist you in this process seek replacement valuation prices from reliable specialty sources and call around reputable companies.
If you consider an item sentimental and irreplaceable for that reason, know that moving an item of this nature involves a small degree of risk and a high level of trust in your movers.
For specialty items arrange for yourself or your representative to be present at all times during the packing, loading,unloading and relocation of the item into its new locale.
STOP the process if you are in any way unhappy with how your item is being packed or handled.
For high value items get written valuations for each item and have them copied for your reference, records and use.
Know and understand your moving contract. This will be the ONLY documentation that will be used in the event of damage or loss. Ask questions if you do not understand the terminology or moving jargon that your sales relocation specialist is using.
Require that the type, amount and quality of packing materials being used are fully explained for your particular specialty items. Excess is always better than a minimal approach for specialty items. Metropolitan Movers use our own developed white glove embrace wrapping TM technique. This provides a guarantee that your items will be well protected and that all care is taken during the relocation of your specialty item.

Read and print out our other informative tips, blogs and checklists for all your relocation moving needs.

Below are the details you will require to know about and have available in order to ship your vehicle from one destination to another in a safe, timely and cost effective manner. Metropolitan Movers are a company dedicated to working for you – their customer. We work hard to help you connect with the right company for your specific vehicle needs.
Shipping options for your vehicle: When moving a vehicle from one locale to another, the company you work with will need to know if the vehicle is operable or inoperable. This fact alone dictates if they can easily load your car by driving it onto a loading ramp, or if additional equipment such as a winch will be required to enable loading of your vehicle onto the auto carrier truck.
You also need to decide if you want or require the following:
DOOR TO DOOR service – this means that a company employee picks up your car or vehicle from your door (home or place of work) and delivers it to your door at the new shipping location.

TERMINAL to TERMINAL – this requires that you the mover, drops the vehicle at an auto carrier terminal and your vehicle is then loaded at that location. Your vehicle is then delivered to another similar terminal at your chosen destination and you or your representative will pick up, inspect and sign off paperwork. You are then responsible for moving your vehicle from the terminal.

DOOR to TERMINAL – this is a mix of both options. You can choose, terminal drop off or pick up and door drop or pick up in whatever order works best for you and your vehicle(s)

OPEN TRANSPORTATION – by far the most common way of transporting vehicles, this is also the most cost effective option for movers. Your vehicle will be exposed to the elements and at risk of road debris damage, however typically there are few problems that result from this choice.
CLOSED TRANSPORTATION – though more costly this option is oftentimes chosen when collectors move their vehicles, when racing cars or similar are moved, and if the vehicle is a very high end car/truck. The vehicle is enclosed within a semi truck, tied down for support and is proctected from both the elements and any chance of road debris damage, resulting in a damage free experience for many

PAPERWORK – Understanding the contract is critical to a successful auto moving experience. The auto carrier company will ALWAYS refer you back to the contract if you have questions or a grievance. Therefore, READ what you sign. The automobile carrier contract will allow for a lot of flexibility for the carrier company and may allow a week or more variation or window of time for pick up and drop off dates. Most auto carriers will not guarantee a delivery date, so PLAN in advance for this occurance. This is because the carriers want to move full trucks of vehicles and seldom undertake moving just one vehicle on a large auto carrier. Like you, they like to plan the most cost effective way of moving vehicles. You must ask about policies and coverage for you, (for the cost of a rental car) in the event that dates and leeway dates are not met in a timely manner. Do not assume anything until you have clarified details of your concern with the autocarrier. Key details to look for in your contract:
Cancellation clause or waiver in writing that allows you to cancel the contract in the event your vehicle is not picked up as planned. This must be done at time of signing, not added as a verbal agreement with the driver when your vehicle is picked up. Expect to pay some fee for cancellation but it should not be your entire deposit if your auto is not picked up within a week of your pick up date. Again, most auto carriers cannot and will not guarantee pick up and delivery of your auto, but most will meet their specified window of time.
Any deductibles that you may incur if your vehicle is damaged in transit.
Estimated transit times – know in advance, the typical time required for a vehicle to move from your destination to the shipping locale.
Ask about insurance should delivery dates be missed, know what the insurance will cost you and how much it will cover. Be sure to check this is added to the contract in writing if you choose coverage. Additionally understand exactly who will be paying whom and how.
International vs National moving of vehicles: Paperwork for moving a car within the United States is a document called the “original inspection report”. It is your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle can be driven in its new locale in its current condition. Generally you need to check that your vehicle does not require an emissions test and when/where you need to re register your vehicle in its new state. Additionally, obtain and sign sale documents if you are shipping to a new owner.
International shipping of vehicles requires many more documents including but not limited too – customs documentation, operational certificates so you can drive it in the new country as well as the inspection reports that follow the vehicle during the move.

Pricing: Pricing details should be confirmed at time of contract. With the make and model of your vehicle and whether you are choosing an open or closed transport option, you will be able to make some comparisons between carriers. However actual service may vary dependent on transit times and frequency of trips.

Payment: Typically an auto carrier will require a deposit at the time of contract signing. The deposit will also be linked to the cost of cancellation, should you cancel, be sure to read the small print and know what costs you are responsible for and in what circumstances. Some carriers will accept credit cards when your car is delivered or picked up, however its normal for them to require a certified check. In the event of damage, be sure to have the driver sign the list of damages, but in order to get your vehicle you will be required to pay the driver.

Transit times: Its very typical for an auto carrier not to offer a guaranteed pick up and delivery date. Often a window of time is presented at contract signing to the vehicle owner and its not uncommon for the “actual” dates you provide to be missed.

Vehicle contents: When a carrier transports your vehicle you are often prohibited from placing personal items in your auto. Check with your carrier to clarify your rights. Remember trunks can be broken into and an autocarrier is not insured for protection against personal loss.

Pick up and delivery location options

Vehicle inspection at pick up: Important! Always arrange for pick up and drop off during daylight hours. The location should be in a place you or your representative and the driver can safely and easily observe the vehicle for damage. Be slow and careful when you document nicks, scratches and dents or damage to your windshield at the time of pick up. Check on the roof and under the vehicle and note any pre-existing damage. Make a note of the interior wear and tear of your vehicle. Always note your odometer reading, ensure that your vehicle vin matches the documentation, note the fuel tank level and prior to pick up make sure that your battery is fully charged and operable. If your battery fails (has no charge) at pick up and the vehicle cannot be started, you will probably incur additional costs to unload your vehicle. The driver will be signing this inspection documentation, so your information must match what s/he sees. This inspection document will follow your vehicle to its destination and is key to any claims you may have after delivery. Your auto carrier will ALWAYS and ONLY refer you to your contract and this inspection document in the event of a claim.

Vehicle inspection at delivery: Important – always arrange for delivery during daylight hours. Have the inspection document available and refer to it with the driver. This will take time, so be sure to plan in advance. The location needs to be safe and again check both on top and under your vehicle for any damage that occurred in transit. Check your odometer reading, fuel tank level and interior of your vehicle for damage. If your car cannot start to be unloaded at pick up, you will generally incur additional costs for unloading. You can mitigate this risk by taking jumper leads with you.

Insurance Needs and Requirements: Your auto carrier will offer some form of insurance during transportation of your vehicle. Know who is the insurance carrier. You must read the documentation of insurance that is offered carefully before signing the contract. Be sure to understand any deductibles that may be in effect for your auto should damage occur. Check with your own auto insurers prior to contract signing to see if you already have coverage when your vehicle is transported – a quick phone call may save you both time and money.

Mediation and Dispute information: If you encounter a claim for damage of your vehicle, the auto carrier will ALWAYS AND ONLY REFER TO YOUR CONTRACT AND INSPECTION DOCUMENTATION. If you note any damage at pick up, the driver must sign off on the damage being present before you can take possession of your vehicle.

References: Always request recent references for the auto carriers you are considering using. Ask for at least three references and check them all. Fifteen minutes on the telephone in advance of the contract may save you many hours in the long run if encounter a problem with your carrier. Knowledge is power!

1. COST OF SHIPPING A VEHICLE
The first question you’ll want answered is “What is the total cost of shipping my car?” To get a good price, obtain quotes from several car transport companies and be prepared to provide:
origin/destination – include ZIP codes if possible
approximate departure date
type of vehicle(s)
preferred shipping options (see Tip #2)
Just remember that the cheapest price is not always the best. (See Tip #9)
2. SHIPPING OPTIONS
To get an accurate quote and be able to compare quotes between companies, make sure you understand your shipping options and what your preferences are:
door-to-door vs. terminal-to-terminal - For door-to-door shipping, the car carrier picks-up your vehicle at your home or workplace and delivers your vehicle to your final destination. For terminal-to-terminal shipping, you deliver your vehicle to a vehicle storage location where the car carrier will then pick up your vehicle. It is delivered to a similar type of location near your final destination.
open or enclosed - Open transport is the less expensive and most common way to ship a vehicle. Enclosed transport is typically priced higher, and it protects your vehicle from dust, rain, snow and other elements. High-end vehicles are sometimes shipped enclosed.
operable or inoperable - Operable vehicles can be driven onto the truck. Inoperable vehicles require special equipment to pull the vehicle onto the truck. If your vehicle is inoperable you need to let the auto transport company know, so they can make sure the truck that picks up your vehicle has the proper equipment.
3. PERSONAL ITEMS
Personal items are typically NOT allowed in your vehicle. Most carriers are not licensed or insured to transport household items. Also, the additional weight can put carriers over their weight limit and items of value are easily stolen from an automobile’s trunk.
4. TIME IN TRANSIT
The time that your car is in transit will be dependent on a number of factors, including the origin and destination, time of year, and the actual truck that will be shipping your car. When you get quotes from auto transport companies, you should also ask about estimated shipping time. The following are common time frames for shipping between different parts of the country.
East Coast to West Coast – typically 5 to 14 days 
Midwest to East Coast – typically 3 to 8 days 
Midwest to West Coast – typically 3 to 8 days 
South to the North – typically 3 to 8 days
5. PAYMENT METHOD
While some car transport companies may not require payment in advance, most require a deposit (10-25% of the total cost) or full payment in advance. If a deposit is given, the remaining amount due is required at the time of delivery – oftentimes with a cashiers check or cash. Some auto transport companies do accept credit cards, but they may charge a 2-3% surcharge.
6. CONTRACT
READ YOUR CONTRACT CAREFULLY!!! And, do not rely on any verbal promises from your car transport company.
After you sign your contract, your car transport company will ALWAYS refer you to the contract for any complaints you may have, including the cost to cancel your shipment. The main thing to look for is a clause that says there is no guaranteed pickup or delivery date. Even though most cars are delivered by car transport companies within the expected time frame, most will not guarantee a delivery date. You can ask for the following things to protect yourself against verbal promises that you would have otherwise relied upon (also see Tip #8 below):
Ask for a contract clause (in writing) that waives the cancellation fee if the car is not picked up by your car transport company within some number of days of the scheduled pickup date. If you cancel within the allotted window, expect to pay some fee, which may vary from $50 to $250. Although most cars are picked up on the scheduled date or within a few days of that date, a 1 or 2 week delay may occasionally happen. Your cancellation clause should allow for at least a week beyond the scheduled pickup date.
It is difficult for any car transport company to promise a delivery date, however, if your car transport company offers a guarantee that covers a rental car, find out the cost of the guarantee (if any) and the maximum dollars per day covered.
7. INSURANCE
Your vehicle(s) should be insured against damage and theft by your car transport company. Take the following four steps to be sure of the coverage:
1. Get a copy of Their Insurance Coverage.
2. Determine if the carrier’s insurance is Primary or Secondary to your own insurance in the event of damage during car transport.
3. Ask if there is a damage deductible.
4. VERIFY EVERYTHING IN WRITING.
In addition, your own car insurance may cover your vehicle in transit – check with your car insurance company to verify. Keep in mind that many car transport companies may discourage or prohibit you from leaving personal articles in your vehicle. Any personal articles left in the car are not insured – your home policy may cover these articles, but you should check with your home insurance agent to verify. ALSO NOTE: overloading your trunk with heavy items may result in damage to your car’s undercarriage. Your car transport company may not cover damage in that instance.
8. PICK-UP & DELIVERY DATES
Ask for estimated pick-up and delivery times from your car transport company. You should be able to get a 3-day window for pick-up – during the busy summer or snow bird season the window may be larger, but the car transport company should warn you of possible delays ahead of time. BE SKEPTICAL OF EXACT PICK-UP AND DELIVERY DATES promised by auto transport companies – If you are promised exact dates, get it in writing and state the remedy if service is not performed on the promised dates ($50 discount, no fee to cancel, reimbursement for rental car, etc.). Once the pick-up is made, your car transport company should provide you with a fairly precise delivery date. If you need an exact date for pick-up, most car transport services can pick-up your car and hold it at a terminal for an additional charge.
9. REFERENCES
While we do our best to exclude poor-quality car transport companies from our auto transport directory, we unfortunately cannot guarantee the quality or performance of those companies listed. BEFORE SELECTING A COMPANY, we recommend that you contact the Better Business Bureau in the city in which the car transport company is listed to inquire about the company’s service history. Also, many car transport companies are referred by van line companies. Ask for several references, if possible.
10. PREPARE FOR PICK-UP
Use the following tips to be ready for your car pick-up:
1. Wash your car, so that you can properly inspect it and there are no disagreements over responsibility for any damage.
2. Remove personal items from your vehicle (see Tip#3).
3. Remove or secure any special effects on your car, such as spoilers, fog lights and antennas. These can easily be damaged during transport.
4. Be sure your car battery is charged, so your car can be easily loaded and unloaded from the carrier.
11. PAPERWORK
As long as you are shipping within the United States, the only paperwork you will need is provided by the shipping company and is called the “Original Inspection Report”. This report provides pick-up and delivery information, current mileage, and MOST IMPORTANTLY shows the condition of your car at the time of pick-up – pre-existing scratches and dents, cracked glass/mirrors, general paint condition, etc. Keep this report and use it when you receive your vehicle.
12. DELIVERY OF YOUR VEHICLE
At the time of delivery, inspect your vehicle SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY and compare the condition and mileage against the “Original Inspection Report” provided by your car transport company at origination. Be sure to inspect the roof and under the front and rear bumpers. If there are inconsistencies, note them as exceptions and be sure the driver signs it. NEVER ACCEPT YOUR VEHICLE AT NIGHT IF YOU CANNOT VERIFY ITS CONDITION – without being viewed and signed by the driver, you have little recourse if damage occurred during transit.
13. IF DAMAGE SHOULD OCCUR
The majority of car transport experiences are worry-free, with your damage-free vehicle arriving at the estimated time. On occasion, a vehicle may be damaged in transit. If this should happen, note all damage on your inspection report (see Tip#12), obtain the driver’s signature, and contact your car transport company. The car transport company should then work with you to reimburse you for verifiable damage done to your car.
14. DISPUTES
If you believe that a car transport company has not treated you fairly, first try to work it out with the company. Car transport companies are more likely to cooperate with you if they believe you are trying to work fairly with them. Be reasonable, but firm. If all else fails, you may consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau in the city in which the car transport company is listed. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation – http://www.dot.gov – regulates car transport companies – however they will usually not get involved until after you have a court judgment against a car transport company (in small claims court, for example).

Packing services vary according to personal needs and the contract you have signed. When packing the key is planning, keeping it simple and staying focussed on the task at hand. Metropolitan Movers are a full service relocation moving company and can help you plan your business or residential move. Our sole purpose is to work for you – our customer.

CORPORATE and BUSINESS MOVES

At this point you will requre a clearly identified person as the contact point for your move. This person is the planner and delegator for the logistics of moving. The following are necessary steps for the successful move of your corporate or business. If you are a small business with less than 50 employees the following is a good plan of action.
Develop a moving blueprint. This is the plan for moving your old business into your new business location. This blueprint needs to identify the items to be moved and where they are to be moved to in your new locale. It needs to specify what item goes where and in what office or space.
Develop a moving plan and realistic timeframe – this document is typically a calendar based timeline of events and also identifies what each employee is responsible for during the move. See our business moving tips.
Identify your business moving budget – this will include but is not limited to, packing supplies (if you are packing some or all items yourself), your new contract costs for business services that your require such as phones, fax, computer, lighting, new signage and building alterations if they are needed. Allow an overage in the event of unforseen circumstances.
Have a pre move meeting or conference with appropriate personnel, typically managers.
Assign roles and responsibilities to those employees who are key to the move itself.
Confirm dates, pre access and times with your new landlord.
The move itself:
Packing supplies, ensure you overplan this part of your move. You can likely purchase boxes from your mover. If you are having a full service move check out our Metropolitan Moving checklist for more information on what you need. Ask about plastic reusable containers or purchase your own.
If you are purchasing boxes yourself, locate boxes or plastic bins from a storage company near your business. This can potentially mean being able to return unused packing items. Keep all receipts and note return policies.
Pre Pack items you do not need on a daily or weekly basis, as soon as you know you are relocating your business. This will save you time and money.
Develop a systematic approach to your moving blueprint. This can be a simple color or numbering code for each office, a note pad or system that records what is in each box and a pre-move location for each box that is pre packed. This will make the move faster and more efficient when movers come and remove boxes.
The heavier the item inside the box, the SMALLER the box!
Always tape boxes shut using packing tape. Never interlock the tops of boxes. ALWAYS tape the underside to secure the contents.
Minimize the potential for damage to your business possessions by packing the item correctly. Use packing materials approved for the item and seek expert advice from your mover if you are not sure what is required for safe transportation of your items.
Minimize damage by opening boxes on a padded surface when in your new locale.
Priortize your move – this means identify your key business serivices that must be up and running for the least interruption to your business and its function for your customers.
Seek expert advice on moving machinery and heavy equipment. Follow that advice. Use experts when they are warranted.

Moving with an international relocation at its core, is a more challenging process for everyone involved and choosing exceptional International Moving specialists, is always in your own best interests.

Metropolitan Moving specialists are exceptional service providers and will offer you the best experience when you relocate internationally. Metropolitan Movers have developed an international relocation checklist with key information for your added consideration.

Engage an international relocation moving company that has a strong history and solid experience with international moves. Specifically, ask around, do an internet search, do your own research and select at least three companies to interview personally and have them evaluate and survey your belongings include attics, basements and any office items that can be used in your new country (NB power sources and supplies may be different so be sure you can actually use electronic items you have) to obtain your quote. Remember that every single item you move will cost you money – weight and space always count when moving internationally.
After your possessions have been surveyed by the moving specialists and you have three quotes, be sure to review your own company relocation policies and your rights as an employee.
Any binding quote will be increased by any international moving company if you ADD any possessions that increase the size and weight of your moving load.
Be sure to be specific with your time line, any personal requirements that you have such as storage and your actual move dates when interviewing companies. If you are a corporate or government staffer, take advantage of any international relocation services that are provided free of charge or as part of a relocation package.
Decide on what type of move you want to undertake – full international relocation service, where your mover does all the work and co ordination of details or a partial relocation service, where you pack some or all of your possessions and do some navigating of services in your new international destination yourself. Know that the less you are directly involved in the logistics of the move itself, the less stress you will experience and oftentimes the more protection you will have for your goods.
As your personal and work items are packed, be sure that all items are itemized and valued appropriately. This list will be essential for any customs clearance your items go through.
Any high value items must be packed well by the experts and thing such as jewellery are worth taking in your own handluggage if you are able to do so. The longer the trip to your new destination the more real the risk of potential loss or damage to your possessions.
Obtain the highest quality moving materials and supplies that fits with your international moving budget. Your possessions will be moved throughout a variety of locations, including potentially via land, air and sea, so your possessions need the best protection you can provide. Please note, international moves may include your items being held in a customs dock or warehouse inside or outside, so things that are temperature sensitive must be taken into account and accommodated appropriately. Sometimes its cheaper to store your items state side and purchase new items at your international destination.
Develop a moving plan – dates, timelines etc so you can communicate your needs with your moving specialist.
Know your budget – often if you are moving overseas for a new employment opportunity, you will have negotiated a relocation package that reflects the very real cost of moving overseas including temporary lodgings while your possessions arrive.
Be sure to let your support system know as soon as you do about your plans to move internationally. Often your home based support system will see you through the first 6 months of your move and are more than willing to offer emotional support if you need it. They know you well. Be sure to offer “visiting privileges” to those who are close to you and your family. That will help provide a focus and things to look forward too in the first few months of getting established.

Extra tasks that you must attend to and separate out during your move internationally.

Visas – work, non working and student visas are all different and come with different requirements of the applicant. Contact the local embassy who provide support services for the country you are moving to. Even if you are being provided with work visas via your employer, its important to meet with immigration experts who can help you understand the immigration laws that you will need to work and learn within.

Passports: – ensure and double check that your passports are not due to expire during your stay. Its often easier to renew your passport from your home country than navigate its renewal from an outside destination. Some countries may require that you have a certain amount of time valid while residing in their country. Collect as many official documents (birth certificates, adoption certificates, marriage licenses, drivers licenses, professional and educational diplomas or degrees etc) as you believe you need and may require for opening bank accounts, applying for rentals or mortgages etc. Be sure to notarize any official documentation and leave copies with families or friends or in a bank vault.

Talk with your Bank – on occasion your bank with have a direct connection with a foreign bank so you can transfer funds more easily. Online banking does help you navigate the monetary side of an international move, so be sure its set up and confident with its nuances, well in advance of when you leave.

Storage facilities – decide before moving what you plan to do with your belongings outside of the suitcases and carry-ons that you are able to take on board during your flights and subsequent travels to your new destination. If you are storing your possessions while looking for accommodation you must discuss this with your moving company international specialist. That individual will be able to help you navigate your options and quote rates for you as you make decisions. If you decide to store some possessions state side, be sure to have the bills paid automatically and have an additional representative or contact locally in case of problems with payment.

Assign a consignee or Power of Attorney for any paperwork, financial needs, rentals etc that may need to be attended to during your relocation.

Your moving company will be able to assist you with moving your items into local storage, but may rely on you to separate what you are taking vs what is being put into local storage.

Check and obtain insurance for your possessions, including any possessions that you plan to leave behind in storage. Obtain travelers insurance for yourself, dependents and for any possessions that you are moving to your international destination.

School records – get copies of all relevant school records that may be required at your new destination.

Healthcare Insurance – for your self and your family. Check you health insurance needs for the weeks during and immediately after the move. Oftentimes you will be able to get information on health care when visiting an immigration official at an Embassy before you move. Get up to date immunizations for yourself, dependents and understand additional immunizations that will be beneficial for you and anyone moving with you, especially to a third world country or tropical location where malaria and tropical fevers are easily transmitted.

Pets – Find out if you need to re-home your pets or can take them with you without added stress to your pet(s) and yourself. Some countries require quarantining of your pet for long periods of time, at your own cost and in some locations this can be as much as a 6 month period of quarantine even with current vaccinations and health records. Always have a conversation with your vet well in advance of any international relocation.

Though this is by no means an entire list of international relocation tips, it should help you identify and start thinking through the issues you need to address for your own specific relocation situation.

Metropolitan Movers is a company that offers exceptional international relocation services and will assist you and your dependents during an overseas move. We look forward to serving you during your international move.

The inevitablity of life is the aging process and it happens to all of humanity. As the population ages and lives longer, elderly parents live out their golden or senior years independently for as long as they safely can. Ultimately adult children, who may or may not live in the same geographical area as their folks, are having to make difficult decisions with, and sometimes without, their parents approval. This may mean moving elderly and sometimes semi-dependent parents, into their own homes or into supported or assisted living situations.

My own grandmother lived alone until the age of 89 years young. She ultimately moved into an assisted living facility full time by the age of 90y old. She remained in her own supported living appartment until her passing at the end of 2011 at the grand age of 97yo. She was totally aware of her surroundings and the people around her until the last few wks of her life. The original move and downsize from a full size home and property, to a one bedroom appartment was not without its unique challenges for both my grandmother and my family.

So how do you move elderly parents? Its a process. Its having hard and sometimes emotional converstaions both with your parent(s) and yourself. And that is just the beginning. The logistics themselves in general are the easier part of how you move elderly parents.

The process of moving elderly parents begins with acknowledging what is happening and how your parents are managing in their own home. The best scenario is that you and your parents have had multiple conversations with each other over many decades, so each party knows what is desired well in advance of the move itself. I have had conversations with my parents for better or worse – since my 20′s – I am closer to 50 than I care to admit at this point. Oftentimes, the realities of a mobile young and middle aged population means that these conversations have not in fact taken place. Time passes, families relocate, support systems age and pass on and before you know it Mum or Dad are facing the reality of not coping in their own home. My best advice – try to start the conversations as soon as you can. If you have siblings, have conversations about Mum, Dad or Aunt Maude between yourselves and agree on one plan of action. Then work towards that objective over time – again decades is better than weeks, but you work with what you have. For those familes who do not have the gift of time and ongoing conversations, who are suddenly faced with moving elderly parents due to age, declining health and oftentimes safety issues, try to get your parent(s) on board with the planned move as soon as possible. Its normal to encounter resistance to the idea, even if initially they agreed. As with anything its a perceived loss or even a sense of failure, especially when the sense of choice is taken away from an aging parent due to declining health. Whatever the circumstances, the logistics need to take place.
Agree (or agree to disagree) on the living arrangement that needs to happen. If your parent has been recently hospitalized you can get help with deciding what are appropriate levels of care from social workers and rehabilitation specialists who can accurately assess your parents ability to care for themselves.
Locate the new living environment as soon as possible and involve your parent as much as possible in the process. That said, expect resistance and negativity particularly if this move is unexpected and sudden.
When you know your aging parent needs to move, start to sort belongings, you can try to collect stories from your folks if you have the luxury of time, but often this is not the case. So focus on getting the job done.
Obtain temporary storage if you are overwhelmed with immediate needs. Some things take time and making hasty decisions about belongings is not always in your parents or your best interests. Some items of very real value appear to be just junk on first look – an example is a collection of records or spoons, that when you take time to seek valuations, turn out to be of monetary benefit to your parents.
Be real – some things that your parents own simply is junk and needs to be tossed or donated (the old toaster they purchased 30 yrs ago with a frayed cord and that you replaced with one you got them for a holiday gift), the clothing that you can carbon date from because of the rings around the collar and cuffs.
Get help – ask relatives, friends and neighbors if they would be willing to help you with the moving process – which may include not only sorting but getting a property ready for selling.
Identify what your parent can surround themselves with, in their new home environment. Focus on the “can’s” and positive aspects of the transition rather than dwelling on the negatives.
Familiar items often help with transitioning from independent living to assisted living situations. Photos, artwork, favorite china, familiar bedding and pillows are basic items that can help you and your parent choose what they want.
Olfactory or familiar smelling items are acknowledged as being able to facilitate memories and create new memories and stories for your parent. So familiar scents, perfumes, sprays, aftershave and soaps are all great ways to surround your parents with good memories.
Pack logically – if your parent is relocating to a highly supported living situation, then chances are they will be limited in terms of what they can bring with them, so focus on the small stuff – a personal suitcase of appropriate clothing, comfortable clothing, underwear, glasses, hats and toiletries. Then layer in photos, art, cards or special letters, pillows and blankets.
If you parents are moving into a supported living appartment