Frequently Asked Questions

---

A senior move manager oversees every detail of a move from start to finish – we don't just transport boxes; we plan, pack, sort, coordinate the movers, unpack, and set up your new home so it feels familiar and welcoming from day one. Regular movers load and unload; we manage the whole experience. Senior's Move has been doing this since 2005, and everything we do is designed specifically for the needs of older adults and their families.

It's genuinely difficult to estimate over the phone or email, because every move is different. Where are you moving to? How much are you taking? Does your new place have a full kitchen or a kitchenette? Will some items be going to family members, storage, or donation? All of these affect the scope of the work. That's why we offer a free, no-obligation in-home consultation; we come to you, assess what's involved, talk through what you need, and then give you a written estimate (not a locked-in quote). We invoice only for the work actually done, and our invoices typically come in within 10% of the estimate. 

Not at all! That's what the consultation is for. Many of our clients aren't sure what level of support they need until we sit down together. We'll ask the right questions, listen carefully, and help you figure out what makes sense for your situation. There's no pressure and no obligation.

We offer a full range of move management services, including:

• Home decluttering and sorting, and removal of items for donation
• Packing – including specialty items like art, dishes, and wardrobe
• Coordination and oversight of professional movers
• Unpacking and full setup at the new home
• Floor planning for your new space
• Delivery of items to multiple locations (family members, storage, donation, thrift)
• House clear-out after the move, to help get the home ready for sale

We can handle as much or as little as you need – everything is customized to you.

There are no rigid packages here. We build a custom plan around what you actually need. Some clients want us to handle everything; others prefer to unpack their own kitchen, or sort their own closets. If you want us to do less, we do less – and you pay accordingly. Our goal is never to sell you more than you need.

You could, but we'll be honest with you: if you're handling the packing and unpacking yourself, you may not need a move manager – and we'd rather you save your money by hiring a mover directly. That said, some clients specifically want a trusted point person overseeing the whole process, even if they're doing some of the work themselves. If that's you, we're happy to step into that role.

Yes. Once the move is complete and family has taken what they'd like to keep, we can clear out the rest of the home and prepare it for sale. This takes an enormous weight off families during an already busy time. 

Most moves are completed over two days. On Day 1, our team packs everything in an organized, methodical way – leaving out only what you'll need for that evening and the next morning (bedding, medications, breakfast things). On Day 2, our team lead arrives early, packs up the remaining items, supervises the movers to make sure everything goes to the right place, and then meets the team at your new home to unpack and set everything up. We make the bed, plug in the lamps, and take away all the packing materials. Your only job is to settle in. 

No – we bring everything. Boxes, packing paper, wardrobe boxes, art boxes, labels – it's all included. You don't need to source or store a single thing. 

We offer basic floor planning as part of our service. If your situation is more complex – especially if mobility aids like a walker or wheelchair are part of daily life – we can arrange a dedicated floor planning session to map out the best layout for safety and comfort before moving day. 

We set up your new home to mirror your previous one as closely as possible. We take photos of curio cabinets, bookshelves, hutches, and other personal displays so your treasured items are placed just as you had them. This makes the new space feel familiar right away – which matters a great deal, especially for clients experiencing any degree of cognitive decline or memory loss. 

We understand that inviting a team into your home – or your parent's home – requires real trust, and we take that seriously. Senior's Move has been earning that trust since 2005, and we have over 40 five-star Google reviews from families just like yours. We are proud Diamond Status members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), which holds its members to high ethical standards. Our team is warm, caring, efficient, and genuinely invested in making this a positive experience. And if something goes wrong? We're completely committed to making it right. 

Yes – we are Diamond Status members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), the leading professional organization for senior move managers in North America. Membership requires adherence to a strict code of ethics and a commitment to ongoing professional development 

This is one of the most common things we hear. Our team is experienced in working gently and patiently with seniors who are anxious, grieving the loss of their home, or simply uncertain about the change ahead. We move at a pace that feels manageable, and we take our cues from the person we're helping. Many clients tell us afterward that the day went better than they ever expected. 

Yes – we work closely with retirement homes, long-term care facilities, and assisted living communities throughout the region. We also have a lot of experience moving people within a facility, and have often handled multiple moves within a building at once. If you're a care coordinator, social worker, or residence manager looking for a trusted referral partner for incoming residents, we'd love to connect. 

We serve all of Waterloo Region - Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Wellesley, Baden, Ayr, Elmira, St. Jacobs, New Hamburg, Breslau - as well as all over South-Western Ontario. We have completed moves to and from Guelph, Toronto and the GTA, Belleville, Goderich, Owen Sound, Windsor, Bracebridge, Burlington, St. Catherines, and Niagara. We're not afraid to travel, so we will go to many parts of Ontario. We can coordinate your move with other NASMM members so you are taken care of throughout your move. Not sure if we'll come to your area? Just ask!

We recommend reaching out as early as possible – ideally six to eight weeks before your anticipated move date. This gives us time to do a thorough consultation, plan the move properly, coordinate with movers, and get your preferred dates. That said, we understand that moves sometimes come up without much notice and need to happen quickly, so we'll do our best to accommodate shorter timelines when we can. Contact us to see what's possible.

We help coordinate what happens to everything. Items can go to family members, to storage, to donation or thrift organizations, or be disposed of responsibly. We handle the logistics so your family doesn't have to make a hundred separate arrangements. 

Absolutely. The vast majority of the moves we manage are local and within Waterloo Region (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and townships) – from a family home to a nearby retirement community, for example. Distance isn't what makes a senior move complex; it's the volume of belongings, the emotional weight of the transition, and the coordination required. That's exactly what we're here for.