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Planning a move for an older family member can be a more involved process than you’d expect. Hiring the right mover can give you peace of mind and make the transition from a family home to a senior living facility or smaller house more manageable.
From our list of the best moving companies, we’ve narrowed our recommendations to the best companies for senior moves. We’ve broken down the service offerings, strengths, and quote processes for each company below.
Best Moving Companies for Seniors
We’ve listed the top senior moving specialists and their key strengths:
- Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines
- Best for High-Value Goods: American Van Lines
- Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
- Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT
- Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.
- Best for High-End Moves: JK Moving Services
- Best Appliance Movers: North American Van Lines
Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving carrier
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
- Get a quick quote: Visit International Van Lines’ site
What We Like
International Van Lines (IVL) is a moving carrier and broker that provides full-service moving assistance to all 50 states and international moves to 180 countries. IVL crews and partner carriers offer numerous services that make moving more manageable for senior citizens.
In addition to its ample service profile, IVL offers a quick quote process, GPS tracking for long-distance moves, and competitive pricing.
Cost
International Van Lines offers a 15% senior citizen discount, making it a great option for seniors looking for a full-service mover. IVL offers a quick quote tool for easy pricing estimates. Submit a quote form online to get a customized free quote. After you submit your contact information and move details, a company representative will contact you.
Services Offered
IVL offers premium add-ons, including packing, crating, storage, and added coverage for valuable household goods. Include all the services you’ll need when filling out the quote form to ensure the accuracy of the price range you receive.
Read more: International Van Lines Review
Best for High-Value Goods: American Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving carrier
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 48 (all but Alaska and Hawaii)
- Get a quick quote: Visit American Van Lines’ site
What We Like
American Van Lines (AVL) has exclusively served as a carrier since 1995. It advertises that its moving crews average 10 years of industry experience, which gives clients peace of mind when booking specialized services.
AVL provides binding flat-rate pricing for all its moves. This makes it a good option for clients with a fixed income or budget. You won’t pay more than your quoted price unless your moving inventory or service requirements change before moving day.
Cost
American Van Lines offers flat rates for all moves. When you get a quote from AVL, your rate is locked in and won’t shift unless you add additional moving services. You’ll pay a deposit as high as 50% when you book with this mover. If you book a long-distance move with AVL, you’ll pay half of the remaining balance after your goods have been loaded, with the remaining balance due upon delivery.
Services Offered
American Van Lines’ service offerings are backed by experienced moving crews. AVL’s movers have years of experience with professional packing and crating and can execute complex moving plans.
Read more: American Van Lines Review
Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
- Get a quick quote: Visit Interstate Moving & Relocation Group’s site
What We Like
Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) is a moving broker that coordinates full- and self-service relocations. IMRG provides last-minute quotes, often within the same day. Depending on your location, its partners can offer last-minute moving assistance.
IMRG provides local and long-distance services for all clients. Whether you’re moving to a new house or a retirement community, IMRG can assist you.
Cost
IMRG provides a moving cost calculator on its site. After you enter basic information about your move, it offers a baseline estimate as a wide cost range. For detailed pricing, request a quote on the IMRG homepage. A move coordinator will contact you to schedule a visual estimate and get more information. IMRG’s partners charge an average of a 30% deposit to confirm your move date.
Services Offered
IMRG partners are qualified providers of various moves, from self-service relocations (similar to U-Pack) to full-service cross-country moves. Moving services include packing, crating, storage, vehicle relocation, unpacking, and more.
Read more: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group Review
Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
- Get a quick quote: Visit Moving APT’s site
What We Like
Moving APT was founded in 1999 and now services moves throughout all 50 states via a network of 2,500 independent movers. It offers guides and helpful resources on its website tailored to assist clients throughout the moving process.
Moving APT’s guides make it easier to coordinate moves that involve many moving parts, such as specialized packing and long-term storage.
Cost
Moving APT has a cost calculator tool on its site to give prospective clients preliminary estimates for their moving needs. These baseline cost figures help you set a basic moving budget. For more detailed information, get a binding estimate via the quote request form on its site. Moving APT advertises that it offers senior discounts, but these could vary between broker partners.
Services Offered
Moving APT’s partners offer nearly any add-on you could require for your senior relocation, including packing for high-value items or antiques, appliance installation, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and storage.
Read more: Moving APT Review
Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving carrier and broker
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
- Get a quick quote: Visit Safeway Moving Inc.’s site
What We Like
Safeway Moving Inc. is a carrier and broker based in Florida that provides moving services across all 50 states. If you’re booking a move to or from a senior living community, Safeway may be a great option. It requires all partners to carry $1 million insurance policies and complies with the regulations of most homeowners’ associations and condo owners’ associations (HOAs and COAs). This places it in compliance with most senior living facilities.
Cost
Safeway doesn’t offer pricing information on its website. However, it offers binding estimates for all moves. To get your binding estimate, report your full inventory to a Safeway representative via a written list or video survey. You’ll pay a 40% deposit to confirm your move.
Services Offered
Safeway Moving offers full-service moving assistance, including loading and unloading, packing, crating, and storage. It offers 30 days of free storage at your destination, which reduces stress if you’re downsizing and moving to a smaller home. Safeway does not offer local moving assistance.
Read more: Safeway Moving Inc. Review
Best for High-End Moves: JK Moving Services
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving carrier
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50 (local service only offered in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.)
- Get a quick quote: Visit JK Moving Services’ site
What We Like
JK Moving Services was founded in 1982 and has serviced more than half a million clients’ moves in the decades since. When you book with JK Moving, you’ll be assigned a personal moving coordinator who will put together a customized moving package tailored to your needs.
This carrier and broker is unique in that it actively trains its movers in a fully furnished two-story house. Workers get hands-on experience packing and wrapping furniture before setting foot on a moving site.
Cost
JK Moving Services charges a $250 deposit for booking, a lower figure than the deposits required by most movers of its size. It offers a straightforward quote process involving a virtual or in-person estimate. For virtual estimates, you can use its AI-enabled mobile app to compile accurate inventories. Your move coordinator assigns a pricing estimate to your move based on your home’s size and layout and your move distance.
Services Offered
JK Moving’s training for its movers enables them to provide specialized packing services, crating, furniture assembly and disassembly, and more. It offers local moving services within a limited territory but has long-distance capabilities nationwide.
Read more: JK Moving Services Review
Best Appliance Movers: North American Van Lines
Fast Facts:
- Service model: Moving carrier
- Specialty services: Yes
- State availability: 50
- Get a quick quote: Visit North American Van Lines’ site
What We Like
North American Van Lines (NAVL) has provided local and long-distance service since its founding in 1933. It has more than 500 locations throughout all 50 states and offers a full range of basic and add-on services. This includes full assembly and disassembly of furniture and removal and installation of appliances.
NAVL offers flat-rate or bottom-line pricing options for budget-conscious moving clients.
Cost
North American Van Lines has a simple quote process and does not require a deposit for booking. It offers an instant quote tool on its site and provides added insurance options for high-value items. To get your binding quote from NAVL, choose between a virtual or in-person estimate. Its mobile app allows you to track your move, log your inventory, and store essential moving materials and documents.
Services Offered
NAVL has experience with moves for residential and commercial clients and can offer qualified hands-on relocation assistance to seniors, military service members, and more. North American Van Lines’ packages include antique moving, custom crating, fragile-only packing, and short- and long-term storage. Appliance installation, furniture assembly, and other add-ons are also available.
Read more: North American Van Lines Review
How to Pick a Senior Moving Company
When evaluating a senior moving company, examine a few key factors to help ensure the transition to a new residence goes smoothly.
Adequate Service Profile
Moves for seniors often require greater care and attention. Add-ons such as furniture assembly and disassembly, floor plan arrangements, antique packing, and other true full-service moving offerings can facilitate positive moving experiences.
Full Licensure
All moving companies must maintain full licensing through either state or federal bodies. Interstate moving companies require both. You can look up a mover’s registration status with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Look for evidence of up-to-date registration on moving company websites.
Positive Reviews
Read customer reviews on multiple platforms to gauge the quality of any mover you consider. Google, Yelp, Better Business Bureau (BBB), and social media are excellent resources to help you uncover a mover’s positive and negative service trends before you book.
What Factors Influence Your Senior Move’s Cost?
Consider the following factors when establishing your budget ahead of your move date, as they can have a substantial impact on your bottom line.
- Added services: Packing, crating, and other services often have prices attached. At the very least, added services will cause your move to take longer, leading to higher costs.
- Move distance: A greater move distance increases your cost due to longer drive time.
- Move size: A larger home raises your cost due to higher total shipping weight. It also increases the time your move will take overall.
- Season: Moving during peak relocation season (between May and September) can lead to higher costs.
Our Recommendation
Whether you’re booking a move for yourself or a loved one, thoroughly vet your options before signing a contract for a hands-off and stress-free moving experience. Ideally, a senior relocation provider can assist you at all points of the moving process with packing and unpacking services, arrangement of your preferred floor plan, debris removal, storage while downsizing, and more.
International Van Lines, American Van Lines, and Interstate Moving & Relocation Group are our top picks for your or your family member’s transition to a new home or assisted living facility. We recommend getting quotes from at least three senior moving providers before booking your move.
Senior Moving Company FAQ
How many moving companies offer senior discounts?
Many moving companies offer senior discounts, including International Van Lines and Moving APT. A mover’s website will advertise any significant discounts (10% or more).
Do moving companies offer specialized packing for antiques?
Most full-service movers offer some form of specialized packing for antiques. Depending on the amount of care needed for the antique goods, you may pay extra for the packing and crating materials for this service.
What are the minimum charges for moving?
Minimum charges for moving are the lowest a company will charge for a job. Minimums are a function of local moving companies. The minimum for local moves typically ranges from two to four hours, depending on company policies. This means you will pay the fixed minimum charge even if your movers complete your move in less time.
How We Chose the Top Senior Moving Companies
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.
