WHO?
Who are Senior Settlers staff?
We are a group of people from a variety of backgrounds who share a common purpose. We all love what we do and get a tremendous sense of satisfaction in improving the lives of our clients.
Who can be a client of Senior Settlers? Do I have to be over a certain age?
We are happy to serve anyone who needs our help. We don’t check IDs at the door!
Who can help me decide on a senior community?
While Senior Settlers staff members are very familiar with many of the senior communities in the Bay Area, this is not our area of expertise. We are happy to provide referrals to senior placement service professionals that we trust.
Who can help me find a reliable moving company?
Senior Settlers has worked with a variety of movers in and around the Bay Area. We are happy to provide referrals to our favorites.
Who will build a new closet system for me?
Because we do provide organizing services, we are occasionally asked for closet design construction services. We refer those projects to a company that specializes in closet design and construction.
Who can advise me on disbursement of tangible personal property?
Senior Settlers can create an inventory of tangible personal property that can be used to divide that property equitably among heirs. We recommend the use of a software product that relies on a system of “emotional currency” to determine the disposition of each item.
WHAT?
What is a Senior Move Manager?
Senior Move Managers are professionals who specialize in helping seniors and their families with the moving process. They provide a variety of services, including decluttering, downsizing, packing, and unpacking, to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition to the new home.
What is the difference between a Senior Move Manager and a Professional Organizer?
While both provide organizing services, Senior Move Managers provide help with the moving process, such as finding and vetting movers, obtaining NO PARKING signs from municipalities, dealing with Certificates of Insurance, and so on. Many Senior Move Managers are also Professional Organizers, and some Professional Organizers are also Senior Move Managers.
What should I do with the things my family doesn’t want?
Consulting with a Senior Move Manager can help answer this question. In most cases the answer is an auction house, a consignment store, a nearby charity, or some combination of those options.
What kind of insurance should I expect a Senior Move Manager to carry?
While this is different for every company, Senior Settlers is fully bonded and insured. Everyone who works for Senior Settlers is an employee, not a contractor, and is covered by our workers’ compensation insurance.
WHERE?
Where is Senior Settlers located?
We are based in San Rafael, in Marin County, but we cover the Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano Counties. Most of our work is in Marin and San Francisco Counties.
Where can I find a Senior Move Manager in another location? Can I hire a Senior Move Manager where I live now and another Senior Move Manager where I am going?
Senior Settlers is a member of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM), which is actually an international organization. We often work with our counterparts in other parts of the country (and the world) and can help find a reliable Senior Move Management company in most places.
Where (and how) is the best way to sell my treasures?
Senior Settlers can help you find an auction house or consignment store and will ask them whether they think they can sell your items. If they can, then we can arrange for delivery of those items to their warehouse or showroom, and we can facilitate setting up the sales agreement between you and that seller. If you prefer to hold an estate sale in your home, Senior Settlers can refer you to an estate sale company. If you choose to sell your items yourself, we can advise you on the best online marketplaces.
Where is the best place to donate goods?
This depends upon the type of item and its location. Senior Settlers has a large database of charities that accept donations and we arrange delivery to them regularly. Some of our clients have favorite charities, too, and we are happy to accommodate them.
WHEN?
When is the best time to involve a Senior Move Manager?
Involving a Senior Move Manager too early is far better than involving one too late when the calendar is full. While we can take on rushed moves, having time to plan each step carefully is preferred. In general, we ask for at least two weeks to one month lead time, if possible.
When should I involve family and friends and when should I hire professionals?
A common experience with relying on family and friends is that they often underestimate the amount of work involved in a move. So, as the time for the move grows near, tempers fray and important steps are overlooked, resulting in a frantic call for professional help. We are happy to have family and friends supplement our work, but we recommend involving a Senior Move Manager early in the planning process.
WHY?
Why not ask a mover to pack and unpack my items?
Most movers will provide packing services and many of them do so quite competently. We are particularly proud of our Senior Settlers packing methodology, which is why we have a few short packing videos on our website. At the destination, most movers simply unload their trucks and consider the job complete. Some will unpack boxes, but will just place items on counters, rather than taking time to put clothes into closets, stack dishes in cupboards, make beds, and so on.
Why has the value of antique furniture dropped so dramatically in recent years?
An item’s value depends primarily on the popular demand for that item. Fewer people are buying and keeping antique furniture for a variety of reasons, one of which is practical. Antique furniture tends to be too large, heavy, and dark for small living spaces.
HOW?
How can a Senior Move Manager help with downsizing?
Downsizing can happen in a couple of different ways. Some people prefer to have help identifying items that can be sold or donated, and then have those items removed from their home. Others choose to identify the items that they expect to need in the next phases of their lives, then take those items with them to their new homes, leaving the rest for Senior Settlers to sort, pack, and deliver to charities, consignment stores, or other destinations.
How do Senior Move Managers charge for their work?
Like most Senior Move Management companies, Senior Settlers charges for time and materials. We start each project by providing a free consultation in which we review the client’s needs, then we write a proposal outlining the timeline and costs involved. We don’t begin charging until that proposal has been formally accepted.
How do I figure out the best layout for my new home?
Visualizing how furniture will fit in a new home can be challenging, so Senior Settlers can measure the furniture and the room dimensions in the new home, then create layout options. We can use a computer-assisted design (CAD) tool, a magnetic board approach, or a “back of the napkin” sketch, depending on the client’s needs.
How do I know whether the things I have are valuable?
Although we have a lot of experience with this, we are not experts, so we rely on people who are. We call in art appraisers, auctioneers, coin experts, numismatists, and so on to value our clients’ items.
Thanks!!