Frequently Asked Questions

My parents live about 500 miles away. I am worried about how they will be able to actually handle a move to a smaller home. They put off moving because they didn’t want to have to deal with all of the stuff they have. How can I help them from such a distance?

Many families are separated by distance today. You can help your parents understand that A Thoughtful Move organizes the move and assists them with every step along the way from sorting through their things to packing and unpacking in the new home. We disperse things they no longer want or need and even get the house ready for sale. They make the decisions about their things and we implement the plan to actually get everything done. We make the move easier for them and help ease your mind in the process!

How do you charge for your services?

We offer an initial free in home consultation to explain our services. We charge on an hourly basis for services with an initial deposit required. Our fees are competitive and based on your needs. The total fee will depend on what we are asked to do, how quickly decisions are made, and the time involved in coordinating all of the elements of the project. A Thoughtful Move works efficiently and we keep you informed along the way.

I’ve always been independent and don’t like to ask my children for help. They are busy with their own kids and busy lives. How do I decide what to do with all my things?

We work with you to sort through your possessions to determine what you should keep and what you want to give to family and friends. A Thoughtful Move coordinates a systematic process to bring in appraisers to place a value on some things and determine whether it may be best to sell or donate some items. We set up a process to encourage family members to identify whether an item has a special meaning to them so they can keep it. We’ll coordinate the entire process and be sure that everything gets where you want it to go.

My mother is going to an assisted living facility which has a much smaller living space for her. Can you help her decide what to take with her? I can’t help as much as I’d like to because I have health problems.

We work with the facility to coordinate her move and obtain a floor plan of her unit. We measure her furniture and identify what she can comfortably take with her. If needed, we’ll be sure she has everything she needs for her new home. We provide the help you’d like to give but can’t give right now.

I’d like my parents to start thinking about selling their house before they have a health crisis. Can you help them with just cleaning out their house? How can I help them find a good assisted living facility?

We help them start the process of sorting through their things. As they begin to feel the benefits of “right-sizing” their home, they may recognize the many benefits of starting to plan for the future while they are able to do so with the luxury of time and good health. As someone who is well aware of the community resources, Joan is able to assist with the decision-making process and walk everyone through the steps.

My step-father died about 6 months ago. The house is just too big and expensive for my mother to stay in much longer. I know she is overwhelmed by dealing with all of the paperwork related to his estate. To make it even more complicated, this was a second marriage and his children need to be involved in sorting through his personal things. Can you help even if there is no immediate move?

Yes, we help by assisting your mother in the immediate concerns of the estate and any other insurance issues she may have. If your step-father handled all of the business aspects of their life together, it may be hard for your mother to assume all of that. We assist her in assuming that responsibility and interface with her advisors if needed. We help her start to think about moving and give her a structure and plan to go through all of the things in the house. As a neutral, third party we also develop a plan to involve her step-children in sorting through their father’s things so that everyone is involved to the extent they need to be and your mother is able to move in an organized process at her own pace.