Moving and Logistical companies coordinate various services to make the move go smoothly. These can include real estate agents, movers, storage facilities, caregiving services, and estate liquidators.
Services
Movers arrange for distribution of assets to the appropriate destination points
They will help through most phases of the move: planning and preparation, packing, coordination and supervision on the moving day, and getting settled in the new residence.
Some movers specialize in designing and organizing the new home to accommodate the physical needs of the elder population.
Often a broker or agent will be acting on behalf of a moving company. It is vital that you realize your rights when dealing with a broker. A broker does not work for the actual company and does not own trucks. They can give you an estimate, but the actual moving company may or may not agree to that estimate
Specialization
Movers are required to give written estimates, but they are not required to give binding estimates. Getting a binding estimate is between you and the moving company.
When you contact a moving company, this is the first thing that you should receive.
While some senior moving and logistical services only coordinate other services for you, some are hands on and have specific areas of expertise.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommends that each consumer seeking the services of a moving company request at least three different estimates. When doing so, you should not disclose information regarding competitors to different companies.
Preparation
- What is the exact starting address? What is the destination address?
- When will the move occur?
- Does your senior family member have any physical issues that will make the move more difficult?
- What is the emotional state of the senior who is moving? Do you expect the move to be especially traumatic for any reason?
- What are you looking for in determining a moving company?
Evaluation
- Verify the company is in your local area and they have the equipment to complete the job from start to finish.
- Ask for an in-home visual estimate in writing.
- What other companies or experts do you work with? What are their qualifications?
- Do you specialize in any particular aspect of moving? Possibilities include setting up senior-friendly new homes or dealing with especially hard emotional circumstances.
- How familiar are you in working with specific key physical disabilities in the elder population?
- Can you talk me through how you orchestrate a typical senior move? What do you do to make the move go more smoothly?
- What is your advice on how to reduce stress on my senior loved one?
- Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
Organization Services Radio Show Segments
- Mobility Challenges and Decluttering
Suzanne Allbee, CEO of Bee Organized Seattle, joins Suzanne Newman to talk about decluttering, particularly for those with challenges such as ADHD or mobility limitations.
Suzanne Allbee says, “Someone may have a mobility challenge. Maybe they are now not able to walk up and down stairs as well as they used to. So that can dictate a change in their kitchen environment. Maybe things need to come down a level. Maybe we need to think about moving their primary bedroom from upstairs to the main floor. Maybe it’s the floor plan of where the furniture is arranged, to create space for a wheelchair. Sometimes clutter can take over, and it affects us mentally, for sure. We’re here to offer, not only education and knowledge about that, but also some tough love at times and a little bit of humor along the way doesn’t hurt.”
Suzanne Newman says, “They helped me with the process of [realizing] I don’t need 20 pairs of jeans. I don’t need 50 tops. We got rid of so much stuff and it felt good. And I don’t miss it. There are people out there that can use these.” She adds, “Now everything is neatly in its own little cubby. I can see these things. Look at that, all of my clothes are organized. It’s like every single thing is perfect in a drawer. Because everything’s in its place, and I know where it is, I have this sense of pride over my environment, and it helps me maintain it. They’ve given me an ability to do that.
“We do have seniors do have mobility challenges. They can’t do what they need to do. If you have a family member, and it’s something that you want to do special for your loved one, here’s a wonderful gift for them. It’s a wonderful way for you to step up and help a loved one, to say we’re gonna hire Bee Organized and we’re gonna help you. There’s a way that you can live freer. That has helped me.”
Suzanne Allbee adds, “I think that a lot of people are hesitant to start the process because they think that an organizer is going to come in – or a downsizer, whatever you wanna call it – and just make them get rid of everything. That’s not what we’re there to do. We’re not there to say you need to get rid of everything. We are there to help you identify what is the most special. How do we celebrate? What is the most special, and how do we get rid of the things that aren’t useful?”
Answers for Elders listeners get a free consultation and $100 off their first session with Bee Organized.
Learn more
* Bee Organized locations: https://beeorganized.com/about-the-company/
* Bee Organized: https://beeorganized.com/
* Suzanne Allbee: https://beeorganized.com/our_team/suzanne-allbee/
* The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/
* Humana: https://www.humana.com/
* Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/Hear more
* Podcasts with Bee Organized at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/bee-organized/
* Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/Image: Suzanne Newman’s before and after photos
- It’s Just Stuff: When to Declutter
If you’ve got too much stuff in your house, or a cluttered room, Suzanne Allbee, CEO of Bee Organized Seattle, talks about how to go about changing that. She talks about the first steps of their process. Environmental wellness is one of the 8 foundational principles of wellness, a focus of the Vitality Revolution podcast series sponsored by Humana.
Suzanne Allbee mentions some signs people can look for to know it’s time to declutter. “Some of the obvious ones are when someone’s health is not doing so great, perhaps that they are struggling with energy levels, or they know that down the road they will likely need to move. That’s an easy one. If you sit in your home, and you look around, and you’re not comfortable with your space, or it’s not making you happy, it’s not sparking joy, there’s an opportunity there. I tell everybody, it is truly a gift to your family and friends for you to take the time to go through your things while you are physically and mentally able.”
Suzanne Allbee says, “When someone is ready to start the process of decluttering or downsizing, the first thing is literally just to begin. Make a calendar date with yourself, start small. It doesn’t have to be done overnight. Number two, engage an organizer, a third party to help. Sometimes if we rely on friends or family, we put a burden on them. They don’t have the time for it, frankly. It’s easier, sometimes, with a neutral third party. Number three, we always suggest a regular schedule, set up a cadence that feels good to you, once a month, once a week, once a quarter, whatever that looks like to you, that feels comfortable for you, at a pace that you can handle. And then lastly, I just say be ready. It’s some decision making, it is emotional. You are going to be going through memories of your entire life. We’re gonna choose what is the most important to celebrate and go on from there.”
Answers for Elders listeners get a free consultation and $100 off their first session with Bee Organized. Regarding the initial consultation, Suzanne says, “It could be Zoom, or it might be in person, depending on where you live and everyone’s schedule. Honestly, Zoom at the very minimum, because I do want to see your space.”
Learn more
* Bee Organized locations: https://beeorganized.com/about-the-company/
* Bee Organized: https://beeorganized.com/
* Suzanne Allbee: https://beeorganized.com/our_team/suzanne-allbee/
* The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/
* Humana: https://www.humana.com/
* Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/Hear more
* Podcasts with Bee Organized at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/bee-organized/
* Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ - Your Kids Don’t Want Your Stuff
Suzanne Allbee, CEO of Bee Organized Seattle, talks about a harsh reality: Your kids don’t want your stuff. The idea of sorting possessions can be overwhelming, but there’s a better way than piling everything into a storage locker. Bee Organized offers a short quiz that helps them understand how you relate to your stuff. This helps them understand you, so they can help you focus on how to celebrate what’s special, while letting everything else go. Environmental wellness is one of the 8 foundational principles of wellness, a focus of the Vitality Revolution podcast series sponsored by Humana.
Suzanne Allbee says, “Your kids don’t want your stuff. They don’t, it’s the truth. That generation lives very differently, very much more minimalistic. They don’t want the same things. However, there is a case for wanting to maintain a memory. My mother, my grandmother, and my aunt quilt. There’s probably 100 quilts in our family. Do I need to save every one? No, but I can choose one or two to save and actually use, or showcase in some way, in my home, celebrate those special things. But you’ve just got to let go. It lifts a burden.”
Suzanne adds, “So many seniors think of downsizing as moving into a senior facility, or some other environment that isn’t their home, but you can downsize in your own space. You can declutter and downsize and end up in a home that works for your needs, your new needs, perhaps, and also your lifestyle.”
Regarding the biggest challenges with seniors as a whole, Suzanne says, “It’s a daunting task, especially if you have been in your home for 10, 20, 30, sometimes 50 years. The idea of going through your things is overwhelming. We get that. There’s a sense of not wanting to burdening family or friends. It’s the pride factor.”
“I don’t know if I call it pet peeve, but it hurts my heart to think about the thousands and thousands of dollars that are being spent on storage lockers. People don’t even know what’s inside them. You know, it is one of the largest growing industries, that storage locker component, because the Baby Boomers are aging. What do I do with my stuff? I’m just gonna put it in here and deal with it later, and then later never comes. It becomes the problem of a family or friend.”
How does Bee Organize help people help decide what to save? Suzanne says, “Everyone is different. But we do have one tool called our organizing profiles, that we use quite often. It’s a short quiz on our website that basically helps us identify how people relate to their stuff. They’re holding on to something. Are you holding onto it for a reason, or maybe because you paid a lot of money for it, you can’t rationalize getting rid of it, or maybe you’re holding on to something just in case you might need it someday. So once we kind of have a better idea of why you’re holding on to your things, we can help you go through those things, and we are really wanting to celebrate what’s special and let everything else go.”
Answers for Elders listeners get a free consultation and $100 off their first session with Bee Organized.
Learn more
* Bee Organized locations: https://beeorganized.com/about-the-company/
* Bee Organized: https://beeorganized.com/
* Suzanne Allbee: https://beeorganized.com/our_team/suzanne-allbee/
* The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/
* Humana: https://www.humana.com/
* Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/Hear more
* Podcasts with Bee Organized at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/bee-organized/
* Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ - Junk, Shame, Tears, Decluttering
Suzanne shares her story of having ADHD, having to move, and hiring Bee Organized Seattle for a life-changing experience to declutter. Suzanne Allbee, CEO of Bee Organized Seattle, joins Suzanne to talk about living sustainably. Environmental wellness is one of the 8 foundational principles of wellness, a focus of the Vitality Revolution podcast series sponsored by Humana.
Suzanne Newman admitted, “I had no idea how life changing it would be. It seemed to me, organizers don’t want to take me on. I’m too embarrassed, I’m too overwhelmed. And I just sent a photo of the room that they worked on mostly, which we called Suzanne’s junk room. Well, it was really great because Holly, one of the team members, said, ‘It’s not your junk room anywhere. We’re gonna stop that kind of thinking.’ So, it’s now my hobby room. And the nice thing about it is, I am proud of my space now. I’m proud of my new home. I love how it’s coming together. It was an investment in my sanity, in my self esteem. I don’t think a lot of people understand specifically what professional organizers do, and they were life changing for me.”
Suzanne Allbee says, “Professional organizing isn’t an old, aged industry. It’s fairly new. I like to call us chaos controllers, we help manage the chaos. We are designed and put into people’s homes to help them create an environment that benefits them, that makes them feel good, that makes them feel proud and that functions for them in a way that is sustainable or not about just making your house look pretty. It’s about creating a functional system for someone.
“Our process starts with just an initial outreach. Someone’s calling in and they’re talking to me 95% of the time, and many times that’s with tears, a sense of shame, a sense of embarrassment about their environment. A sense of overwhelm happens a lot of times, and our whole foundation of what we truly believe, is that everyone gets to where they are in a different way. Life happens, right. We’re gonna do everything with a compassionate heart, with confidentiality, being judgment free, because we don’t know what’s happened in your life.”
Suzanne Newman says, “I purged out a bunch of stuff and I’m asking myself, why didn’t I do this before? I didn’t have the ability in my head to get to that place. It was long-standing results that I think are gonna make a difference. It’s made a difference in my marriage, because my husband is not frustrated [by the clutter].”
Suzanne Allbee added, “As you go through your things and are looking at decluttering, you’re gonna ask three questions. Does this item make me happy? Is it useful now or in the near future? Is it valuable or irreplaceable?”
Answers for Elders listeners get a free consultation and $100 off their first session with Bee Organized.
Learn more
* Bee Organized locations: https://beeorganized.com/about-the-company/
* Bee Organized: https://beeorganized.com/
* Suzanne Allbee: https://beeorganized.com/our_team/suzanne-allbee/
* The Vitality Revolution podcast series: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/
* Humana: https://www.humana.com/
* Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/welcome-to-answers-for-elders/Hear more
* Podcasts with Bee Organized at Answers for Elders: https://answersforelders.com/tag/bee-organized/
* Articles and podcasts about Environmental Wellness: https://answersforelders.com/vitality-revolution/environmental-wellness/Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/ - Downsizing: What to Do With Your China
Kristen Christian from Bee Organized joins Suzanne to talk about getting rid of clutter. Keep what you love, but there’s a boundary to watch, especially if you’re downsizing. “China comes up a lot, it’s a hard one. There are lots of ways of looking at it, how to honor your memories without keeping everything.” Kristen provides a couple of ways she’s done that with heirlooms.
The whole point is to find the sweet spot between too little and too much, and crafting your environment around it. If everything is precious, nothing is precious.
Family caregivers looking for a new opportunity could get involved in the downsizing business. Franchising is a great opportunity to start a new business while not doing it alone. Watch their video or read about franchise opportunities.
Learn more at Bee Organized. Visit their What They Do page to sign up for their Buzz Tips newsletter and find the location nearest you.
- Downsizing Power Purge: 3 Questions to Ask
Kristen Christian from Bee Organized joins Suzanne to talk about downsizing and decluttering. The goal is to own less. Be a gatekeeper for your next chapter: only bring what you like, need, and use. Bee Organized takes clients through a power purge. About every item, ask yourself: Do I like this item? Do I use this item? Is this item valuable or irreplaceable? There’s no loophole in the process, and the more you go, the better you’ll get at it.
It may seem overwhelming, but doing a little at a time gets it done. Give yourself time, and start small. All that stuff didn’t accumulate overnight. Don’t make it daunting, make it fun, turn on the music, invite a friend, hire a downsizing company like Bee Organized. Keep in mind the end goal and revisit it – if your goal is to move to a smaller space, hold on to that, and it’ll push you through, give yourself grace.
Learn more at Bee Organized. Visit their What They Do page to sign up for their Buzz Tips newsletter and find the location nearest you.
- How to De-Stress About Downsizing
Kristen Christian from Bee Organized joins Suzanne to talk about how to create the right mindset to begin decluttering and downsizing. When you think of creating art, it takes time, patience, and planning. You have to gather materials, have a purpose and plan, and intention. We use a different lens when we get people ready for downsizing, to arm themselves with the proper tools, just like an artist would, and it goes a lot smoother. Any move is stressful, and a transition is hard. The stress can take a toll.
Learn more at Bee Organized. Visit their What They Do page to sign up for their Buzz Tips newsletter and find the location nearest you.
- How to Simplify Your Life: The Art of Downsizing
Kristen Christian joins Suzanne to talk about Bee Organized, a passionate company that helps people go from chaos to calm, and have seen many lives transformed through the process. Whether it’s home organization, moving, remodeling, downsizing, rightsizing, or concierge services, delegate the details to the Bees.
Downsizing is a matter of math, but it’s hard because we have a relationship with our stuff. Is it valuable — monetarily or from a sentimental point of view — or is it truly just junk that’s piling up? Once something comes into our home, it’s not just stuff, it becomes ”our” stuff.
Downsizing can be an art. Use it as an opportunity to curate what you’re bringing into the rest of your life. Craft an environment that supports you and brings out the best in you.
Kristen Christian is co-founder of Bee Organized and the Chief Marketing Officer of Bee Organized Enterprises. Launched in 2015 with the sole desire to help simplify lives, today the Kansas City-based headquarters has Bee Hives in Dallas, Denver, Houston, North Houston, Miami, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Beach, Portland, Rhode Island, San Diego, San Francisco, Scottsdale and Seattle.
Learn more at Bee Organized. Visit their What They Do page to sign up for their Buzz Tips newsletter and find the location nearest you, or listen to an earlier podcast from Bee Organized.
- Bee Organized, part 4
On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian at Bee Organized Seattle about the benefits, simplicity and peace you get from being organized.
This segment provides tactics and tips as you ask three questions: what do you need – what do you love – what do you use? Reach Suzanne at [email protected]. Her office phone number is 206.627.0957, and her cell number is 206.931.2970.
- Bee Organized, part 3
On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian at Bee Organized Seattle about the benefits, simplicity and peace you get from being organized. This segment focuses on the power purge. Reach Suzanne at [email protected]. Her office phone number is 206.627.0957, and her cell number is 206.931.2970.
- Bee Organized, part 2
On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian at Bee Organized Seattle about the benefits, simplicity and peace you get from being organized. Kristin is co-founder of Bee Organized and the Chief Marketing Officer of Bee Organized Enterprises.
- Bee Organized, part 1
On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian to talk about how to prevent chaos from building up in our lives and in our homes. Professional home organizer Suzanne Allbee is the owner of Bee Organized Seattle. You can reach her at [email protected]. Her office phone number is 206.627.0957, and her cell number is 206.931.2970.
