5 Best Moving Companies for Seniors

At any stage of life, moving to a new home is a lot of work, and it’s even harder when you get older. More than 3 million adults age 65 and older move each year. Whether you’re downsizing, moving to an assisted living facility, or simply relocating to be closer to loved ones, the moving process can be more work than you can handle on your own.

Fortunately, when you work with the best moving companies for seniors, you can enjoy an stress-free moving experience. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best full-service moving companies who can help with moves for seniors. By comparing different providers, you can have peace of mind as you prepare for your move.

Best moving services for seniors

Here is our list of the top-ranked moving services for senior discounts:

• Best Overall: Mayzlin Relocation
• Best for Condo/HOA Moves: Safeway
• Most Reliable Movers: U-Pack
• Best for Customer Service: American Van Lines
• Best for Flexible Moves: Penske

Best overall: Mayzlin Relocation

Although smaller than some of the moving industry giants, Mayzlin Relocation is our top choice for senior moves, thanks to its attention to detail and competitive pricing. Because Mayzlin handles all its moves directly, you don’t have to worry about multiple points of contact. In fact, Mayzlin Relocation assigns a personal relocation consultant to each customer to assist with every step in the moving process, and customer representatives are available around the clock to answer any questions.

Mayzlin provides full-service local and long-distance moves, regardless of size. This means that the company is a particularly good fit if you’re downsizing, since some moving companies having a size minimum.

The company doesn’t advertise senior discounts, but it’s worth asking a representative when you call for your free quote. Mayzlin will honor a lower price from a competitor, so be sure to get at least two quotes before calling them.

Pros/Cons

Best for condo/HOA moves: Safeway Moving

Though Safeway Moving is a relatively newer moving company, this veteran-owned business, founded in 2018, has already established a strong reputation for customer service for condo/HOA moves and long-distance moves. They’re one of the best moving companies for seniors heading to a new condo or HOA apartment. As a carrier, Safeway partners with movers nationwide to serve all 50 states.

Safeway Moving is compliant with most homeowners association (HOA) and condo association guidelines, which makes it a good option if you’ll be downsizing or moving into an assisted living facility or retirement community. Each of the moving companies Safeway partners with is required to carry a $1 million liability insurance policy, which is the standard amount allowable by most HOAs. Additionally, all Safeway’s partners carry the licenses required by HOA and condo associations.

Safeway Moving has a wide carrier network that lets it serve all 50 states. They offer 30 days of free storage on interstate moves. They also offer a price match guarantee, with all quotes backed by a binding estimate.

Safeway offers discounts for seniors, military veterans, and other groups. However, you’ll need to call a service rep for more specific information. Also, they do not advertise that they provide any local moving services.

Pros/Cons:

Most reliable movers: American Van Lines

American Van Lines is a carrier only, which means you’ll always work with the company’s own movers. This can offer much-needed peace of mind if you’re concerned about quality moving labor. The company’s movers are required to take training and certification courses to ensure the safety of your goods while in transit.

American Van Lines serves the contiguous U.S. (not available in Hawaii or Alaska). They can also help with your packing, including packing just your fragile items or doing all your packing for you. While we couldn’t find any senior discounts, binding flat rate pricing means you’ll know exactly how much your move will cost.

Pros/Cons:

Best for customer service: AirVan North American Van Lines

If you’re moving expensive items and are concerned about customer service and quality care, AirVan North American Van Lines is a great pick. Their network of 500 agent locations in all 50 states ensures you have a personal moving agent for your move to guide you through the process.

For high-value items, you can also get full-value coverage, meaning that if items are lost or damaged, you will be compensated for their total value. Their detailed, transparent claims process is viewed as a strength in the industry and one of the reasons they’re on this list of the best moving companies for seniors.

Most notably, members of The Senior Citizens League can get an impressive 40-65% discount on their services.

Pros/Cons:

Best for flexible moves: U-Pack

If you’re up for taking a more DIY approach to your move (or have family members who can help), U-Pack may be a great option for your senior move.

U-Pack is a moving container company that drops off moving containers or a freight trailer at your property. You’ll have three days to load everything, after which the company will pick up the containers and take them to your new home. You’ll then have three days to unload. If you need extra help, U-Pack offers moving consultants that can help you connect with loading and unloading services.

While the company doesn’t offer senior discounts, you can save a lot by only paying for the space you use. If you order more moving containers than you need, you won’t be charged for the unused containers. Similarly, if you use a freight trailer, you will only pay for the space you use in the truck.

Pros/Cons:

Comparing the best senior citizen moving companies

Still not sure who’s best for you? Here’s a brief overview of our top senior moving companies and the type of senior moving services they offer.

Factors to consider when choosing the best moving companies for seniors

While pricing is certainly an important part of selecting a the best moving companies for seniors, you need to do more than just collect several free quotes and then pick the cheapest one.

Here are a few additional factors to consider to ensure you choose the right professional mover for you:

• Quote process: When hiring relocation services, the best movers generally provide in-home estimates. This means they will visit your family home or conduct a virtual walk-through so they can accurately estimate the size of your move and your total moving costs. Some movers will also offer a binding estimate, which ensures your total moving cost won’t be more than the original quoted price.
• Service area: You may not need help with an international move, but if you’re making an interstate move, you should double-check that the moving company offers service in both your current location and your new home. If you are moving fewer than 50 miles, verify that the company can accommodate your relocation, since some movers do not conduct local moves.
• Available moving packages: Different companies offer different levels of full-service support. Make sure you know what is included in the basic quote, and what services are considered an add-on — or aren’t available in the first place.
• Experience and reputation: Finally, research each moving company’s reputation. Several years of experience is always a good sign, especially if they have experience specific to working with retirement communities or other senior moves. Check customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau and other reputable sites for more information on the pros and cons of working with them.

Tips for moving with seniors

There’s more to a successful moving plan than choosing one of the best moving companies for seniors. Even if you plan on using professional movers for things like packing and unpacking services or furniture disassembly, there are still several things you should do before your move date, especially if the move involves downsizing.

Here are a few ways you can streamline the moving process for seniors:

• Consider your new floor plan: If you’re moving from a four-bedroom home to a smaller home or a one-bedroom apartment in a senior living community, you’ll need to get rid of a lot of stuff. Even if it’s the same size, a different layout could affect how you organize your items. Using the floor plan of your new space can help you realistically decide how much you can keep.
• Start small: If packing or sorting items feels overwhelming, start small — such as going through a single cabinet or set of boxes each day. It might be easier to start in areas with less sentimental value, where you’ll have an easier time identifying items that you no longer use or need so that you’ll have less that you need to pack.
• Get additional help: Family members, neighbors, or friends may be able to help you sort through items and decide what to keep and what to toss, sell, or donate. If you need a lot of help, a professional senior move manager can help you with downsizing, navigating the moving quote process, and evaluating service options for moving and storage services.
• Hold an estate sale: If you plan on getting rid of a lot of items before you move, consider holding an estate sale. This can help offset the costs of moving to your new residence. You can also donate or throw away unwanted items. Items with sentimental value could be gifted to family members.

FAQs about choosing movers for seniors

What is a senior move manager?

A senior move manager is a professional move organizer. They help you manage a variety of moving-related tasks, including downsizing (and organizing estate sales or donations), scheduling your move and supervising movers, and setting up storage or other add-on services as needed. The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) can help you find reputable, certified move managers.

When is a senior moving service necessary?

A senior moving service may become necessary when you are having trouble planning for a move on your own. A senior moving service can help you downsize your existing items, set up your new home, organize your space, pack and unpack, and manage movers, among other stress-relieving help.

What other discounts could I apply to save money while moving?

It never hurts to ask what additional discounts are offered by a moving provider. For example, some moving companies offer discounts to AAA members. Others offer discounts to military veterans, teachers, or union members. You can even get a discount with some movers by visiting their sites through moveBuddha!