Over the years, the Wyatt-Browns traveled a great deal teaching at different institutions. After beginning their careers at Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo., they later went to University of Colorado in Boulder and spent 17 years at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Oh. They eventually transferred to the University of Florida, where they taught for 21 years. In addition, the couple also spent part of their careers in Princeton, University of Wisconsin, University of Richmond and William & Mary. Anne and Bertram also had a daughter, who now lives in St. Paul, Minn., along with two grandchildren.

Despite their many moves, it was never a question for the couple as to where they would spend their future. They left Florida to return home to Baltimore, where they had their sights set on eventually moving to Roland Park Place based on its convenient location and the positive experiences of Anne’s parents there.

Although Anne was initially hesitant about the physical aspects of the move, health issues and the difficulty of navigating and maintaining their three-level house had prompted the couple to seriously think about the transition to maintain their busy lifestyle.

“Baltimore is home for me; my family is here,” said Anne. “The reason we ended up at Roland Park Place is my parents lived here and I had no intention of going to the county. As far as I was concerned it was the city or forget it, and it had to be the neighborhood.”

Having several friends and relatives needing care in a variety of elder care settings over the years had made the couple see the value of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). They appreciated the fact that they would be able to remain connected to their friends on the campus even if their health needs were to change.

Anne also liked the improvements she had seen at Roland Park Place since her parents were living there. Among those big differences was a list of resources compiled by the staff to help ease the transition and a complimentary floor plan design consultation for future residents.

To further ensure a stress-free move, Anne and Bertram decided to hire a firm that could provide senior move management services. They selected Senior Transitions, Inc., an organization owned and operated by Charna Kinneberg. Senior Transitions, Inc. is a well established company. Charna is one of the founding members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM).

With so many decisions to make about what to take, the couple really appreciated a software program that Senior Transitions, Inc. used that mapped out their new floor plan with their existing furniture and possessions. According to Charna, the program allows clients to immediately see their plans and what will or will not work in their new space.

“You could really see what it was going to look like,” said Anne.

Charna then provided her guidance to assist the couple in sorting through their belongings and getting rid of or donating different pieces of furniture.

“I coach my clients to focus on what we want to keep, not what they are getting rid of. It really helps with the decision making process,” she said.

Understanding just how important their tremendous book collection and academic libraries were to the Wyatt-Browns, Charna made certain to identify appropriate space for as many bookcases as possible. The couple was pleasantly surprised at how many bookcases could actually fit. Also realizing that Anne and Bertram needed space for their own computers, she incorporated a desk for each of them in the design.

“My goal is to keep as many of the most treasured items as possible while maintaining a safe environment,” said Charna.

Although Anne is often questioned how she could give up so many pieces of furniture, she said, “A lot of our furniture was handed down to us, and to be able to give it to people who want it and who will someday give it to somebody else I think is wonderful.”

For the official moving day, Senior Transitions, Inc. brought in a crew to manage and facilitate the move. “They were very efficient and fun to be around,” said Bertram. “They made it a pleasure . . . they were just great.”

Anne continued, “They had terrific ideas for pictures, and once they put the pictures up, it made it ours and just transformed the place. They are really gifted in figuring out where to put things and I am in awe of their skill.”

With the move behind them, the Wyatt-Browns are eager to get involved with programs at their new home as they continue the activities they are most passionate about.

One of these lifelong pursuits for the couple is writing. While Anne is an author as well as the co-editor of a gerontological-style journal, Bertram has written twelve books and is a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins. “I go to seminars sometimes and get revved up about that,” he said.

Music is another passion they have shared. Anne, who started in the Glee Club at Bryn Mawr when she was 14, had dreamed of attending Radcliffe College and joining its Chorale Society after hearing them in concert. Not only did she accomplish this goal, but she also became the group’s manager and has since continued to sing in different chorales and churches.

“Everywhere we have gone, I have sung in a group,” she said. “We had 10 moves, and every time, we would join a church and join the choir.” That carries through today as the couple sings in the choir at the Cathedral of the Incarnation which is right down the street from their home.

Most importantly, Anne and Bertram have enjoyed getting to know the individuals at the community. They have been very impressed with how outgoing the staff and residents are and are pleased that there are other “academics” living at Roland Park Place.

“The facilities are great and we plan to make good use of them, but it’s the kindness of people that really makes a difference,” said Anne.

As they meet new individuals, however, they will never forget the people who played a pivotal role in helping them get settled into their new home. No matter their daily pursuits, the Wyatt-Browns know they have beautiful and comfortable surroundings to return to thanks to Senior Transitions, Inc.

“They were terrific, we have nothing but praise for Charna and her group,” said Bertram.

Long before this move, however, the Resslers’ story begins when they met at a dance, which, according to Mrs. Ressler, has often led to the debate of who saw who first. Though no matter whom it was, the couple is happy to say they have celebrated 48 years of marriage. During this time, Mr. Ressler had worked for Amoco American Oil Company while Mrs. Ressler was a homemaker and bookkeeper who worked part time at the Catonsville Community College bookstore for several years.

It was Aug. 28, 2008 that the Resslers received the call for which they had been waiting. An apartment matching their request had become available. Though the couple sold their home in a matter of three weeks, they knew the actual moving process would not be so easy.

Mrs. Ressler said she and her husband knew they did not want to tackle this move on their own and at the time were given a list of vendors by the Charlestown sales staff. Instead of getting overwhelmed and bogged down with the details, they contacted Charna Kinneberg, owner of the company Senior Transitions, Inc. which provides move coordination services.

As a result, they had downsized, disposed of unnecessary items, had everything packed up, and were moved into their new place by October 10, less than two months after initially learning the apartment was available.

“We didn’t have to go through a book to try to find people to take away trash, donate things to, or even move our things since Charna and her staff took care of everything,” says Mrs. Ressler. “Everyone was wonderful including the other vendors they recommended. They showed up on time and if they were going to be late at all, they called. There was no waiting around wondering.”

Mr. Ressler adds that on the actual moving day, the vendors were taking care of unpacking all of the items and followed the couple’s wishes placing everything accordingly. “We walked into the bedroom and there they were making our bed – it was just like a hotel where everything we needed was in place and ready for us!” he says.

In other moves they made over the years, according to Mrs. Ressler, they had still had to contend with the packing supplies after everything was done. That was certainly not the case this time, however, thanks to their moving coordinator. The trash was removed with boxes taken away, thus the Resslers were free to quickly start their lives at Charlestown.

The Resslers’ story is certainly not uncommon; however, theirs teaches others of the available resources that can be utilized when taking on this difficult task. Charna says the move coordinators take one of the major barriers of moving away. “We often hear ‘I don’t want to be a burden to my children,’ or ‘I don’t have time to help my parents,’” she says.

With a qualified, experienced move coordinator, these and other issues associated with a move are handled. According to Charna, the ultimate goal is to remove that stress from the experience, though the source differs from client to client. One may just need someone to help them figure out what will fit into the new unit while another client may want help disposing of things they do not need. Someone else will just want help packing or unpacking as others want to go on vacation and come back after the move is done.

No matter the scenario, this move manager is there to help. “We’ve done it all,” she says.

Senior Transitions, Inc., however, is not limited to coordinating local moves. Charna is President Elect and one of the founding members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), an organization of move managers located throughout the U.S. and Canada. The industry has grown significantly in the past six years from the initial 16 member companies in 2002 to now over 500 companies.

“When a client is moving to or from another location, we can easily find a member company to help on the other end,” says Charna. “Because of my longstanding involvement with the organization, I often personally know the other company.”

Also as a result of her commitment to the association, some of the communities she regularly works with even call her rather than just selecting from the NASMM web site.

Meanwhile, with what turned out to be a very stress-free move behind them, the Resslers have enjoyed life in their new home. As Resident Ambassadors at Charlestown, they talk to prospective residents, showing them the community and discussing the advantages of living at Charlestown. Mrs. Ressler is also in the process of starting a new dining companions program at the community with her friend.

Of course, they often discuss their experience with Senior Transitions, Inc. and would recommend seeking the assistance of a move manager to anyone in a similar situation.

“There is no way we could have made the move without them,” says Mrs. Ressler. “It’s the single biggest reason most people give for not making the move. With Charna and her staff’s help, that issue is gone.”

Bonnie, who started working at American University for the Public Relations Department, eventually retired from the law school’s Registrar Office. When William, a lawyer, started having problems with his leg, the couple knew it was time for a transition.

“When our son and daughter-in-law also encouraged us, we became more serious about it,” said Bonnie.

After researching and visiting various communities in the area, they decided Ashby Ponds was the right fit. Though they were fortunate to have sold their house before the market’s downturn, the Iandolos knew the actual process of moving and parting with their belongings would not be easy.

It was then they were introduced by their son to Joel and Susie Danick of Maryland-based Transitional Assistance & Design. After the move managers gave the Iandolos a presentation, they sat down with the couple to review the floor plan of their apartment.

“Based on the square footage, Joel helped us figure out what we could and could not take,” said Bonnie. “He worked very hard at making everything right.”

It was a relief for the Iandolos knowing every aspect of their move was being taken care of. When the actual day arrived, Joel had arranged for the movers to unpack the couple’s belongings and have it ready before they stepped foot in their apartment.

“I was absolutely floored when I came upstairs, I think my heart actually stopped,” said Bonnie. “They had done such a marvelous job putting everything together and it was all polished; it was like walking into a new home.”

Since their move in December, the couple of almost 55 years enjoy the various amenities and activities of their community as much as possible. According to Bonnie, it is not unusual to be asked by her neighbors, some of whom still have unpacked boxes, how she was able to make such a smooth transition. In response, she gladly recommends the moving managers that made it all possible.

“They are so organized and knowledgeable about problems with spacing and layouts and they ensure everything is finished when you move in,” she said. “It was a wonderful feeling and I could not have asked for anything more perfect for an end product.”

Vienna, Va. — Steve Gurney is 43 years old, exactly half the national average age of residents living in assisted living communities. On Feb. 9, Gurney will experience first hand what it is like to move into one of these communities by taking up temporary residence at Paul Spring Retirement Community in Alexandria, VA.

Nearly 20 years ago, Gurney founded the Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, a comprehensive resource that provides details on all of the senior living options in the mid-Atlantic. He said, “I realized that I have spent my entire career helping families and elders make these choices, but I have never experienced the transition first hand as a resident. I will be using this experience to help families better understand this important life transition.”

Gurney will not be utilizing this experience to evaluate the level of care and amenities or to determine if a specific community or option is “good” or “bad.” Instead, he will be focusing specifically on the feelings and emotions that an individual faces when moving to a new and different living environment.

The inspiration for this project began last September when Gurney was taking his children to their first day of school. He said, “When I give my kids encouragement about their first day of school, it’s authentic because they know I have been through the same experience. This made me realize that I need to be more authentic by going through the same experiences that the readers of our publication and website are facing.”

Gurney recognizes that his experience will be somewhat artificial due to his age and the fact that he will not be a permanent resident. However, by focusing specifically on the emotions accompanying the transition of leaving his home, he feels that he will be able to share important insights with others.

After his stay at Paul Spring, Gurney plans to take up residence at a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, an independent living community for low-income seniors, and an Alzheimer’s-specific community. “Most people don’t recognize the wide variety of choices,” said Gurney. “By living as a resident in five different types of communities, I hope that this experience will also help families better understand the options.”

Gurney plans to document his experiences through a blog at www.proaging.com and in articles in Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook.

When her mother developed dementia, Karen realized she only had one week to empty her Pikesville condominium and prepare if for sale. During that same week, she also had to move her father from a nursing home to an assisted living facility.

As someone who is first to admit she is not the greatest organizer, Karen realized she needed support to ease the overwhelming of moving. She called Senior Transitions, a Maryland-based service that offers moving and downsizing assistance.

At first, Karen and Mary Ellen, a staff member, found nothing surprising-lots of paper, clutter, and the like. However, on the last day of sorting, they stumbled across an envelope with six $10,000 savings bonds.

The find came as an enormous relief to Karen, whose mother had dwindled her savings by generously giving money away to other relatives, friends and worthy causes. She was excited about the prospect of having more money to provide quality care for her mother.

The day wasn’t done, however. A search of a file drawer uncovered lost family documents that included passports belonging to Karen’s grandparents, who moved during the holocaust to escape death. When they died, Karen’s family did not receive any of their historical belongings. Now she had something to treasure from years to come.

In one week, Karen was able to make arrangements for the sale of the condo. Her mother is adjusting and she has treasured mementos she never dreamed would be seen again.

Dr. Robert and Helen Dubel have done their fair share of walking in their 58 years together. They’ve walked across the sprawling ice sheets of Antarctica, the rugged and dusty jungles of Sub-Saharan Africa, through the sky-high mountains of Tibet and, these days, on the trails near Glen Meadows Retirement Community in Glen Arm, Maryland.

In fact, Maryland is where their walks together first began.

“My wife and I met at Western Maryland College,” recalled Robert, known to his friends and family as Bob. “The first week I met her in biology laboratory, and just by good fortune we were assigned the same pig to dissect.”

The former Marine had just returned from the South Pacific, where he served in World War II. Helen, though she admitted their first meeting wasn’t exactly the most romantic, was smitten with him right away.

“I liked him the minute I saw him,” she said. “And vice versa.”

After the couple was finished with the project, Bob suggested they wash their hands and take a walk.

“We’ve been walking ever since,” he said. “There are six walking trails at Glen Meadows and we walk them all.”

Now the couple has decided to cruise into a leisurely stroll, after a lively and fast-paced life full of professional and personal accomplishments.

Bob led a busy career with the Baltimore County Public Schools, where for 16 years he was the superintendent. He was a pupil of the schools as a boy.

“It’s rather neat growing up as a student in a school system, and then becoming the superintendent,” said Bob. “It gave me a real emotional investment in the system, and so that’s why I was there for so long.”

After retiring in 1992, he began a five-year stint as a faculty member at the University of Maryland, College Park that ended only “when he got tired of running up and down Route 95,” he said with a laugh.

Helen was busy as well, raising the couple’s four children, teaching yoga, art and piano classes, and working as a real estate agent and party planner.

Though both Helen and Bob led very busy professional lives, they always made time to travel once or twice each year – either with their four children, a tour group or by themselves.

Their patio home at the community is filled with souvenirs and memorabilia from their journeys, which included trips to all seven continents and 64 countries. Exotic oil paintings and pastels by Helen adorn the brightly-colored walls, African vases line almost every shelf in the living room, and one spare room even has flag patches from almost every place they’ve visited.

“They keep making countries faster than we can get to them,” said Bob.

For a couple as well traveled as the Dubels, downsizing all the keepsakes they had accumulated from their journeys was quite a task. They said it took about four months, but with the help of their children and colleagues, they gave away enough to fit in their new home with ease.

“We still had a dump truck full of stuff,” joked Bob. “To avoid that, you should move more than one time every 50 years, and don’t save so much stuff!”

Just after settling in, Bob and Helen then decided to move within the community to a more spacious location. It was hard to go through the move a second time, but they said it was ultimately worth the effort.

“I think the staff had us moved from one place to the other in about two hours,” Bob said. “We thought it was funny we had moved once in 50 years and then twice in six months. We’ve always been travelers, but have been very rooted in our home.”

After getting married in 1948, the couple took their first trip to Europe, which cost them a grand total of $900 for 35 days. Their accommodations were simple, but allowed them to see the essential sights.

“We traveled everywhere third class,” said Helen. “But it was one of the best trips we’ve ever had together.”

These days the couple spends most of their time at Glen Meadows, which is just a short trip away from most of their children and grandchildren. They said the decision to retire at the community was made almost immediately after their first visit.

“Well this looks like the place,” Helen remembers saying as the two drove up Glen Meadows’ driveway for a visit. They both grew up in rural environments, and had spent 50 years in a house in the woods together in Villa Nova, Md. When they saw the lush landscaping, felt the crisp country air and walked down the pathways flanked with trees, they knew it was a place where they’d feel right at home.

“After growing up in a village, now I am retiring in a village,” said Bob. He added that the size, rural appearance and friendliness of residents and staff influenced his decision to choose Glen Meadows.

Like many couples who are choosing to enter retirement communities at a younger age, Helen and Bob said they wanted to take advantage of the offered amenities while they were still in good health.

“We wanted to travel more, and our health was very good,” said Helen. “I think a lot of people make the mistake of waiting until they have health problems.”

Helen spends much of her time creating oil paintings, pastels and stone sculptures, along with some needlepoint work. She enjoys singing in the community’s choir, as well as line dancing and basket weaving. Bob is vice president of the residents’ association at Glen Meadows, and enjoys reading, playing golf, hiking on the community’s many trails and attending the various continuing education classes offered there. Both enjoy attending their grandchildren’s sporting games.

The couple’s next trip will most likely be a tour of the Mediterranean.

“It’s a good life,” said Helen. “I’m excited for the future.”

One of Mrs. Pyle’s friends mentioned that they needed assistance at the public library. She went into the interview looking for a part-time job and left with a career. Mrs. Pyle worked her way up through the library system and ended her career as manager of clerical and Technical Services in the Library’s Central Office.

Several years ago, Mrs. Pyle made the decision to downsize from her family home in Timonium to a more manageable condominium. Her husband had passed away three years earlier, and their home was becoming more than she could handle alone. She lived in her condo for 13 years. Recently, Mrs. Pyle began to contemplate moving again. She recalls, “I wanted to find a community where I could feel secure, but also be as independent as I want to be.”

Mrs. Pyle’s search for a retirement community to meet her needs took her to several local properties. After touring communities and reviewing their offerings, she chose Mercy Ridge, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Timonium, MD. “I knew that Mercy Ridge was it as soon as I saw it,” she says. “It is so new and gorgeous, and we have so many options in terms of dining and amenities.”

Finding the right retirement community proved to be easy, but Mrs. Pyle knew from experience that “downsizing and moving is hard-really hard.” When she moved to her condo, her children took care of everything but she did not want to call on them again.

When she found information about moving coordinators in her move-in packet, Mrs. Pyle was intrigued. She called Senior Transitions, a moving coordination services firm, and spoke with Charna Kinneberg, the owner of the company. “When Charna came in and told me about everything they could do to make sure that my move was smooth-which was pretty much anything I needed-I knew that I wanted their help,” Mrs. Pyle says.

The day before the move Senior Transitions’ staff came to Mrs. Pyle’s house and packed the bulk of her belongings. They brought boxes, packing paper, and all the necessary supplies with them.

Mrs. Pyle remembers, “On the day of the move, they finished up with the packing, and then they went to the new place and unpacked everything and set it up.” From assembling her bed to unpacking and dusting her china, Senior Transitions made sure that Mrs. Pyle’s new home was as comfortable as possible. “It looked like I had been living here for awhile on the very first day. Even some of the staff members commented on how quickly I was settled in,” Mrs. Pyle concludes. “I didn’t have to worry about anything with the move. They really took care of it all, and that was a wonderful feeling.”

“I was atypical in that I held almost all of the positions you can have with the Marine Corps during my career,” says Colonel James Hecker. During his nearly 30 years in the military, Colonel Hecker served as an Officer during war, completed a sea duty, worked as a recruiter, and was the administrator for an ROTC program. While Col. Hecker enjoyed the diversity of his positions, he realized early on that a career military man needed to serve time in combat zones in order to be successful.

Having served in WW II, Korea, and Vietnam, Col. Hecker reflected on the very different public perceptions of those engagements. He says, “WW II touched everyone. Korea was marginally accepted. Vietnam was not at all accepted, and we felt that. I returned to the airport in Los Angeles after Vietnam and was harassed and spit at.” Despite some challenging moments, Col. Hecker states, “I am thankful to the military. I grew in a poor family in Southern New Jersey. Without the military, I would not be where I am today.”

The dedicated assistance of his wife, Kathleen, was also a major factor in his success. Katherine, he says, “always dealt with the time away and the moves so well. She really made it possible to have a family and be in the military.” The couple has two children and three grandchildren.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Col. Hecker served as a nursing home administrator for 20 years. The couple had been retired for several years when they began to consider a move to a retirement community closer to their children.

Near the end of their exhaustive search, the Heckers visited Classic Residence by Hyatt, a luxury senior living community in Chevy Chase, MD. He recalls, “As soon as we got here, we just thought, ‘This is quality.’ The facility and the staff are superb in every way.”

During a pre-admission seminar at the community, the Heckers learned about the services of moving coordinators. Transitional Assistance & Design, a local downsizing, moving, and design firm, was recommended to them.

Col. Hecker admits, “We had moved 26 times in 30 years, and it was pretty evident that at our age, one more move could be too much.” The Heckers decided to meet with Susan Danick, the Owner of Transitional Assistance, based in Gaithersburg, MD, which helps seniors facilitate every step of the downsizing process.

“Within the first few moments, it was obvious that we were going to use her services. She really is an expert,” he recalls. Susie and her staff helped the Heckers with everything from downsizing and packing to planning and setting up the new home. “She made a to-scale diagram of the home that included where all the furniture would go,” Col. Hecker explains.

In addition to helping the Heckers plan their new space, Susie arranged for packers, movers, and haulers to transport all of their belongings. Her management helped the couple ensure that everything was carefully packed and organized.

In their new home, Transitional Assistance set up everything. “It was all done,” says Col. Hecker. “The closets were unpacked, and the dishes were put away. The pictures were even hung. It was really like we had already been living here.” Col. Hecker concludes, “I can’t imagine why anyone would not want Susie’s help with their move.”

After just a few months in their new community, the Heckers are thankful that they had such an effortless transition. They are still debating on which of the various community activities and programs they want to become involved in. Right now, they are just enjoying the “unencumbered” lifestyle that for them epitomizes retirement.

The first step is to figure out where you are going, since what you will be able to take with you depends, a lot, on that decision. Moving from a large family home to a townhouse means one level of downsizing, and moving from a townhouse to a small apartment means another.

If you know where you’re going, you’ll have a much easier time figuring out what is sensible to keep, and what you will need to get rid of. Having a floor plan of the place you’re moving to, and important measurements, will help a lot in figuring out which large items you will be able to bring with you.

The timetable is important as well. Professional organizers will tell you that it’s best to have at least six months for such a move, but whatever your timetable is, you should get a calendar for this use only, and then plan your strategy. You might mark off “D-Day” (for decision made), and “M-Day” (for moving), then mark (in pencil!) the day the necessary steps will be made, moving both backward and forward.

Assign various members of the family to whatever tasks they can be responsible for. Decide on tentative dates for any sales you might have, and make deadlines for the other tasks you will need to accomplish. If you have no experience estimating the time needed for big jobs, take a general tip from freelancers and independent contractors: figure out the time you realistically think you will need, and then multiply it by at least two!

If possible, the move to another location should be completed with plenty of time to spare before the belongings that remain behind in the house are divided among others and removed from the premises. As anyone who has ever moved knows, moving is an exhausting, confusing, and emotionally upsetting ordeal. For a person who is moving out of a beloved home they’ve lived in for many years, it is all the more so.

Ideally, the person making the move should be given the time to settle into their new surroundings, and make sure that they have taken with them all they want, before the contents of their previous home are taken away. You don’t want to regret having given away too much too soon, or to have important things lost in the shuffle.

Creating a Visual Record

Insurance companies recommend that homeowners keep an inventory of household goods, with photos of the items. Such a list can be helpful when it comes to dispersing the items in a home as well. Make a page for each room in the house, with numbered columns, listing the item (“bureau”), a description (“4-drawer oak chest, 30 inches long”), its history or provenance (“wedding gift” or “purchased when Susie was born” or “belonged to Great-aunt Madeleine”), and any additional comments (“For my granddaughter Isabel” or “Please have this appraised and sold, with the profits divided equally among my children” or “Ask cousin Josh if he would like this; his mother gave it to us.”). You may leave the spaces in the last column blank if you want your children and grandchildren to decide which pieces interest them the most.

Take photographs of the items, and number the photographs to correspond with the list. If you are using a digital camera, you will be able to create an electronic record with photos and descriptions, and then send it to members of your family via e-mail.

The visual record can be used to help sort through and assign belongings to various members of the family in advance. Each child and/or grandchild in the family can be given a copy and asked to mark those items they would like to have.

The record will also come in handy when siblings are actually dividing up the estate. Each person can record which items they are taking, helping to ensure the items are being divided up fairly. It may seem that one person is getting more than the others because she’s been more vocal, but a look at the list will help assure each person that he or she is getting a fair share.

First Things First
The best way to begin the process of moving on, before any items are removed or even spoken for, is to talk with everyone in the family about what is happening. Here are some questions to ask:

–Has everyone in the family been informed that we are about to start emptying the house?

–Have we made a family plan for how to go about this process? Has everyone agreed to it?

–Have we set a date when the process will begin? Is it clear to everyone who will be involved?

–Have we talked about how to handle any disagreements or disputes that may arise in the process?

–Have we dealt with any disagreements about any of the above as well as we can? If we are not all in agreement, do we at least have a consensus that the process should begin?

Additional Resources:

American Moving and Storage Association
Association offers helpful consumer tips and information.
703-683-7410
www.moving.org

Appraisers Association of America, Inc. (AAA)
The oldest professional association of appraisers of personal property and the recognized authority for setting appraisal standards.
212-889-5503
www.appraiserassoc.org

American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
Organization founded the Appraisal Foundation, which issued the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
703-478-2228
www.appraisers.org

National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM)
Non-profit, professional association of organizations dedicated to helping older adults and their families with the physical and emotional aspects of the moving process.
www.nasmm.com

Excerpted from Moving On: A Practical Guide to Downsizing the Family Home by Linda Hetzer and Janet Hulstrand (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). To learn more about the book, visit their website: www.movingonthebook.com

The Bitterlis had been living in their family home in Ellicott City, MD for 46 years when they began to consider a move to a retirement community. “We were just a little tired of maintaining a home. All the responsibilities began to feel like too much, and we thought it was time to take life easy,” says Mr. Bitterli. Mrs. Bitterli adds, “We were ready to let someone else do the cooking too.”

After choosing Fairhaven, a continuing care retirement community in Sykesville, MD, the Bitterlis were ready for a move. They were not, however, ready to face sorting through and packing a house full of belongings. When staff members at Fairhaven recommended, Moving On, a local moving coordination firm, the Bitterlis decided to give them a call.

During the early stages of the moving process, advisors from Moving On came to the Bitterlis’ home and offered advice about what to take to the new home and what to give away, sell, or toss. Nancy Merritt, the president and founder of Moving On, then provided the couple with a moving calendar outlining all of the steps in the process. Staff members also gave the Bitterlis recommendations for moving, hauling, and auction companies.

Long before the actual moving day, the Bitterlis were able to select which belongings to take. “Nancy visited the new unit and measured everything to make sure the furniture would fit,” recalls Mr. Bitterli. The carefully selected items were already placed in the new home when the couple arrived. Mrs. Bitterli concludes, “We were really not involved too much in the move. They really took care of everything.”

Four months after the move, the Bitterlis are still discovering all that retirement has to offer. Life, they say, is “more relaxed,” but it has not changed that much. The couple continues to pursue their long-time interests. They have just added a few new activities to their schedule, including a new-found passion for water aerobics. Neither Charlie nor Doris had taken a water aerobics class before moving, but they now attend sessions four times a week. The Bitterlis, like so many before them, have discovered that moves often come with unforeseen opportunities.