How do you take a large house full of goods and furnishings, and fit them into a much smaller apartment?

That’s not a joke. It’s the tough question everyone who has ever downsized their home has faced. And sooner or later, each one comes to the same conclusion: you can’t take it all.

But what do you take? How do you choose? And what do you do with the rest?

Those are also tough questions. But luckily, there is someone who can help you find the answers and guide you through every step of your move.

 That person is a Senior Move Manager.

A Senior Move Manager is someone whose entire business is focused on helping seniors move easily, safely and smoothly. With a list of trusted resources at her fingertips, she’ll handle the all details so you can relax.

• A Senior Move Manager will take her cue from you.
• A Senior Move Manager will respect your time, your money and your things. You don’t have to worry about her coming in and taking over. She’ll follow your lead, move at your pace, and be there only as much as you’d like.
• You can ask her to help you go through things piece by piece, or set up a system so you can do it yourself. She can assist you in having a sale; and coordinate pickup for things you want to give away.
• She can also corral your kids, manage the movers, and make sure things are put away in the right places in your new home. In short, she can do whatever needs to be done.
• And most importantly, she can help you figure out what to do with all of that stuff.

Senior Move Manager Maria Quinby of On the Move, answers some frequently asked questions:

• Q: How soon before I move should I start packing? I don’t want all of my stuff in boxes.
• A: The time to start sorting is as soon as you’ve decided you’re going to move. Giving yourself plenty of time – even as much as a year – will mean you can take things slowly and not get overwhelmed. A good time to start packing is two months before you move.

• Q: What’s the best way to get the most money out of the items I won’t be using?
• A: The best way is to set realistic expectations. While you may have a treasure or two that is extremely valuable, chances are your estimation of what your things are worth far exceed what someone else will be willing to pay for them. Donating them to your favorite charity and taking the write-off is often the best way to get compensated for their value.

• Q: What does working with a Senior Move Manager cost? How do they charge?
•  A: Some Senior Move Managers have a fixed fee programs; others, like me, charge by the hour.

You can get more information about Senior Move Managers, and find one in your area, by checking out the National Association of Senior Move Mangers (NASMM) website at nasmm.org. Or, reach Maria Quinby by clicking here:  onthemovenow.com On the move is  located in Woodside, CA, and serves clients throughout San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Francisco. And, like Active In-Home Therapy, she brings her services to you!