Relocation service firm, Yorkshire Move Manager, which specialises in helping elderly clients with downsizing to smaller properties, sheltered housing and retirement villages, is to roll out its service to aid property developers in the region.
Michelle Park explains “One of the trickiest barriers to relocation is the fear of the upheaval involved, and for elderly people in particular this can be very traumatic. We are looking to work with property developers in this sector to provide a service which takes the stress out of the equation.”
Downsizing and moving on to a new chapter in life can and should be a positive and liberating experience, she says. She and partner Andrew Toft find that often it is simply the time to spend with someone going through this process that is required. They support the homeowner as they make the transition, metaphorically holding their hand like a family member to share the workload of the move. Andrew explains “Just having a friendly person to chat with while sorting through piles of possessions makes it a lot less lonely and overwhelming. We don’t carry the emotional baggage that a family member might in the same situation, and we are able to provide practical help to get the client moved safely and stress free to their new home.”
Increasingly those in their fifties are tasked with helping elderly parents face this situation with all its emotional and practical challenges whilst trying to hold down careers and care for their own children at the same time. Often a geographical distance is thrown into the mix to make matters even harder. Meanwhile, some elderly people don’t have grown up relatives to call on for assistance at all. While many developers offer financial help with the sale of the original home in order to facilitate the sale of the new one, there is generally little real support provided for the other practicalities and it is here that the Yorkshire Move Manager can make a significant difference.
Michelle and Andrew provide specialist one-to-one support to make the home move easy. From engaging removal companies, organising, sorting and downsizing possessions (including the sale of unwanted items), floor planning, packing up, unpacking at the new home and change of address tasks, their help is tailored to the needs of older purchasers during their move.
Developers are able to offer the Yorkshire Move Manager service directly to purchasers, either as an optional add-on with the new property sale, or simply as a referral to facilitate faster, smoother sales and provide added value for the purchasers in a competitive market.
The firm, which operates nationally and works with partners around the country, is accredited by The National Association of Senior Move Managers (www.nasmm.org), the body dedicated to helping the elderly and their families with downsizing and relocating.