Here's what most families don't expect: the hardest part of helping a parent move isn't the moving day. It's the weeks of decisions that come before it. Which dishes make the cut? What do you do with forty years of holiday decorations? Who handles the furniture that won't fit in a smaller space?
If you're helping a parent downsize, whether from a house in Highland Park, Glencoe, Deerfield, or anywhere along the North Shore, you should know that an entire category of professionals exists for exactly this situation. Most families discover them too late, after they've already burned through weekends and patience.
This guide covers who these professionals are, what they charge, and how to find trustworthy ones. Still weighing whether it's time to make a move? This guide compares the realities of staying at home versus moving to a senior living community.
A senior move manager is a professional who specializes in helping older adults relocate. Think of them less like a moving company and more like a project coordinator who handles the entire process from start to finish.
Here's a typical scope of work:
Sorting and decluttering: room by room, with your parent's input on what to keep, donate, sell, or discard.
Floor-planning the new space: measuring the new apartment and mapping where furniture will go before moving day.
Coordinating movers: hiring and overseeing a moving crew so the family doesn't have to be on-site all day.
Setting up the new space: unpacking, arranging furniture, hanging pictures, making the bed, and stocking the kitchen so the space feels livable on night one.
Many senior move managers also handle change-of-address forms, utility transfers, and coordinating with estate sale companies or donation services for what stays behind.
Most senior move managers charge by the hour, with prices depending on the region and scope of the project. Some offer flat-rate packages for a full-service move. Complex estates can cost more.
Always ask for a written estimate that breaks down the services included.
The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) maintains a searchable directory. Members agree to a code of ethics and must carry liability insurance. Searching by zip code is the fastest way to find vetted professionals nearby.
Once sorting is done, everything that isn't making the move needs to go somewhere. The right option depends on what you're working with.
| What You Have | Best Option | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| A full household with furniture, dishes, and collectibles | Estate sale company | They price, stage, advertise, and run a multi-day sale. |
| A few genuinely valuable pieces (art, antiques, jewelry) | Auction house or appraiser | Get an independent appraisal first. Auction houses take a buyer's premium and a seller's commission. |
| Furniture in good condition but not antique-level | Consignment shop | They display and sell on your behalf. |
| Smaller items with resale value (electronics, books, kitchenware) | Online resale (Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Nextdoor) | Family handles listing and pickup, or the senior move manager may coordinate. |
| Mixed items where speed matters more than return | Donation pickup (Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army, local charities) | Free pickup for qualifying items. You get a tax-deductible receipt. |
| What nothing else will take | Junk removal service | Flat-rate or volume-based pricing. Companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK or local operators handle hauling and disposal. |
Many families use three or four of these options for a single household. A senior move manager can coordinate all of them.
Beyond movers and estate sales, a few specialized services tend to catch families off guard:
Photo and slide digitizing. Boxes of slides, printed photos, and old videos can be scanned and converted to digital files. This preserves memories without requiring physical storage. Several national services offer mail-in options, and some local shops near Evanston, Skokie, and Wilmette handle this in person.
Document shredding. Decades of tax returns, bank statements, and medical records need secure destruction. Mobile shredding services will come to the house with a truck.
Jewelry and collectibles appraisal. Before selling or donating anything that might have significant value, get a written appraisal from a credentialed professional. The American Society of Appraisers can help you find one.
Junk removal. This covers everything the estate sale company passed on, the consignment shop declined, and the donation service wouldn't pick up. Budget for it. Almost every downsizing project needs it.
If the downsizing conversation is happening because maintaining the house has become unsustainable, it helps to understand the full picture of what staying there actually costs. That context can help the whole family stay motivated through the harder days of sorting and packing.
Most professionals in this space are honest and experienced. But the downsizing process involves giving strangers access to a space full of valuables, so basic vetting is essential.
For any vendor:
Ask for references from recent clients and actually call them.
Confirm proof of liability insurance before any work begins.
Get the full scope of services and pricing in writing.
For estate sale companies specifically:
Ask for the commission structure in writing, including any minimum fees or setup charges.
Ask how unsold items will be handled. Some companies charge for post-sale cleanup.
Be cautious of anyone who offers to buy the contents outright before an independent appraisal. This is a red flag. A legitimate estate sale company makes money on commission, not on undervaluing your parent's belongings.
Seniors and their families should also be aware of broader scam tactics that target older adults during vulnerable transitions. A quick conversation about what to watch for can prevent costly mistakes.
If you're not sure where to begin, skip the open Google search. These starting points are faster and more reliable:
The NASMM directory. Search by zip code to find credentialed senior move managers near Highland Park, Winnetka, Bannockburn, Riverwoods, or wherever your parent lives.
Your county Area Agency on Aging. In Lake County and Cook County, local aging offices often maintain vetted vendor lists that include move managers, estate sale companies, and junk removal services.
Local senior centers. Senior centers in Highland Park, Deerfield, and surrounding communities frequently keep referral lists and can share which providers other families have used.
Hospital discharge planners and social workers. If the move is prompted by a health event, the discharge team may already have a short list of trusted local providers.
These sources do the initial vetting for you, which saves time when you're already stretched thin.
Downsizing a parent's space is one of the most emotionally and logistically demanding tasks a family can take on. You don't have to figure it all out alone, and you don't have to do it all yourself. Start with one phone call to a senior move manager, and let them help you build the rest of the team.
Once you've assembled your professionals, this free checklist walks you through every step of the actual move to a senior living community.