By Mary Holmes As we approach the end of 2017, we want to reflect on the year and what it meant to Integrated Move Management. First and foremost, we have met so many great people this year – clients, vendors, and referral sources. I don’t think I realized this until I got my holiday greeting card list together and it was quite long!! We have worked with a diverse range of clients – from a single mother needing help with her move, to many seniors needing help with downsizin

By Mary Holmes So you have made the decision to move – now what? There is so much to accomplish before move day, but as long as you follow some guidelines and have a solid plan – your move day will come and go with minimal stress. Here are some tips to help you make sure your move day doesn’t end up taking a wrong turn. Professionals or Not – As you think (realistically) about preparing for and accomplishing your move, the first decision you need to make is whether or not t

By Mary Holmes When I started Integrated Move Management, I knew I would enjoy helping clients during a stressful time in their lives. Moving is ranked among the highest situational stressors. This type of transition typically is even more stressful and emotional for seniors moving from their long time family home. There have been many great and rewarding moments working with our clients. Here are just a few of my top memories: Finding a Needle in a Haystack – It is quite

By Mary Holmes How do you know if it is the right time to start the process of downsizing? This is a complicated question with no simple answer. First of all, it depends on why you are downsizing. For example, some people decide they want to simplify with a goal of having less “stuff” at a young age. They think they will feel lighter, happier, and a sense of freedom. Some people never downsize. When this happens, typically the adult children of the senior(s) are left to

By Mary Holmes It has been about nine months since I started Integrated Move Management. I have spent a lot of that time not only getting the word out about my business, but also educating people about the industry of professional move management. It is a relatively new field, which started in the early 2000’s and is just beginning to make inroads in Maine over the last several years. I thought a good way to explain what it means to be a professional move manager was to des

By Mary Holmes Moving is stressful! The majority of lists ranking life’s biggest stressors, place moving in the top five – right up there with the death of a loved one and going through a divorce. Additionally, quite often, the next home a senior moves to will be much smaller than their long-time family home, e.g. they may move from 4,000 s.f. to 1,000 s.f. or less. This equates to potentially having to “downsize” 75% of their possessions. This is not an easy task for any

By Mary Holmes In our last post, Senior Transitions – An Emotional Time (Part One), we explained the reasons why a downsizing and move can be an emotion-filled time for a senior. A senior will commonly feel some level of fear, confusion, sadness, anxiety, loss, and relief throughout the process. There is now a name for these feelings: Relocation Stress Syndrome. Following are several ways to reduce the negative emotions associated with a senior transition: ​Start the Proc