Turn moving from nightmare into vacation

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Published Date 6/18/2025

There is now help for just about everything. But what about the ugliest, most unsettling parts of moving? Apart from hiring a moving company to box up all your stuff and move it (if you can afford that extra service), why not find someone to help figure out what to move, how to move it, and what might go into storage without lifting a finger or losing precious sleep during an already stressful time?

Enter the moving concierge. Realtor.com’s Dana McMahan says the day before the moving truck was scheduled to arrive to load up her entire house, she hadn’t packed a single box. But worry was not part of her repertoire. Because she had a secret hero.

“Ten months earlier, my husband and I had learned that a moving concierge is a kind of superpower that allows you to check out of your own move—literally,” she says. We checked into a local hotel while moving expert Kim Jones and her team of lifesavers dealt with every last detail.

She wants you to know about this game-changing service, first by explaining exactly what a moving concierge is. Also referred to as “move managers,” moving concierges handle every aspect of your move from pre-planning to final placement of items in your new space. “When we downsized from a big, old Victorian to a tiny shotgun house, our moving concierge assessed both spaces, created organizational systems for the dramatically reduced storage, and developed a plan for what would go where,” says McMahon. “She also helped us determine what could go straight into long-term storage.”

Here’s the thing: You keep your normal life right up until walking out the door of your old house. “For my first move, this meant hosting one final dinner party,” she says. “For the second, it meant juggling a hectic work and travel schedule without worrying about the looming move.”

Once these professional busy bees have done their magic, moving day is also remarkably smooth. A team will likely arrive with an arsenal of supplies: color-coded labels, packing materials to keep everything safe; label makers; and Sharpies galore. “No last-minute throwing random things in boxes that you will never find. No broken anything on the other end,” says McMahon.

She describes how you’ll be settled in your new space almost immediately. “For my downsize move, they designed kitchen and closet systems that maximized every inch of available space. For the more recent move, they applied the same methodical approach to create zones that matched our daily routines. A year later, everything in the kitchen is exactly where they put it, and that is a true testament.”

Of course, it’s not inexpensive. “Expect to pay a rate of around $85 per hour—and you also have to book a moving truck separately. Our first move from the big house clocked in at several thousand dollars. Consider it an investment in your sanity.” But, she says, time constraints, physical limitations, complex downsizing, or high-stress periods all make this service worthwhile.

She advises to book early, as professional move managers often have limited availability, especially during peak moving season. Be specific about your needs and offer a detailed description of your goals, hopes, and limitations. A good moving concierge will help you prioritize their services.

“Moving used to rank among life's most stressful events for me,” says MaMahon. “Now, it's actually exciting because I get to focus on what I love about the new home. After two moves with professional management, the thought of handling everything myself seems like torture. If this turns out not to be our forever home, I’m not even stressed about the move.”

Realtor, TBWS

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American Home Lending USA, LLC - NMLS ID: 71983. To verify licensing, visit NMLS Consumer Access (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Equal Housing Lender.

Jeff Beck

President

NMLS: 19488

American Home Lending USA, LLC

240 S Buchanan St, Edwardsville IL 62025

Company NMLS: 71983

Office: 618-310-0091

Cell: 618-806-2281

Email: jbeck@ahlusa1.com

Web: https://www.americanhomelendingusa.com/