Senior moves and downsizing in Carson City

Carson City is the state capital and a city of roughly 58,000 people, and the Census Bureau puts its median age at about 42.4. That is a mixed community of working families and retirees, which is why older residents moving here come from every kind of home, from a starter house to a long-held place with a full garage.

What the owner share means for a move

About 62 percent of Carson City homes are owner-occupied and the median home was built in 1981. A 1981 house usually has a two-car garage, an attic, a shed and closets filled over decades. A senior move from a home like that is mostly a sorting job before it is a moving job.

Renters make up the other 38 percent or so, and for them the question is often a lease date and an elevator. Tell the estimator which situation you are in so the plan starts from the right place.

The drive from the Sparks warehouse

Carson City sits about 33 miles from our Glendale Avenue yard, a drive of roughly 39 minutes on I-580. Crews, vaults and the truck reach the city the same morning, which keeps a planned day short for someone who is tired of a long move. A move that stays inside Nevada runs under the Nevada Transportation Authority approval, CPCN 1070.

Choosing what goes where

Seniors leaving a Carson City house often split belongings three ways: what goes to the new smaller place, what a son or daughter takes, and what waits in storage. Furniture for the new place moves on the truck with the rest. Pieces that are not decided yet can wait in a wooden vault, 7 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft, with vault storage from $40 per month. Read the downsizing guide for seniors for a room-by-room way to decide.

Packing help that fits the pace

Some Carson City customers want every cabinet emptied and wrapped for them, others want the crew to pack only the kitchen and the china. Full packing, partial packing and box packing only are all available, and you can read how each one works in packing services. The estimator writes the plan down so a family member in another city can read it.

Family members who live elsewhere

Many older movers have adult children in Reno, the Bay Area or out of state. The office at 775-359-6683 answers questions on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm, and the written estimate can be shared by email with whoever is helping. Start with the free in-home estimate, which comes with 10 free heavy-duty boxes to keep.