TLC Ladies

Step 1 - Free In-Home Consultation The initial visit may take between 30 minutes to an hour. We begin with getting to know you, by discussing your concerns and needs regarding your upcoming relcoation. We will do a walk-through of your home, which allows us to evaluate what items you are taking with you and what steps will need to be taken to make sure you are ready for your relocation.
Step 2 - Developing a Game Plan     From the initial consultation, TLC Ladies will develop a customized game plan for your relocation. The game plan will contain a time-line of your relocation including downsizing/organizing appointments, meetings with referral companies (including moving companies), outlets to sell, donate, and dispose of your items, packing day, moving day, and unpacking day.

Step 3 - Pre-Moving Day Appointments According to your TLC Ladies Game Plan, we may meet with you several times before your actual moving day. TLC Ladies wants to make sure everything is prepared for your moving day to make sure your relocation goes as smoothly as possible.

Step 4 - Meeting with the Moving Company     The moving company will schedule a time to meet with you to provide you with an estimate. THis meeting will make you familiar with the company that will be handling your belongings. It also allows the moving company to make sure they are prepared for your move, with the right amount of man power, and size of truck.

Step 5 - Packing Day TLC Ladies will arrive at the scheduled time in the morning. We will bring all of our packing supplies, and make sure all of your belongings are secured for the mvoers. Before we start packing, we will do a walk-through of your current residence for any updates. We also will make sure you have all items to stay at your current residence that evening.

Step 6 - Moving Day TLC Ladies will arrive at the same time as the contracted moving company. We will pack any last minute items (including breakfast dishes, bed linens, and toiletries) and direct the movers. When the truck is loaded, we will follow the moving truck to your new residence. The movers will unload and place furniture according to the floor plan we discussed.

Step 7 - Unpack&Settle In TLC Ladies' extreme attention to detail will provide you with peace of mind, knowing that your home will reflect the personal touch necessary to feel at home form the very first day! In particular, the unpacking and placement of all personal items including plugging in lamps, alarm clocks, and telephones, as well as, making the beds, and removal of packing materials.

If you have any questions please contact info@tlcladies.com or view our website www.tlcladies.com.


    

Is moving in your future? Before you think of how many boxes, how will your belongings be transported....preparation is key! Moving provides an excellent opportunity to re-organize your belongings. Do you really need to pack toiletries that have been untouched in years, that shirt that you wore once 5 years ago, the broken juicer in the kitchen? Spending time going through your home room by room will save you time and money throughout the relocation process. It will also ease the unpacking process and allow room for your treasured belongings.
Start with rooms that are less personal, such as the bathroom or kitchen. Typically the items in these rooms have a less sentimental attachment. 
A black trash bag, cardboard box, and permanent marker will be your best friend throughout this process. Objects that are broken, or have seen better days should be disposed properly. Check with your local townships regarding disposal of batteries and other hazardous items. Items that you no longer have a need for, but are in good shape, can be donated to a local charity. Others can be sold through online sources, or through your local consignment shop or auctioneer. 

Happy Downsizing!

www.tlcladies.com 
Central Pennsylvania's Senior Move Manager

Go through one cupboard at a time.

Most people think of their kitchen as the one room in the house where family and friends seem to always gather. But it also seems to be the place where most people's 'clutter' seems to gather, as well! Unopened junk mail, newspapers, broken appliances, outdated foods, and vitamins and the infamous "junk drawer" - most everyone has these items in their kitchen right now. When preparing for a move, the kitchen can most often be the most daunting of rooms to tackle. It also is one of the last rooms to be packed, as you use your kitchen daily. This is most often the most overwhelming room to any senior, but downsizing can be rather simple with a little know-how.
Clear your kitchen table of everything, as this will make the perfect workspace. Going through your kitchen one item at a time is the easiest. For example, gather up all your mail and put it in a pile on the table. Place newspapers and magazines in another pile. Then simply sort through those piles throwing all unnecessary items away, putting your bills and other important mail in your desk or office space and packing up any periodicals you will want to keep.

TLC Ladies will be posting several posts regarding downsizing the kitchen!

    

First I would like to say Happy National Senior Move Manager week to all of my fellow Senior Move Managers! I am so happy to be part of such a great group who works so hard to assist the mature population through their relocations!!

The theme of this years annual celebration is "More Than Just a Move." During this recognition week, NASMM members, such as TLC Ladies, are promoting the value of senior move management and senior move managers' commitment to assisting older adults and their families, not only through the actual moving experience, but with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through an downsizing a lifetime of memories in the relocation process.

The organizational and physical tasks associated with planning and implementing a move can be overwhelming. It is so much more than just a move when assisting older adults transition to a new home. TLC Ladies can assist to reduce the stress and trauma that can accompany this type of move.

According to Mary Kay Buysse, Executive Director of NASMM, "Family and friends often want to help, but there may be barriers. Adult children may be sandwiched between their parents, their careers and their own family obligations. For family members living far away, the barriers may be geographic. Some seniors have no surviving children, or their children are seniors themselves. If illness or death precipitated the move, the family may already be drained both emotionally and physically. Senior Move Management has emerged to fill the gaps and to make transitions easier for everyone involved."

For more information on TLC Ladies services please visit www.tlcladies.com or call 717-228-8764.

Do you have bookshelves of books that are collecting dust? Would you like to make room for new books or other items, but you do not want to see them end up in the landfill??

There are several options to discard your books without throwing them away!

If you would like to sell your unwanted books and are not in a hurry...list them at www.half.com. This website helps you correctly price your items, assists with the sale, and repays you for the shipping cost. It is very similar to Ebay, and that's because it is ran by Ebay! You use the same login and password. The difference is that it is not an auction, the items are sold for a set price.

Another great option for unwanted books is donation! Research your local libraries, daycares, schools, senior centers, and national organizations for more information. Contact TLC Ladies for local donation areas in Berks, Lancaster, or Lebanon counties.

The items listed below are typically best for recycling, because of out-dated information or over publication of that item (Please always check with the charities before dropping materials off)

• Books with the Topics of Medicine, Census Statistics, Science or Health.
• Readers Digest Condensed Books
• Out of date text books
• Manuals for Appliances
• Travel Guides

If you have any questions regarding book disposal - please contact TLC Ladies at info@tlcladies.com.

Yea!!! After the rough winter we had on the East Coast, we are experiencing our first taste of spring! The sun is shinning bright and we are to reach 70 degrees today!

With the thought of spring in mind...it reminds me to start spring-cleaning!

TLC Ladies often works with individuals that have lived in their homes for 40+ years. Just imagine all of the items that are collected and stored. Now imagine that you are moving...to a smaller residence (typically an apartment)...what to do with everything?

Taking a little time each year (or each fall/spring), spend time going through problematic areas. For example kitchens, closets, garages, basements, and attics. Clear out any items that are expired, broken, or you no longer have a use for. Donate or sell quality items.

Follow TLC Ladies' blogs in the future, we will be posting tips on how to clean and organize these areas, as well as, places to donate unwanted items!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

If you have a downsizing project that seems overwhelming, contact TLC Ladies at 717-228-8764 or

Senior move management continues to emerge as an essential service for older adults and their families as they downsize and transition to new environments. To further expand and enhance the services they offer, attendees of the National Association of Senior Move Manager's (NASMM) 2010 Annual Conference discovered innovative solutions to meet the needs of their clients, while growing their business in an ongoing challenging business environment. 270 senior move managers from the United States, Canada and Australia attended the annual event held February 11-14 in Las Vegas.

Kristen Martin of TLC Ladies, participated in this year's conference. "The conference gave me a unique opportunity to learn from so many talented presenters and the chance to network with so many talented and committed senior move managers," said Kristen Martin, Manager. "It is inspiring to connect with so many professionals from this growing industry who share my passion for helping older adults through later life transitions as they downsize and move to new residences."

NASMM's 2010 Annual Conference featured over 25 educational sessions during three days. Attendees had the opportunity to attend educational sessions on topics ranging from best practices in client services and older adult service issues to marketing, senior move management operational issues, ethics, and technology all facilitated by industry experts and nationally acclaimed speakers.

"The chance to learn in this environment and have dedicated face-to-face time with senior move managers in all stages of business development makes this conference the ultimate brainstorming and professional event for senior move managers," said NASMM's Executive Director, Mary Kay Buysse. "Effective senior move managers are always able to learn from someone else's experiences and apply that knowledge toward practical solutions in their own business."

TLC Ladies assists individuals and families through their relocations in Lancaster, Berks, and Lebanon Counties and surrounding areas. Since 1993, TLC Ladies services include: organizing the move, downsizing assistance, professional packing, moving day coordination, and unpacking and settling in. By using TLC Ladies services, individuals can smoothly transition to their new home with satisfaction and ease. For more information on TLC Ladies, please visit www.tlcladies.com or email info@tlcladies.com

TLC Ladies offers senior move management services to individuals, families and retirement communities. Listed below are some specific situations when to use our services. Please contact TLC Ladies if your situation is different from one of the ones listed. We can tailor our services to meet your needs.

1. New Residents – TLC Ladies takes the responsibility and the workload off the individual and family members when relocating to a new living arrangement (this maybe a retirement community, apartment complex, or simply downsizing into a new home). We are not a moving company; however, we will undertake complete management of the relocation. This includes full coordination of the moving company, all packing and more importantly complete unpacking and placement of personal belongings (including making the bed). Upon completion of the move, you, your family member or new resident will be able to begin their new life that very same day!
2. In-House Moves – In-house moves are completed within retirement comminutes and typically consist of moving from a cottage to an apartment or from an apartment to assisted living or skilled nursing. TLC Ladies can assist with the downsizing of belongings and can coordinate the moving process, similar to that of a new resident. Often times these moves can be completed in one day.
3. Renovations – Many retirement communities offer their residents a renovation. This typically includes fresh paint and new flooring (i.e. carpet). TLC Ladies will take photographs of the current living space and pack all of the belongings including personal items, pictures, and closets for storage. After the completion of the renovation TLC Ladies will unpack all of their personal belongings and place them exactly as the resident had them in accordance to the photographs we have taken.
4. Clean Outs – This option is used when the individual transfers to assisted living or a skilled nursing situation. TLC Ladies works together with the family members and staff of the retirement community. All personal belongings are packed for family members, auction, and/or donation. TLC Ladies will then contact the appropriate moving company or shipping service to make sure that all items arrive at their proper destination.

We understand that every move is unique. Contact TLC Ladies at 717-228-8764 or

TLC Ladies has been assisting individuals through their moves since 1993. We would like to share some helpful packing tips for your upcoming move.

Packing Tips

1. Always pack liquids standing up. If possible pack them in a plastic container. This way if they do spill it will be contained inside and not spill on your other belongings.
2. Never put anything in the same box as a lampshade. Lampshades are very fragile and tend to rip easily. Often times it is hard to find a replacement and can be very costly.
3. Remove batteries from clocks and other items. Tape the batteries directly to the item, so it is not lost in transit.
4. Carry your jewelry and small valuables with you the day of the move, or put them in a safety deposit box a few days before the move.
5. Throw away all miscellaneous "extras" such as: bottle caps, string, plastic containers, shopping bags, and leftover boxes. This will save you time and money while packing.
6. Label your boxes according to the room where the items will go in your new home. This will assist the movers when they deliver your belongings to your new residence.
7. Use small boxes when packing books and magazines, so they do not become too heavy.
8. Make sure to keep a file handy with all-important paperwork for the move.
9. Do not pack items that are flammable, combustible, or explosive.
10. Keep all keys (for furniture/cars/houses/etc.) on you at all times throughout the move. If you do pack keys for furniture, make sure to label the box so they can be found easily.

TLC Ladies would love to hear feedback or moving tips that you discovered through your move! Contact TLC Ladies at info@tlcladies.com.

Please visit our website at www.tlcladies.com for more information concerning our services.