Many new residents enjoy the opportunity to design their new apartment homes based on their personal style. (Photo credit: Peter Howard)

People who move to Linden Ponds, an Erickson Living managed senior living community in Hingham, Massachusetts often say it’s the easiest move they’ve ever made, and there’s a good reason for that—new residents don’t have to go it alone. They can work with the community’s personal moving consultant, Lynne Smithson-Ford, who provides personalized assistance every step of the way.

Smithson-Ford helps incoming residents select a real estate agent, home inspector, moving company and senior move manager. She also plays a big role in assisting with the downsizing process, which can often be one of the most challenging parts of moving. And perhaps most important, Smithson-Ford often ends up being a source of friendly support for residents as they plan and complete their moves to Linden Ponds.

Here, Smithson-Ford explains the services she offers and how she can be such a valuable resource for residents.

Q: For people who have never heard the term, what is a personal moving consultant?

Smithson-Ford: For our customers, my role as their personal moving consultant is a partnership. I like to try to help them become less anxious about thinking and preparing for a move by explaining how I help them with planning, and become someone to help guide and support them with the steps of navigating their move from beginning to end.

Q: What kind of help do you offer to prospective residents?

Smithson-Ford: We offer many services to our customers starting with either an in-person visit to their home or a FaceTime call with them. Either “visit” is a nice personal way to get to know our customers within their current homes. It gives me an opportunity to hear their family stories, see their family pictures and see some of the treasures and memories that they may wish to bring to their new homes at Linden Ponds. It helps to get to know our customers more intimately within their homes. We chat about what will come and how other items will move along to other places via some of our preferred downsizing vendors. We can help with our customer’s downsizing needs, we introduce them to a preferred real estate agent when they are ready to list their homes and help to create a customized floorplan arrangement for their new apartment home.

Q: How can working with a personal moving consultant make the moving process less stressful? 

Smithson-Ford: I find that many of our customers have either not moved in many years or have not moved at all. The thought of how to even begin planning and making a move from their long-time family home can be overwhelming and create stress for some. We find that spending time with our customers listening and validating their feelings and worries about leaving their homes, along with helping them to create a step-by-step plan helps to alleviate some stress and is very helpful for them. A plan allows for a thoughtful and timely process to let go of items and to prepare their new space with pieces from their home and new items. I also find that staying connected with regular check-ins with our customers helps to keep them moving forward and feeling supported.

Q: At what point in the decision-making or moving process should people connect with you?

Smithson-Ford: We encourage our customers who are even just in the thinking stage to connect with me. Planning and getting ready is so helpful so that when the time comes for them to make a move they are not rushing quickly to prepare, sell their homes, and move.

Q: How has your process changed in the last year? What precautions are in place?

Smithson-Ford: Our utmost focus and thoughts when meeting with our customers is their health, wellbeing and safety, especially at this time. If customers are comfortable in having me visit with them at their homes, I follow the CDC and Erickson Living recommendations and guidelines related to COVID. During my confirmation calls, I ask our customers the COVID screening questions and answer them myself during the call. I carry hand sanitizer and gloves at all times as well as wear a mask. I ask our customers to wear masks and maintain six feet of distance from one another. I also “visit” with our customers remotely via FaceTime calls and telephone calls. During phone calls, if our customers’ homes are actively listed and on the market, I am able to virtually walk through their homes by looking at their listing pictures, Matterport 3-D videos and virtual tours during our phone call. It has been very helpful to “tour” along with our residents through their homes virtually.

Q: What is your professional background and special areas of expertise?

Smithson-Ford: Prior to joining the sales office at Linden Ponds 17 years ago, I was a human resources professional. In addition, I am a Massachusetts licensed real estate broker and have a personal background in interior decorating. The combination of my professional background and personal creative interests has made for a nice match for my position as a personal moving consultant.

Q: Any helpful tips for people based on what you’ve learned?

Smithson-Ford: Many residents that I have worked with have shared that having someone to help guide them through the many pieces of moving has taken a lot of the stress away. They feel that having me to their homes to see their furniture and collections and creating their floor plan has helped them with a smooth move and transition into their new apartment home at Linden Ponds.

Enjoy an active and affordable lifestyle at Linden Ponds. For more information, call 1-800-436-9891.

About Linden Ponds: Linden Ponds, one of 20 continuing care communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 108-acre campus in Hingham, Massachusetts. The not-for-profit community of more than 1300 residents and 800 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Linden Ponds can be found at LindenPonds.com.

Written by Meghan Streit