Dallas is a sprawling metropolis with the city itself being the ninth largest in the United States and the third largest in Texas—with suburbs surrounding it offering a wide variety of neighborhood ambiances. If you already know you’ll need local movers in Dallas, please book your date.
If you’re still deciding what to do, here are eight issues to consider, including the benefits of senior moving services.
#1 Explore Communities and Neighborhoods
When you’re considering a local move to Dallas, by definition, you live closely enough to explore Dallas communities to choose what suits your wants and needs. If you want to live close to restaurants, shopping venues, and more, then you might want to live in Central Dallas.
As an added bonus: if you’re tired of driving through heavy traffic, you’ll also be closely located to Dallas’s public transportation system with D-link buses taking people around Central Dallas at no cost.
If you’d rather have most of what you need in a more intimate setting, the Dallas-Fort Worth region is filled with in-demand retirement communities. By choosing one that fits your lifestyle and budget, you can benefit in two ways: close proximity to the amenities that a big city provides in a community that can offer a small-town feel.
#2 Consider Friends and Family
If you’ve got loved ones living in a specific part of Dallas, you may enjoy being conveniently close to them. Fortunately, in Dallas, it’s also easy for friends and family who live further away to visit—and vice versa. Large numbers of flights come in and go out from Dallas/Ft. Worth International and Dallas Love Field, with AMTRAK also providing daily service.
#3 Compare Healthcare Quality
Fortunately, Dallas is home to great healthcare infrastructure. In an in-depth overview of the nation’s hospitals, Dallas ranked 13th overall.
That can give you peace of mind whether you currently have health issues or not. Dallas ranks fifth in this study for surgeons per person; and seventh and eleventh on hospital quality issues. In short, if you’ll need healthcare services (and, who doesn’t?), then Dallas is the right place to live.
#4 Envision Your Activities
If you enjoy an active lifestyle, then the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department will have plenty of recreational activities for you. They have a specific focus on providing exercise and leisure opportunities for adults over the age of 60.
Plus, you can simply enjoy the parks, pools, golf courses, and more that are located in the city and surrounding areas. From the Dallas Arboretum to White Rock Lake, Six Flags Over Texas and more, there’s plenty to see and do—and if you enjoy watching professional and college sports, there will be no shortage of teams to cheer.
#5 Look at the Financial Picture
For a big city, Dallas has a low cost of living, relatively speaking—and, since you’re in Texas, there’s no state income tax to pay. Plus, because “senior” can be defined in many ways with some dictionaries describing it as someone who is at least 60 years old, you may still be active in the workforce—and there sure isn’t a shortage of jobs in Dallas.
In fact, a study from a couple of years ago notes that, nationwide, Dallas has the 8th largest percentage of older adults still in the workforce, coming in at 22.5%. Even if you’re retired, others in your household may want to find employment close to your new location, and Dallas provides plenty of opportunities.
#6 Consider the Pros and Cons of Retirement Communities
Many advantages exist when moving into a retirement community, which are often defined as options for people aged 55 and up:
- Added security: These communities are usually located in places with lower crime rates and may be gated with security guards.
- Lower cost of living: Because retirement communities can be all-in-one “villages,” people living in them often share the costs of amenities and property taxes may be less.
- Amenities: If you’re considering one of Dallas’s many retirement communities, see what amenities yours offers. Does it match your lifestyle?
- Less maintenance: Depending on the specifics of the community, you may be able to put the lawnmower away for good.
On the other hand:
- Homeowners associations (HOAs): Retirement communities often have HOAs, which means you’d pay dues to this organization in exchange for amenities. If a community interests you, find out how much the dues cost and what you receive in return. Also see what restrictions they may impose: how you can decorate your dwelling’s exterior, incorporate landscaping, use the amenities, and so forth.
- Limited age diversity: By their very definition, retirement communities are for older adults, and they likely limit who can live there. So, if you’re raising a grandchild or appreciate being surrounded by people of all ages, retirement villages may not be for you.
- Homes may be smaller than what you’re used to, which leads us to the next topic: downsizing.
#7 Downsizing
Whether you’re moving from a bigger home to a smaller one, or from a home to an apartment, it may be time to reduce the number of your belongings. According to SeniorLiving.com, slightly more than half of seniors plan to move into a smaller place. Even if you don’t downsize, it doesn’t make sense to move belongings you no longer want or need.
A big part of the downsizing process involves decluttering. You could, for example, go room by room and decide what you’ll keep; what’s ready to be thrown away; and what can be sold, gifted, or donated. You may have duplicate items. Those can be the easiest to give away.
However you declutter, create a process to streamline it and, if you’re finding it hard to do, emotionally, here’s what Senior Living suggests:
- Remember that you don’t need to give away treasured belongings. This is about pruning away what you don’t want or need.
- Consider how decluttering can improve your life. There’s less to move, for example, and you may find joy in gifting and donating belongings that can benefit someone else.
- Get help! If you find this process too big, reach out for assistance.
#8 Choose the Right Movers for Seniors
When you’re looking for local movers in Dallas with significant experience in senior moving, know that MoveDay specializes in providing senior moving services. We also background check all crew members before hiring, and provide industry-leading training.
First, we understand how your lifetime of personal belongings must be handled with special care, so we train our senior movers in how to treat and protect them. Whether it’s a piano, a precious heirloom—or an item that may not have significant monetary value but means the world to you—our movers for seniors will handle it with the attention it deserves.
Our senior moving company also offers short- and long-term storage services for your household goods along with packing and unpacking services, if desired. Plus, our Dallas movers have all the equipment they need and are trained to provide quality relocation services. To get started, please contact our senior moving company today. For more information on moving to Dallas, check out our essential moving guide.
