Moving has been a theme in Karen Bodoano’s life. As operations manager at Sentinel for 30 years, she saw how moving impacted families and individuals who suddenly had their lives uprooted. Whether it was a happy move for a new job or downsizing to live in senior accommodations, each move was unique and deeply personal.

What she didn’t like was the side of moving that could impact the most vulnerable, especially seniors. Bodoano makes it clear that there are many great movers in the city, but the sad reality is, there are also varying degrees of integrity in this unregulated industry.

“When I was in the storage business, I would see seniors choose a low estimate, only to have their belongings held hostage until the senior was willing to pay more. As a storage facility, we could only sit back and watch. There was nothing we could do to help them.

There had to be a better way, but there wasn’t – so Bodoano created one.

In 2017, she left Sentinel to start her own company.

“I should have done my research before I quit,” she says dryly, looking back on the early days of Move Coordinators. “However, I had a very good plan and with 30 years in the storage industry, I knew which movers I wished to partner with.”

One of those movers was Eager Beaver.

Knowing Eager Beaver Moving from her days at Sentinel, Move Coordinators collaborated with John Watson and his team early on, knowing that they provide honest, efficient and ethical service.

The original plan was to just be a coordinator. While her services are for all clients, Bodoano focuses on helping seniors. She started by joining the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers® (NASMM) and became Western Canada’s first Certified Senior Move Manager.

Move Coordinators services include:

• Book movers, elevators and other moving day arrangements
• Organize, pack and label using mover quality packing materials
• Provide feedback on best choices for furniture selection
• Decide with the client how to eliminate unneeded items for donation, sale or disposal
• Attend on move day – final pack up, coolers for food, plans for pets and plants
• Unpack at the new location, make the bed, hang curtains, etc., take away packing materials
• Supervising the moving team on the day of the transition
• Assist with the clear out of remaining items at the house (sell, donate, dispose, store, shred) if requested
  

“The longest I have had someone living in their home pre-move was 75 years, but the average is between 40 and 50,” says Bodoano, “and that led me to uncover a new – equally pressing – issue. What to do with the items left behind?”

This issue came to a head when Bodoano decided to help a client that would soon pass from cancer. He wanted to ensure his wife was set up in a care facility and needed help selling items that would not be part of the move. Bodoano listed items on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, only to find herself in unsafe situations and with “buyers” more interested in lowballing, being no-shows or just showing up to look around the home.

Once again, she thought, “There has to be a better way.” Once again, she created that way.

“In the storage industry, we used to hold auctions for items when people failed to pay their bills. I applied this model in an efficient way online for our clients.

“I post items, much like an internet-based garage sale. People place bids and we schedule a one-day pickup event. The location remains undisclosed until the pickup day. If buyers can’t make it, they forfeit their purchase. Once the bidding ends, participants receive a final email with the pickup address and time. They meet us, complete the payment and take their items. We also handle move-out cleaning and junk removal, wrapping up the entire process seamlessly.”

To date, Move Coordinators has completed more than 500 moves.

“I’m doing this because it is the right thing to do,” says Bodoano, “and we do not overlook the emotional side or when our clients are grieving. They are often selling the family home or have just been widowed.”

Bodoano strongly cautions, “With the absence of significant barriers to entry in my line of work, the increasing visibility of my services has led some to mistakenly perceive it as an easy endeavor. As a result, individuals are now targeting the senior demographic without possessing the necessary credentials. It is crucial to inquire about essential aspects such as insurance coverage, Worker’s Compensation Board compliance and ensuring the safety of staff on the job to avoid potential liabilities for homeowners. Additionally, holding accreditations like a City of Edmonton business license, affiliations with reputable associations and specialized training in hoarding situations can significantly elevate the quality and reliability of services provided.”

She continues, “In the moving industry, all you need is labour and a truck to open a business. I am passionate about educating people about choosing professional moving services to protect themselves and their belongings. The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) was established to address unscrupulous movers by promoting regulation, ethical standards and comprehensive guidelines for identifying reputable CAM members. Move Coordinators collaborates with CAM and we encourage anyone doing a move to seek out a mover that adheres to these high standards.”

Bodoano is very passionate about the work Move Coordinators does while also devoting time to advocacy for industry regulation, client safety and educating the public on how to choose experienced, ethical moving services. Her dedication to “finding a better way” has changed the lives of many clients. She and her team look forward to changing the lives of many more.

Contact Information:
Move Coordinators
2-2207 90B St SW
Edmonton, AB T6X 1V8
(780) 668-8811
info@movecoordinators.ca
www.movecoordinators.ca