Help Seniors Downsize With Dignity + Ease with Reavanti
Downsizing or transitioning to a new living situation can be especially overwhelming for seniors and their families.
In my recent episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Zach Gariti, founder of Reavanti, a company specializing in senior move management.
Here are 3 key takeaways:
A Personalized, Stress-free Approach: Reavanti manages every aspect of a senior’s transition—from sorting and packing, to donating and selling unwanted items, all the way to recreating familiar home environments in new spaces. Clients remain at the center of the process, but without the heavy lifting (literally and figuratively!).
Flexible, Compassionate Support: The timeline is tailored to each client’s needs. Whether it takes days or more than a year, they can adjust to clients’ schedules, family situations, and emotional readiness.
Specialized Care for Memory Challenges: For clients moving into memory care, Reavanti emphasizes recreating familiar surroundings (even arranging photos and setting up favorite TV shows!) to ease transitions and maintain comfort, dignity, and a sense of control.
If you’re helping a loved one—or know someone who is—navigate a major move, check out Reavanti or connect with a senior move manager in your area.
Links:
Contact Zach with Reavanti - https://reavanti.com/
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Welcome to the Unconventional Investor Podcast. I'm your host, Michelle Moses, certified financial planner, licensed realtor, and founder of MeFinancial. If you're an accredited investor feeling overwhelmed by managing your portfolio and looking for alternative investment strategies that go beyond the traditional stock market, you're in the right place.
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Meet Zach: Senior Move Manager Hello everyone and thank you so much for tuning in. Today we are going to be talking with a company called Reavanti and they are senior move managers. And to talk about that I have Zach here who is the owner of ti.
Thank you so much for being on. Yeah, thank you so much for having me. Yeah, this is his first podcast and I thought. This company is so unique that I really think that everybody needs to know about it, especially if you have like elderly parents or grandparents or something where you're trying to help them.
TI is the ideal company for families who are exhausted from juggling the downsizing and moving [00:01:00] processes and want a smooth and easy transition for themselves or their loved ones. So thank you so much for being on Zach, and we're gonna get into this about what you guys do. Okay.
Understanding Senior Move Management
So is that a good synopsis of what you guys do?
You wanna explain a little bit more about what senior move managers are? Yeah, absolutely. Again, thank you so much for having me today. Really the whole goal of a senior move manager is just reducing as many of the stressors that someone might. Face as they're looking to transition.
Usually it's a very overwhelming process and our whole goal is just to be that support system throughout the entirety of the process. And I'm happy to go into some of the, the more fine details, but that's the overarching goal is just, if there's a stressor that they have, I want 'em to put it on me so that they don't have to worry about it anymore.
And essentially when someone that is senior is either moving into from their house. Into a 55 and over community or memory care or something like that. Yeah. The vast majority of our clients are usually in a pretty substantial downsize couple thousand square foot house into, like you said, independent living, which is usually under a [00:02:00] thousand square foot.
Okay. So they're like moving into an apartment. Yeah. That's kind of thing. Yeah. Okay. And they're overwhelmed with all the stuff that they have, right. And they're not sure what to take. They don't even know where to begin. Okay. Okay. And they don't know what to pack, what to give away, what to sell. Is that, those kind of the categories?
Yep, yep. Exactly. And so typically our whole goal is we do it usually in two phases and it's just to, try to make it into bite-sized chunks. So part one is making 'em comfortable into their new home. So we identify, all the most essential pieces of furniture dishes. Artwork, everything that is most important to them, to make sure they take it with them into their new space.
And then part two is, working through the items that they did not wanna take with them. So whether we need to donate items, we have some wonderful charities if we need to sell items for them, we have wonderful partners that we use of varying degrees. So really high end all the way to day of.
Day-to-day items. And really just the whole goal is to find a home for all of these things and try not to throw away if we can help it. Okay. All right. And does that take, I guess it depends on [00:03:00] how much stuff they have. But what kind of timeframes are we usually talking about with all of this?
So the really cool thing about our company two, is we can be totally flexible with our clients and usually that's really essential for them. Whether it's working around doctor's appointments or, they might. Family in town or whatever their schedule might be. So we've worked with clients for over a year.
They just wanted to see me once a week. But if they really wanted to get everything out of the house, we've done that in a couple days. So really just, we try to be as flexible as we can. Oh, so we could take as long as a year. They could, if they really just wanna take their time. Okay.
We've had, they wanted to talk with us, see how they're doing, get some ideas, help, have some conversations, and then, try it out for a month. Or they we have someone who was, they were living in Colorado, so they were gone for. Five months and they came back and, okay.
So yeah, just whatever their timeline is, we try to match it. Okay. And are you helping them decide what category their things go into or anything like that? Yeah, so typically we have, three main piles to start with. So part one is, keep, like they definitely wanna keep this. Part two is they're okay letting it go.
And we have a [00:04:00] maybe pile and the maybe pile is, if it could fit or if it would look nice. That'd be awesome to take. But if it doesn't, that's okay. And then once, once we know they don't wanna keep it, then we usually try to sell it first and then donate. And then if we need to dispose of anything at the end, we'll do that at the end.
Okay. And you have teams that do all of this stuff? Yep. Yep. So all, all within our umbrella. Wow, that's impressive. And so they don't have to worry about any of it, like you're doing the heavy lifting and all that, like taking it from their house. And the way that we're designed is the client is the one who's still the center.
Center of the process. They're the one who making all the decisions. They're still the one in control. They usually talk with one of our project managers, this is that if they have any questions or they need to schedule anything or anything on their mind they talk to them and they form, a really wonderful relationship.
And that project manager's the one who then coordinates everything on the backend. And this just really reduces a lot of the stress for the person transition. Because instead of having, to juggle several conversations. They have one person that they're really comfortable with, and that just helps the process substantially.
And you guys [00:05:00] are actually moving the items from their old house to their new house or condo or wherever they're living. Yeah. Okay. So they don't have to touch a thing. They have to touch a thing, but they, yeah, so they do, they put it in the different piles or they like marking it with so typically pieces of paper or something.
Sometimes we've had. Clients who really wanna be engaged. But sometimes, or, and probably more common than not, we usually have set up a chair relatively close to our staff who's working with them and they just, how often do you use these plates versus these plates? Which pictures are most important to you?
And so they, they are the ones who are making the decision, but they're typically. Just leading the process without doing any of the physical part. Okay. And then who normally contacts you? Is it the person that's moving, that contacts you? Is it the real estate agent that's selling the house?
Or is it like a, the par the kids that are helping the parents? So I would say it's about 50 50. So about half the time the client will reach out to us, the other half. The family member and then, yeah. So sometimes will have the realtor make, if they don't have children or something along that line or, some other individual For the most part [00:06:00] I'd say it's about 50 50 family and then the adult children. Okay. 'cause the adult children are the ones that are feeling like they have to help them. And so if they're out of town, then it's really hard for them to come back and forth and manage all of it, right?
Yep. Yeah. And you guys, I had I've had Zach on because I've heard so many great testimonials in the meetings that I go to from the people that have used TI and just how easy it's been and and some of the kids that have been tasked with the downsizing and what a relief it has been and how much you guys take care of everything, especially like placing it in the new.
Home. And so let's go over that. 'cause I think that's really cool, like how you guys lay it out and everything. Yeah. Thank you for that. And yeah, so one of the important steps too is recreating the new space to feel as close as we can to the original space. So our staff, we take tons and tons of pictures whether it's, the arrangement of.
The dishes, do things need to be positioned like to the right of the fridge, so that way when they move into the new spaces where they expect, or their bed, that'll be made up for them when they walk in, the pictures will be hung. And the whole goal [00:07:00] of that is that when they walk into their new space, there's that, there's not that.
Oh, now I gotta unpack. Now I gotta get settled in. And that's one of the huge differences too between us and typical moving companies is while sometimes moving companies, they might unpack things. They don't place it in a strategic way to make it functional and safe and comfortable for the client.
So we just step in and just try to make sure that space feels as similar as we can. Can to original. Okay. And that's what kind of sold me too, is that the bed was made. 'cause that's the biggest thing when you move, it's if your bed isn't made and you have nowhere to sleep it's a very bad feeling.
Yeah. So we actually just took on a pretty substantial move pretty recently. And the really sweet lady. She knew it was gonna be a couple day for unpack, and she's the biggest thing for me is I need my bedroom and closet to be done, and I want my kitchen to be functional.
So day one is we just made sure that closet, all the clothes were hung up, the bed was made like all the toiletries were put away, the kitchen, like everything was right where she needed to be. So that way, even though there was. Still a little bit more in the process.
She started to Ray feeling comfortable in her new environment. Okay. So that's really [00:08:00] important. And so she was there and then you guys came back like the second day and you unpacked more? Yep. Yeah. Okay. Okay. 'cause it's not like this all happens or are there times where you put the whole. Their whole new living situation together, and then they move into it.
So the vast majority of our clients, we move and unpack everything on the same day. Okay. So we usually do a lot of pre packing before we do, we call 'em non-essential items. So this is, items that they don't need day to day leading up to the move. Like artwork is always a great example.
And then on move day will. Pack those final items, whether it's the final clothes, the last toilet trees, we'll do the move and the whole unpack on the same day. So we'll unpack all the toilet trees, we'll make the bed, put away all the dishes, so that way at the end of move day, everything should be ready for them.
Okay. And then all the giveaway and the selling has already taken place. So that is we'll usually talk about the timeline for. Clients there. Typically we do that part after Oh, the move. Okay. Just so that way they can focus on one thing at a time. And, sometimes it just feels too overwhelming to think about everything.
They're not taking that, they don't even [00:09:00] think about what they are taking. So we recreate that new space first, and then usually the next day or the next week, if they are ready for us, we'll go in and then start packing up all the items that they don't want and getting those items out of the house.
Okay. All right. That sounds really cool. It sounds like very stress free. Move. Absolutely. Yeah. You know how it is to move. It's like really overwhelming. This just sounds very magical. And so can we pivot a little bit because I think this is really unique. Can we talk about like your memory care clients the people that are moving into memory care and what you do for them? Yeah, absolutely. So memory care is a very. Special group that we need to take extra precaution, just recreating the spaces to feel as they originally did. So I know I mentioned earlier about pictures. We take even more pictures.
So for example, today actually we just did a memory care move. And she had her pictures arranged on this bookshelf in a very particular way. The dishes were in a certain space. The, the bathroom, everything is just in a particular spot. She had a certain picture that was mounted on her wall.
That reminded her that this is her bedroom, not the other bedroom. 'cause [00:10:00] she had a two bedroom. And really just the whole goal is just taking the pictures and making it as identical as possible. So that way the transition feels like it almost didn't even happen for them. And they walk into their new space and almost felt they didn't lose a step.
We've even had individuals where he loved. Star Trek, that was his thing. And as long as that was on, he was okay, but if it wasn't on, he was not okay. So that was like priority. One of the organizing process is making sure that on move day we got the TV mounted and stationed a Star Trek. So that way at the end of the day when he walked in, he found his chair and it felt nothing happened.
That was wonderful. And it's just so loving, and I think that's what seniors need. I think that there's so many people are like, oh, whatever, they're fine. They need to roll with it. That kind of stuff. And I just think that your service is just so loving towards them. And I think that's wonderful.
'cause I, I work with a lot of seniors and I just think they deserve respect. They have a lot. Of knowledge and, history and all of that. And so that they deserve this kind of treatment. I think this is wonderful. Yeah. Lots of fun stories and usually that's their favorite part is reminiscing as we're going [00:11:00] through the items and yeah.
And sometimes they feel like they're, losing a little bit of control. I think it's just really important to us, again, to make sure that we give it back to them and know that they're the one in charge, they're the one who are making all the decisions and we're just there. Helpers.
Yeah. Yeah. You said that earlier about making sure that they feel in charge and I think that's really important. 'Cause that's what starts to happen is they feel like they're not in charge. Especially with computers and Right. Needing help with all that kind of stuff. So I think it's wonderful that you guys think that way.
And I'm happy to set up the computer for 'em though. No worries. Yeah, I'm sure you're very helpful. It takes a certain personality to do all of this to be just I dunno. Patient maybe, and yeah. And you seem that way. So I think that is wonderful. We're lot wonderful staff and they're all very similar and they just, they do it 'cause they love it and most of 'em are actually retired and they just love doing it.
Yeah. So it makes it really fun. Yeah, I'm sure it's, it again, it's just a really loving and caring thing that you can do for someone else. So I think it's wonderful. And then, okay, so can we talk a little bit about.
Pricing and Consultation
Like how do you price all of this? Because there was somebody at the meeting the other [00:12:00] day and they were talking about how surprised at how reasonable it was because she priced out, like just moving companies and you guys, and that it was just totally worth it and just so stress free.
So I know you can't. Give like a certain price, but is there like a range or something you can tell me? Yeah. So we always start with a free consultation. And these are helpful a, for us to get an idea of, the scope of work, but also to start forming that relationship. I know I alluded to it earlier, just starting that bond with our client.
So we always do those free consultations and we always get an estimate at the end of that consultation. I would say the two biggest variables are quantity of items and the speed that the client wants to work. Some people are like, get rid of it. Other people want to, go through plate by plate, page by page, which is totally okay.
That just takes a little bit longer. And then, a thousand square foot house versus a 10,000 square foot house that, that range is substantial as well. So typically we, I would say for most of our transitions it can be if it's like really small, like the memory care one we did.
Today that was, and including the cost of the movers is around like 800. And then, the substantial one I was talking about that was [00:13:00] over 20,000. So the range is really substantial. Yeah. But with a mover, it would be that different, there would be like a big difference like that too.
But you're adding this extra service to it, which I think would be totally worth it. And every single time they all. Clients always wish they reached out sooner and didn't delay the process like every single time. Really? Yeah. You mean because they feel like rushed, like they should have started earlier with the whole process?
No just because they've been, usually delaying it for years. So usually it's not that, like they thought about it for a week and then they called and it's, they've been. Knowing they've, or they've wanted to move or they've been thinking like it's ready time for move, but they look at all the items and there's there's no chance I can do this.
And they've put it on for years and years. We had a client and it was a similar situation, five years, they've been delaying it just because it felt so insurmountable. When I met with them like, oh. Can we move next week? And yeah let's move, let's do this move next week. Let's do this.
Yeah. Just because theyre, they usually, this is such a, an unknown service still. It's growing, which is awesome. But it's just such a helpful thing that most people don't realize, and then that usually is a big hurdle that can be removed. Yeah.
Nationwide Network and Cross-Country Moves
So that is do [00:14:00] they have other, are there other companies that do this out there in other cities and, yeah, so we're part of, we're part of an awesome organization called nasa, which is the National Association of Senior Move Managers.
And it's a nationwide. Company and they have different companies similar to ours who do what we do. Okay. And it's really awesome to use a NASA company because we have a very strict code of ethics that we have to follow.
This just prioritizes the senior throughout the whole process, making sure that they're being taken care of and that everybody is, staying within reason and taking care of them.
Again, sometimes that, that can get lost. So that's like my priority one is making sure that they're okay. And the cool thing too is since it's a national organization, if someone's moving, say from Arizona to California, or someone's moving, let's say from like Wisconsin down to Arizona, I would connect with a different naam company and then they do something similar.
So that way the process continues to be smooth regardless of where. Where they are, where they're going. Do you have a lot of cross-country moves or outstate moves really? Yeah, we do. Okay. And so we actually originally started up in Wisconsin, which is [00:15:00] interesting. We only had a couple of interstate moves.
But since moved to Arizona, we've had a lot more people going back to their family members typically like the Midwest or California. It's just been interesting to see. Yeah, no, that makes sense that they move out here to retire. And then they're moving back with their kids. Yeah, exactly.
Or wherever they are. Yeah, that they would need some help doing that. It's a it's a big project, so I think it's wonderful. I'd never even heard of someone doing like the type of company at all until I was with the brokerage and saw you guys present. So I think this is wonderful. I'm just so thankful we can get the word out about it.
Am I missing anything? I actually, what I wanted to talk about was. When I was talking that she was talking about moving people up to a bigger house too. So I know that most people are seniors, but there are just regular people that hire you Yeah. To just move. Yeah, absolutely.
So I'd say the majority of our clients are definitely seniors who are in the down. Process, but we've actually moved college students before. We've moved families. They were like in their forties, but they just had so many other things going on, like work and family that they just weren't able to, get everything [00:16:00] packed and moved by their closing deadline.
Or like this example, they actually work in increasing the size of their house. But they still needed a little bit of help, making sure it all flowed well. Packing everything and doing the unpack. So we're happy to work with any clients. The majority again, are seniors, but that's definitely not our only scope.
We're happy to help anybody. It's like you're removing concierge or something like that. That's perfect. Yeah. Yeah. That's a way I would put it anyway. Okay. Am I missing any part of overreaching themes or things that you guys do. No. Yeah, I think that's perfect. Yeah.
Yeah. I think just the highlight too is just the two phases are really important just to, again, reducing the stress of getting 'em comfortable into their new space first, and then working through the items that they didn't wanna keep for. For part two. And just taking care of anything on the backend.
And that's really where we typically work with realtors as well, is getting the house staged. And sometimes there's, that, that specific weekend that, that needs to be on showing and we can get things done, in, in a week and we can do deep cleaning, handyman work, sale of items, just anything to get that house.
House on the market. Yeah. Because they leave stuff behind in order to have it. [00:17:00] B stage. Yep. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I mean it sounds like a win-win all the way around, I think so, yeah. Thank you so much for being on. I appreciate you taking the time to share your company with us and. I'm gonna put like your website in the show notes and all of your information in case you guys want to reach out to ti to, for a move for you or your family.
And your website is just reavanti.com, right? And they are local here in Phoenix, but as Zach said, there are, there's a nationwide association that you could put in contact with and we'll put all that in the show notes. Yeah. Perfect. Thank you so much for having me. Yeah. Thank you again for your time and thank you so much for listening, everybody.
I hope this was a valuable use of your time and I hope you have a great day. Thank you for listening to the Unconventional Investor Podcast. I hope you feel more confident in how you can grow your wealth using the strategies I shared in this episode. If you're ready to take the next step in diversifying your portfolio outside the stock market with alternative investments, head to mefinancial.net/contact us [00:18:00] to book a 15 minute consult call with me.
Let's discuss how we can work together to achieve your financial goals. Until then, I'll see you on the next episode.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor or professional before making any financial decisions. The hosts and guests of this podcast are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information presented.