In short
- One Ottawa firm prices senior moves at $150, $195 or $245 an hour for 2, 3 or 4 movers with a truck, and holds a date with a $100 refundable deposit.
- Retirement residences usually want the elevator booked and an insurance certificate from the mover; ask the residence what it needs.
- If you sign in your own home, Ontario gives you 10 days to cancel without a reason.
- A closing date and a suite-ready date rarely match, and storage fills the gap.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic senior move, 2 movers + truck | $150/h | One Ottawa firm’s senior page; you or family pack the boxes |
| Full-service, 3 movers + truck | $195/h | Same firm; includes packing and set-up at the new suite |
| Full-service with a coordinator, 4 movers | $245/h | Same firm; includes downsizing and donation routing |
| Date deposit | $100 | Same firm; refundable, reserves the date |
Sources. Men In Trucks, Senior and Downsizing Movers Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. Ottawa Pro Movers, Seniors Moving, seen 29.10.2026. Ontario.ca, Hiring a mover, seen 29.10.2026. Insurance-Canada.ca, Square One release on belongings in transit, 2017, seen 29.10.2026. Prices are one firm’s; the company that calls sets its own.
Why senior moves take a different plan
A senior move starts weeks before the truck. A family home holds decades of furniture and a suite holds a bed, a chair and a few cabinets. Deciding what fits takes longer than the truck day.
Several people take part: the senior, adult children, a Power of Attorney and the residence staff. A good request names who decides and who is on site on the day. The basic service is on local moving; this page covers the extra steps.
The steps that Ottawa firms describe
One Ottawa firm lists five: a free consultation about wishes and timing, downsizing (sorting items for the move, donation, recycling or disposal), packing, the move itself, and an organization day after, when the crew unpacks, hangs pictures and arranges the closet. The senior chooses which steps to buy.
You can book one step or all of them. Packing alone is on packing services.
Downsizing before the truck
Walk each room with the senior and tag items Keep, Donate, Gift or Store. Measure the large pieces against the suite floor plan first, because a suite that fits a bed and one armchair cannot take a dining set. One firm’s page names Ottawa charities for donation pickups; the company that calls can say which one it works with.
Keep papers, medication, jewellery and small valuables with the senior or the family. The Ontario page on hiring a mover advises moving valuables and personal documents yourself.
Retirement residences: elevator, insurance paperwork, suite
Residences set move-in hours and elevator rules. Many ask for an insurance certificate from the moving company before the booking is confirmed. Ask the residence three things: the allowed hours, the elevator reservation process and the certificate wording. Then pass the answers to the company in the request.
Check what the suite includes: some come with a bed, window coverings or appliances that should not ride on the truck. Confirm the key-release date and that painting or flooring in the suite is finished before the truck arrives.
What drives the price
The hourly rate rises with crew size. One Ottawa firm lists $150, $195 and $245 for 2, 3 and 4 movers with a truck, and says the price stays the same if the day runs slowly. Hours depend on stairs, the carry, the number of rooms and whether the crew packs.
Storage between the sale and the suite date, packing materials and donation hauling are priced apart. Ordinary rates are on movers’ hourly rates.
Contract rights for the senior
Ontario’s rules protect the senior like any customer: a written, itemized contract above $50, a 10% cap on the estimate, and 10 days to cool off after signing at home. Holding belongings to force a higher price is an offence. Ask for the estimate by email and read it with the family before signing. The rules are on moving contracts in Ontario.
Who calls the family
Ottawa Moving Desk hands the request to one independent mover, which phones the contact you list and sets its own price. For a move into a smaller flat, read apartment moving as well.
Questions to ask the company
- Will the same small crew stay for the whole day, and who leads it?
- Does the hourly rate stay the same if the day runs slowly?
- Can you book the residence elevator and send the insurance certificate it asks for?
- What does it cost to store the contents between the sale and the suite date?
- Who signs the delivery receipt, and can a family member on a video call confirm it?
Have this ready for the call
- The suite floor plan from the residence, with the bed, dresser and chair measured against it
- The key-release date and the elevator rules, in writing from the residence
- A Keep, Donate, Gift, Store tag on every room before move day
- A bag for medication, glasses, chargers, documents and bedside items that rides with the senior
- The name of the Power of Attorney, if one will deal with the company
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a senior move and a regular move?
The scope. A senior move often includes sorting and downsizing before the truck arrives, a smaller crew working at a gentler pace, coordination with the residence, and set-up at the new suite. The truck and the hourly clock are the same; the plan around them is longer.
Who books the elevator at a retirement residence?
The residence sets the rules, and either the family or the mover books the slot. One Ottawa firm says it books the elevator and handles insurance certificates for residences. Ask the front desk for the allowed hours, any loading bay and the certificate wording before you book the truck.
What if the house sells before the suite is ready?
Closing and move-in dates often differ by days or weeks. One Ottawa firm picks up from the old home, stores the contents in its warehouse and delivers on the confirmed date. Ask for the storage price by the week and whether the same crew does pickup and delivery, so nothing is handled twice.
Can a family member in another city manage the move?
Yes. A Power of Attorney or an adult child can deal with the company by phone, approve a written estimate and follow progress by photo. One Ottawa firm describes a walkthrough at the start and the end with a family video call. Name the contact person in the request.
What can the senior cancel after signing?
If you negotiate and sign in person in your own home, Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act gives a 10-day cooling-off period that starts after you get a copy of the written contract. Online and phone contracts have other rules, so check how you signed and keep a copy.
Does home insurance cover the move into a residence?
Ask the insurer. A 2017 industry release found that many home policies cover goods in transit and some leave them out, and that a separate moving policy tends to cost more than adding cover to the home policy. Give the insurer the date and the new address and get the answer in writing.
