Senior moves and downsizing in Indian Hills

Indian Hills lies between Carson City and Minden, at about 4,951 feet. About 5,500 residents live in roughly 2,500 households, and the median home value is about $483,800. The median home was built in 1995.

Close to Carson City services

Indian Hills is the Carson Valley community closest to the capital, about 38 miles and 46 minutes from the Sparks warehouse by I-580 and US 395. Many seniors who move from Indian Hills stay in the area but change to a smaller home or an apartment, often with more convenient access to medical care.

Homes of the mid-1990s

Houses of this age tend to be single-story or split-level with large garages. A garage often holds the most items, and it usually takes the most time to sort. Ask family to take what they want before the estimate.

Staggering the sorting

Start with rooms used least and work toward the kitchen and bedrooms. The senior moving checklist gives a week-by-week order. Pack the final rooms with the crew.

A temporary place for furniture

If the next home is not ready, furniture can wait in storage. About 2 to 3 weeks notice ships it. See storage between moves.

What the numbers say about Indian Hills

The Census estimates that about 81 percent of homes are owned and about 19 percent rented, and that only about 8 percent of residents moved in the past year. That is low turnover, which suggests settled households. When a settled household does move, the job is often larger than expected, since closets, attics and garages have filled over the years.

Storage close to the next home

If the new place is in Carson City or Minden, a vault in the Sparks warehouse is a drive of under an hour from either. Vault storage is from $40 per month, and the crew packs, wraps and loads your things into 7 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft wooden vaults. When you call for delivery, about 2 to 3 weeks notice is needed.

Family help on moving day

Relatives are welcome to be on site for the move. A few simple jobs help: keep pets in a quiet room, have a family member walk the house with the crew lead at the end, and keep medicines, documents and jewelry in a bag that travels with you.

Making the call

O'Brien's has served Northern Nevada since 1941. Call 775-359-6683 on a weekday to set the visit.