I was checking into some AL and MC facilities for a friend and man was I shocked. The prices do vary and quite a bit. There are thousands of dollars difference in the same things. What really caught my attention was the $2500.00 move in fee. This is just to let you in the door and move in. It's not them paying for packing, unpacking, transport, etc. I spoke with two places who had them. One place was only $1500.00. I'm just curious as to whether this has become common. When, I was researching ALs in 2014, no one mentioned a move in fee.
The prices really do vary. Gouging really. I almost said in response to the move-in fee....And they let you get away with that?
When my Dad moved into Independent Living, he was looking the last week in December. The place had an apartment that would be ready in two week if he could wait. Dad wasn't sure. Then the complex gave him a discount on his rent plus one month free. Dad smiles and said "yes'. I guess no one on the waiting list wanted to move in January :)
It has been one year since she moved in and the place is full so they can pretty much charge what they like and her monthly rate just increased by $450 for a shared room
Basically, it's an expensive way to pay for carpet cleaning and some painting from what the last resident did during their time there. It's a racket that's pretty much unavoidable.
I did the same as Lisa, above. I hired a moving company to move the furniture and items that my Dad was moving to Independent Living. Later down the road when Dad needed to move to Assisted Living, the maintenance workers moved the furniture Dad was taking, which was only a few things. The small stuff, his caregiver and I moved, like all 200 books :P What was left, I called a hauling group that also did donations.
Usually with Independent Living and with Assisted Living there are options to choose from which would bring up the monthly rent.... or the price is set with everything included.
Some Independent Living places offer only one meal, the rest you do in your own kitchen in your apartment.... other IL will offer 3 meals a day. Some will offer linen service as part of the rent, others will charge extra. Some will give free transportation to stores and doctor appointments, other place might charge a fee.