PlacerCare

What a Senior Move Manager Actually Does

A senior move manager handles the parts of a move that have nothing to do with the moving truck — the sorting, deciding, and setting-up-the-new-place work that a standard moving company doesn’t touch.

What’s actually included

  • Sorting and decluttering a lifetime of belongings, often working through “keep, family, sell, donate, discard” decisions room by room.
  • Space planning for the new home — measuring the new unit and mapping which furniture actually fits before moving day, not after.
  • Packing and unpacking, including fully setting up the new space so it’s livable the day the client arrives, not weeks later.
  • Coordinating the movers, donation pickups, and disposal of what’s left behind.

NASMM certification

The National Association of Specialty & Senior Move Managers (NASMM) certifies members (SMM-C) who complete specific training and agree to a code of ethics around handling a client’s belongings and finances responsibly — worth asking about directly, and verifiable on NASMM’s own member directory.

How pricing typically works

Some move managers charge hourly; others quote a flat project fee based on the size of the home and scope of work. Get a written estimate that specifies exactly what’s included — packing supplies, disposal fees, and unpacking/setup at the new location are common places where scope (and cost) can expand unexpectedly if it isn’t spelled out upfront.

Looking for one? See our Senior move managers directory — every listing is a clearly-labeled, flat-fee placement, never a referral fee, never tied to whether you hire them.

How to downsize a lifetime of belongings · Downsizing and moving a parent · All guides