October 7, 2026 · Senior Housing · Blake Sherwood

What Is a Senior Move Manager and Do I Need One?

Facts last verified October 7, 2026.

A senior move manager plans and runs every part of a later-life move — from the first sorting session to the last unpacked box in the new home. According to NASMM’s most recent association-wide survey, as reported by AARP in March 2025, move managers typically charge $60 to $120 an hour, with rates at the higher end in the Northeast. If you are on the North Shore, expect to pay toward the top of that band. This post explains exactly what you get for that investment and how to decide whether it makes sense for your family.

What does a senior move manager do?

A senior move manager coordinates the whole move — sorting belongings, creating a floor plan for the new space, arranging donations or estate sales, hiring and supervising movers, and unpacking everything so the new home feels settled on day one. They are not a moving company. They are the person who figures out what goes, where it goes, and what happens to everything else.

Most senior move managers help with developing an overall move or age-in-place plan, organizing and downsizing, customized floor plans, arranging for the disposal of unwanted items through auction, estate sale, consignment, or donation, and interviewing, scheduling, and overseeing movers. Many also handle unpacking and setting up the new home.

Think of it this way: a moving company’s job starts once there is a clear plan and enough preparation to execute it. A move manager handles the planning, decision-making support, and coordination around the move. For a senior who has lived in the same house for 30 or 40 years, the planning is often the hardest part.

The emotional side of the job

A good senior move manager understands that sorting through a lifetime of belongings is not just a logistics problem. They specialize in helping clients with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through a lifetime of memories during the transition.

One thing families often discover: a parent who resists advice from a son or daughter may respond very differently to a calm, experienced professional. Having a neutral third party in the room can take the pressure off family relationships and keep decisions moving forward.

What a senior move manager is not

• A moving company packs (if you pay for it), loads, transports, and unloads. They do not decide what goes.
• An estate cleanout service removes what is left behind after a move or a death — focused on clearing a property, usually after a move has already happened.
• A senior move manager connects both ends: what goes, where it goes in the new space, and what happens to the rest. Many also coordinate estate sales and cleanouts as part of a broader engagement.

How much does a senior move manager cost?

Nationally, NASMM’s most recent association-wide survey — as reported by AARP in March 2025 — puts typical rates at $60 to $120 an hour, with higher rates in the Northeast and California. A New England provider quoted in a 2025 Care.com guide reported charging $85 to $150 an hour depending on the project. On the North Shore, expect to land in the upper portion of the national range.

A few things to keep in mind about how pricing works:

Providers may bill hourly, by project, or with a combination of the two. The total depends on how many people are working, how much sorting is left, and whether movers and outside services are billed separately.

That hourly rate is usually charged per person, not per job. A three-person crew billed at $75 an hour means $225 an hour on the client’s invoice. Always ask how many team members are included in any estimate.

NASMM members will always outline the cost of a job through a written estimate before asking for payment. The moving truck, storage unit, hauling fees, and estate sale commissions are typically separate costs on top of the manager’s fee.

Is it worth it?

For many families, yes — especially when any of these are true:

• Adult children live out of state or have demanding work schedules.
• The home has decades of accumulated belongings.
• Every sorting session turns into an argument.
• The senior has physical limitations that make packing difficult.
• The timeline is tight — a move-in date at an assisted living community, for example.

Who are the local providers on the North Shore?

If you are looking for help in Beverly, Salem, Danvers, Peabody, Marblehead, or the surrounding towns, here are three NASMM-affiliated providers worth contacting. We encourage you to reach out to each one for a consultation before deciding.

Architects of Moving — Swampscott

Architects of Moving is a professional move management company based in Swampscott, serving Greater Boston, Metro West, and the North Shore. They specialize in stress-free moving support, including packing, organizing, and relocation planning for local, out-of-state, and international moves. The company also assists clients with document management, space planning, and art and antique appraisals. Annmarie Linnane, the owner and president, has been in the business since 1988 and is a current NASMM member.

Phone: (781) 631-7588 · architectsofmoving.com

ShipShape Organize — Manchester-by-the-Sea

ShipShape Organize is located in Manchester-by-the-Sea and has been a NASMM member since 2017, holding a Circle of Service designation. They serve the full North Shore from Beverly to Gloucester and beyond, and offer a free half-hour phone consultation before any engagement.

Phone: (978) 314-6410 · shipshapeorganize.com

Moving and Shaking on the North Shore — Rockport

Ellen Fusco, owner of Moving and Shaking on the North Shore since 2019, is a NASMM member. The team are all North Shore residents, mostly based in Gloucester and Rockport. Services include packing, unpacking, move-in preparation, senior move support with spatial planning, downsizing, estate sales, organizing, and junk removal.

Phone: (781) 999-1539 · mandsnorthshore.com

What does the process look like?

Every manager works a little differently, but most engagements follow a similar arc.

1. Free consultation. Most providers offer a complimentary phone or in-home visit to understand the scope and give you a written estimate.

2. Sorting and downsizing. The manager works room by room with the senior, helping decide what comes along, what goes to family, what gets donated, what gets sold, and what gets discarded.

3. Floor plan for the new space. Before anything is packed, the manager typically draws up a floor plan of the new home or apartment — preventing the heartbreak of arriving with furniture that does not fit.

4. Packing and move day. The manager hires and supervises the movers, oversees packing, and is present on move day to handle anything that comes up.

5. Unpacking and setup. The manager sets up the new home so the bed is made, the kitchen is organized, and the television is working before they leave.

6. Estate cleanout of the old home. Once the move is complete, the manager can coordinate clearing the remaining contents of the old property — important if the home is going on the market.

How do I find a qualified senior move manager?

The National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM) has a searchable directory at nasmm.org where you can find members by zip code.

When you call a provider, ask these questions:

• Are you a NASMM member? Do you hold the SMM-C credential?
• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• How do you charge — hourly, flat fee, or a combination?
• What is included in your estimate, and what is billed separately?
• Can you provide references from recent clients?
• Do you have experience with moves to assisted living communities in this area?

Book ideally four to eight weeks before the planned move date. The timeline for sorting a large home can stretch several weeks on its own, and booking early gives the manager time to work at a pace that is comfortable for your family.

A note about working with your real estate agent

If you are selling a North Shore home as part of the downsizing process, your real estate agent and your senior move manager should be working in the same direction. The agent can advise on what buyers in your town expect to see; the manager can help get the home there. We are happy to make introductions in either direction — just reach out.

If you have questions about downsizing, selling a North Shore home, or finding the right senior housing option, we are here to help. There is no obligation and no sales pitch — just a conversation.

Get in touch with Sherwood & Company

FAQ

What is the difference between a senior move manager and a regular moving company?

A moving company handles transportation — loading, driving, and unloading. A senior move manager handles everything before and after: sorting, deciding what goes, creating a floor plan, coordinating the movers, and unpacking the new home. Many families need both, and a good manager will hire and supervise the movers for you.

Does Medicare or MassHealth pay for a senior move manager?

Medicare does not cover senior move management. MassHealth generally does not either — but there is a narrow exception. MassHealth’s Moving Forward Plan waivers (MFP-CL and MFP-RS) can cover moving expenses as part of transitional assistance for members who are transitioning directly from a nursing facility or hospital to a community setting. If your family member is in that specific situation, ask your MassHealth case manager whether transitional assistance applies. For most families arranging a move from a private home, the cost is paid out of pocket.

What if we only need help with part of the move?

Yes, most providers offer partial-service engagements. You might hire a manager only for the sorting and downsizing phase, for example, and handle packing and moving yourselves. Be clear about the scope when you request an estimate so the quote reflects exactly what you need.

How is a senior move manager different from a professional organizer?

A professional organizer typically helps you declutter and organize a space you are staying in. A senior move manager specializes in the full transition from one home to another — including coordinating movers, managing the logistics of move day, and setting up the new space. Some firms, including several on the North Shore, offer both services.