Senior Move Manager or Estate Sale Company? Who Does What When Parents Downsize (and When You Need Both)

A senior move manager moves the person; an estate sale company sells what stays behind. The move manager plans the new space, sorts what's coming along and runs move day. The estate sale company prices, advertises and sells the rest of the household, usually for a commission. For a big family home, most families need both, in that order.

That's the short answer. The longer one matters, because hiring them in the wrong order is one of the most common and costly downsizing mistakes. Families donate things that should have sold, or hold a sale while Mom's favorite chair is still in the living room with a price tag on it. This guide explains what each professional actually does, how each gets paid, when you need one, the other, or both, and the right order to bring them in.

Quick summary for skimmers:

Senior move manager vs. estate sale company at a glance

The table is a general pattern. Individual companies vary, and some offer a bit of both. Ask each one directly what's included.

What does a senior move manager do?

According to NASMM, senior move management "is the profession that assists older adults, individuals, and families with downsizing, relocation or simplifying their homes" (NASMM FAQs). NASMM lists services most move managers offer some or all of:

Notice the fourth bullet. Move managers often arrange the estate sale, but most don't run it. That's where an estate sale company comes in.

NASMM also notes that some members do the hands-on work themselves, while others act more as project managers who coordinate other services (NASMM FAQs). Ask which kind you're hiring.

The title is a registered service mark. NASMM states: "The term Senior Move Manager® is a service mark owned by NASMM. Only NASMM members are Senior Move Managers®," and its members have completed required courses in safety and ethics and are screened for insurance (NASMM: Find a Move Manager). Plenty of capable professionals aren't NASMM members, so the title alone isn't the only test. Still ask for proof of insurance and references.

What does an estate sale company do?

An estate sale company turns the contents of a home into money. A typical full-service sale includes:

Many also offer buyouts or cleanout services for what doesn't sell. If you're new to how sales work, our guide What Is an Estate Sale, and How Do They Work? covers the basics, and How to Sell Everything in Your House shows what goes to a sale versus Marketplace, eBay, consignment or donation.

When do you need one, the other, or both?

You probably need only a move manager when:

You probably need only an estate sale company when:

You probably need both when:

In short: start with the move manager, bring in the estate sale company for what is left, and use both for a large downsize.

The right order: plan, move, sell, clear

The move manager measures the new apartment or room and makes a floor plan. This answers the hardest question in downsizing: what fits? Once you know which bed, chair and dresser are going, everything else becomes a decision instead of a fight.

Family members take their items, and the senior's belongings move to the new home. Getting keepers out before the sale protects them from being sold by accident and makes the house easier to stage. If some items must stay until the sale, lock them in one room and mark it clearly.

Call estate sale companies early, during Step 1, not after the move. Good companies book weeks or months ahead. Tell them your move date and ask when they could run the sale. Then:

After the sale, what's left gets donated, bought out, or cleared by a crew. Some estate sale companies handle this; some move managers coordinate it. Our guide Estate Cleanout or Estate Sale: How to Decide explains the trade-offs.

For a full room-by-room plan, see our downsizing checklist for seniors. If the sale will happen while your parent still lives there, read What Is a Downsizing Sale? first. Some companies won't sell in an occupied home, and that guide covers what gets a yes.

How much do senior move managers charge per hour?

NASMM doesn't publish a national rate. The figures below come from industry sources and vary a lot by region, home size and how much hands-on work is included:

Treat these as ballparks only. Always get a written estimate that spells out the hourly rate or project fee, what's included, what costs extra (movers, packing materials, storage) and how hours are tracked.

What is generally the cost of senior moving?

The total cost of a senior move usually has three separate parts:

1. Move management (the ranges above).
2. Movers, billed separately for truck, crew and distance.
3. Selling and clearing the leftovers, which may bring money in rather than cost money.

That third part is where an estate sale changes the budget. Instead of paying to haul away a houseful of furniture, a sale can turn it into proceeds that help pay for the move. Companies are usually paid a commission on the sale, and terms vary, so compare a few written proposals.

Are senior move managers worth it?

They're often worth it when family lives far away, the move is on a deadline, or the decisions are emotional and keep stalling. NASMM points out that families "avoid the costly mistakes and remorse that often accompany such major lifestyle transitions" when someone guides the process (NASMM consumer brochure). That's the association's own claim, but it reflects the real value: a neutral person who keeps things moving.

They may not be worth it if family is local, has time, and the new space is easy to plan.

Is hiring an estate sale company worth it?

Usually, if there's enough to sell. A professional company knows what things are worth, has a buyer list and can sell a whole house in a weekend. Many won't take a small sale, so ask about minimums. If the contents are mostly low-value, a donation pickup or cleanout may make more sense. Our guide Do You Need an Appraisal Before an Estate Sale? explains when a formal appraisal is needed versus company pricing.

EstateSaleFinder's Hire an Estate Sale Company tool lets you describe the job once and hear from local companies, and our estate sale company directory lets you browse companies by state with their past sales and reviews. Our downsizing page explains how sales work when someone is moving, not settling an estate.

For estate sale companies: partnering with move managers

Move managers meet families weeks or months before an estate sale company would. That makes them one of the best referral partners you can have, and the relationship goes both ways: you see families who need move help after a sale call.

Ways companies build these partnerships:

On EstateSaleFinder, companies can manage referral partners and track every job and booking in one place, and families find you through the directory and the Hire a Company tool. You can list your company to start.

If you're a real estate agent, check the rules before accepting referral fees. The federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) prohibits fees or kickbacks for referring settlement-service business connected to a federally related mortgage loan (CFPB, 12 CFR 1024.14). Whether that reaches a given estate sale referral depends on the facts and your state's rules, so ask your broker or an attorney. This is general information, not legal advice. Always verify.

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Related reading:

Sources checked October 25, 2026. Cost ranges are published estimates, not quotes; services and pricing vary by company and region.