RoomSketcher Study Finds Rising Service Costs Are Top Challenge for Move Management Sector
A new RoomSketcher study of US specialty and senior move managers (SMMs) highlights rising service costs as the most significant challenge facing the profession.
RoomSketcher's findings are based on survey responses collected ahead of the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM) annual conference in Austin, Texas in October 2025, along with qualitative interviews with active professionals in the sector.
Rising Service Costs Lead 2025 Industry Challenges
According to RoomSketcher's study, rising service costs were ranked as most challenging by 34% of respondents. Time or scheduling pressures ranked second, selected by 23% of respondents, followed by client emotional management at 14%.
Space limitations in clients’ new homes accounted for 9 percent, with a miscellaneous set of other challenges making up the remaining responses.
A Female-Majority, Highly Experienced Workforce
The study shows that the sector is a female-majority profession, with women making up 93% of our respondents. This aligns with comparable client-facing professions such as social work, real estate, and interior design.
Experience levels were also notably high. Half of all respondents reported working in the sector for more than eight years, and nearly a quarter exceeded fifteen years in the profession. The findings suggest a mature, specialized field with deep practical expertise.
Managing Emotions And The 'Command Center'
Interviews conducted by RoomSketcher with SMM professionals highlighted the emotional intensity that often accompanies home transitions, particularly for older adults downsizing from long-term residences.
Professionals described creating spaces in the new home referred to as a ‘command center.’ These spaces recreate small, familiar areas that anchor clients emotionally and functionally to their previous homes during transition.
Although informal and referred to by several different names, the ‘command center’ concept was mentioned independently by most interviewees, suggesting an emerging best practice across the sector.
Downsizing Often Halves Bedroom Count
Based on survey data, RoomSketcher was also able to build a picture of how clients are relocating.
SMMs reported that clients most commonly move from large four-plus-bedroom homes, noted in 80 percent of responses, while 14 percent reported moves from mid-sized (2–3 bedroom) homes.
Moves typically result in significantly smaller living spaces. Respondents indicated that two-bedroom homes were the most common destination for their clients (70 percent), followed by one-bedroom homes (24 percent).
Independent Living Preferred Over Assisted Settings
Our survey’s respondents also showed that a majority of clients seeking SMM services are moving into homes where they will live independently. Independent living moves accounted for 75% of responses, while assisted living moves made up 20%.
Further Observations: Digital Tools and Planning Techniques
In addition to major trends, the study captured several secondary insights into how move managers approach their work:
- Respondents overwhelmingly preferred digital tools, including digital floor plans such as those created using RoomSketcher, over traditional magnetic boards when planning and communicating spatial constraints with clients.
- Many professionals reported using numbered inventories, color-coded labels, and physical demonstrations such as painter’s tape to help clients understand the layout of their future homes.
These practices point to a blend of technical planning, emotional support, and personalized service at the core of the sector.
Methodology
The study reflects responses from 56 US-based specialty and senior move managers. RoomSketcher also conducted 17 qualitative interviews to add context. Responses that risked biasing tool-preference results were removed. Qualitative data represents subjective professional insights rather than statistically representative findings.
About RoomSketcher
RoomSketcher provides easy-to-use, professional-grade floor-planning software used by thousands of industry professionals, including senior and specialty move managers. The company remains committed to supporting this community with intuitive digital tools that streamline planning, communication, and client transitions.
The full survey insights can be accessed here.