Questions?

Certified Relocation & Transition Specialists (CRTS) are professionals who specialize in assisting seniors and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation and/or "aging in place". They are essentially project managers, trained and qualified to act as agents for their clients and their families, managing all aspects of home relocations and transitions.

Certified Relocation Specialists (CRTS) have extensive knowledge and resources to help with the downsizing and moving process. Acting as a single point of contact for their client, CRTS can smooth the way into a new residential, retirement or assisted living community.

CRTS are insured and have undergone background security checks. The CRTS Program has been reviewed by the National Association of Senior Move Managers and has been accepted as a Premium Industry Training Partner.

Although specific services vary, most Certified Relocation & Transition Specialists can help with some or all of the following:

• Developing an overall move or "age in place" plan
• Organizing, sorting and downsizing
• Customizing floor plans
• Arranging for the profitable disposal of unwanted items through auction, estate sale, buy-out, consignment, donation, or a combination of the above
• Interviewing, scheduling and overseeing movers
• Arranging shipments and storage
• Professional packing
• Unpacking and setting up your new home
• Related services, such as cleaning, waste removal, shopping, utilities transfers, assisting with selection of a realtor and helping prepare your home to be sold.

Specialists are contacted by various sources, including:

• Seniors
• Family members
• Bank and trust officers
• Lawyers and estate planners
• Executors
• Senior living communities
• Physicians and allied health providers
• Realtors
• Staging professionals

The numbers tell the story. The North American population aged 65 and over will jump nearly 80 percent when the Baby Boom generation retires (from 2010 to 2030). By 2030, the elderly will account for one-fifth of the total population. Did you also know that individuals age 85 and above comprise the fastest growing segment of our population?

Today, many families are geographically dispersed and adult children are often not able to help with the moving process due to distance, career and family obligations. For family members living far away, the barriers may be geographic.

Many seniors have no surviving children, or increasingly, their children are older adults themselves. CRTS move management has emerged to fill these gaps and to facilitate the transition for everyone involved.

Older adults making a transition have usually not moved in 30, 40 or 50 years and need to downsize considerably. The organizational and physical tasks associated with planning and implementing such a complex move can be overwhelming for the entire family.

SteppingStones provides a multi-faceted approach to the move process, from space planning in the beginning to post-move set-up and support.

We aim to minimize the challenges and stress associated with moving by addressing all aspects of the move process. We are responsible for developing and executing a seamless action plan, customized to the client's wishes. We work with trusted movers and service providers to ensure all aspects of the plan are carried out in a professional and efficient manner.

We'll find a moving company for you, and get competitive bids, if you like. You'll pay the moving company directly on the day of the move.

Yes, we'll supervise the movers at your current residence to ensure all your belongings are safety loaded in the van and will be at your new residence to help organize the unloading and placement in your new home.

There are many ways. We could have a "tag" or estate sale. We could send things to be auctioned or sold on consignment. You may choose to donate some things to charities or you may want to give items to family and friends. We'll help you manage all this.

Yes, we'll unpack and set up your new residence before we leave. We'll set-up the electronics, unpack the kitchen, hang pictures and even set your clocks!

It's virtually impossible to calculate what a specific move might cost, as the fee can vary considerably depending on the services you request. There are many factors that affect the fee: the size of your house, the volume of your belongings, the amount of participation you and/or your family is able to offer. Some fees are charged on an hourly basis, others maybe for a package of services provided. Through the free consultation, together we will determine what the scope of the project will be, and we'll provide you with a written estimate.

Aging-in-place means living in one's home safely, independently and comfortably, throughout the senior years. It gives an individual the pleasure of remaining in a familiar environment for as long as possible, and maybe a lifetime.

Some clients just need a little help rearranging their possessions in order to meet their current needs.  After organizing, disposing of unwanted items, and making other minor alterations in their home, they find that their home is really where they want to stay. With the help of SteppingStones, we make that a possibility for the client. Some of the services we offer include:

• Down-sizing/right-sizing
• De-cluttering
• Reorganize furnishings for easier access
• Assisting with installing ramps, bath and shower grab bars, etc...
• Assisting in purchasing an emergency alert system
• Referrals to lawn maintenance service
• Referrals to home cleaning service
• Providing resources on home health care

Give us a call. We meet personally with clients for a free consultation to determine which services they require. From this discussion, we'll put together a plan along with a time-table. If the plan involves a move to a new residence, we will then go to the new residence to start preparing the floor plan etc.