Caring Transitions

4.45 Stars (44 Reviews)

Updated: February 3, 2023

Each day in the United States, more than 10,000 people turn 65, and overall, people are living longer and healthier lives than ever before, making senior moving services a growing need. In addition to professionally moving retirees, Caring Transitions also specializes in business relocations and sorting and organizing after a divorce or children move out.

Caring Transitions logo

Editorial Breakdown

Easy Quotes

4.3 Stars

Number of Services

4.3 Stars

Price

4.3 Stars

Coverage Area

3.8 Stars

Overall Rating

4.5 Stars

Bottom Line

Caring Transitions is a full-service senior transition company offering services like senior relocation, downsizing, estate sales and more. It has franchises in over 40 states and has earned the Certified Relocation Transitions Specialist (CRTS) designation.

Caring Transitions is a senior moving service specializing in managing relocations, helping clients with downsizing homes, estate sales and online auction services. The company guides retirees and their families through potentially stressful life transitions with customized plans to meet each client’s unique needs. Caring Transitions provides senior moving services in 41 states through a network of over 200 franchise locations, leading us to included the them in our Best Senior Moving Services Guide because of its extensive network across the country.

Caring Transitions logo
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Allegiance Moving and Storage

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Each Caring Transitions franchise earned the Certified Relocation Transition Specialist (CRTS) designation, the highest credential awarded in the senior moving service industry. All Caring Transitions employees are bonded, insured, screened and pursue continuing education to stay current on all aspects of the industry.

Pros

  • Relief from physical and psychological stress that can accompany moving
  • Save time and money with one service coordinating all aspects of relocation
  • Demystifies sorting through years or decades of items and deciding what to keep

Cons

  • Services are currently unavailable in six states, but new franchisees are welcome

Getting Started with Caring Transitions Senior Moving Service

Caring Transitions offers free consultations. Call the company’s toll-free number or submit the online form on the website to get in touch with the nearest office. You can also use the “Locations” tab on the site to find your local office and call directly.

Once you decide on the services you need, Caring Transitions coordinates with organizers, movers, real estate agents, lawyers and any other professionals required to make your move or right-sizing stress-free.

Managing Your Move with Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions handles the big picture or the smallest detail for your relocation with the end goal being a smooth transition to your new home. The company strives to work both efficiently and compassionately while coordinating each aspect of moving to a new home, while you maintain control of the transition process. Each client partners with a local Caring Transitions office through senior moving consultants who are familiar with the surrounding community and its resources.

Caring Transitions Senior Service Options

Caring Transitions divides its senior moving services into three categories: relocation and move management, downsizing, and estate sales and online auctions.

Relocation
Management
Declutter &
Downsize
Estate Sales &
Online Auctions
Organize and sort belongingsPlan space usage in new homePack and unpack boxesStage itemsCoordinate moveStreamline address changeDeclutter living spaceOrganize/sort belongingsDonate, distribute or dispose of itemsOrganize documentsAppraise itemsClean/prepare estateManage all aspects of salesDonate, recycle and discard unwanted itemsShip itemsRemove trashInterview realtors
Caring Transitions
Senior Moving Services

Declutter and Downsize with Caring Transitions

Whether you are moving or merely right-sizing space you will use differently than it’s been used in the past, Caring Transitions specialists will work with you to declutter your home or place of business. Caring Transitions works with you to prioritize things you own that you need to keep or will enhance your phase of life. The items you save get organized, and what you no longer want or need are professionally assessed for value and sold via Caring Transitions Online Auction after being cleaned and photographed. Your specialist oversees the organization of items you donate, give away or throw away, and you receive as much help as you wish with decluttering papers and figuring out which documents to keep and which to destroy.

Solomon and Sons logo
4.7 Stars

Solomon and Sons

  • Licensed and insured
  • Nationwide moving carrier

Caring Transitions Start-to-Finish Moving Service

Caring Transitions’ senior moving service coordinates relocations from start to finish, which removes a significant burden from retirees. The company’s space planning software is put to use to show you how your items will fit into your new home. Caring Transitions sources movers and packers and boxes are color-coded according to the room where they will be unpacked. If you need a realtor, Caring Transitions has relationships with trusted home sales professionals, as well as painters and cleaners who can prepare your home for sale. Unpacking and home staging is available, so everything is in its place when you step through your new front door. Caring Transitions also offers moving services to businesses and those who are moving due to divorce.

Caring Transitions Estate Sales

If you have been left to sort through a home full of items due to a death in the family, Caring Transitions can assist with their estate sale services. Considering the time it usually takes to go through everything during one of these liquidations, this service can save you the expense of frequently traveling to the home and time off from your job. Items are sorted, inventoried and assessed for value, and the entire home or business can be liquidated after you and your family members decide what you will keep.

Caring Transitions Complaints

The Better Business Bureau rates most Caring Transitions offices with an “A” or “A+”. Complaints we found revolved around clients not understanding auction contracts, although Caring Transitions resolved those issues two or three years ago. Caring Transitions Online Auctions has a listing with the Better Business Bureau with an “A+” rating, although the business does not maintain BBB accreditation.

Caring Transitions features client testimonials on the website, with the most frequent remarks being about company representative’s expertise, professionalism, dedication, sincerity and kindness.

caring transitions screenshot
Source: Caring Transitions

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Caring Transitions FAQ

How do Caring Transitions franchise owners become Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists (CRTS)?

To be eligible to take the CRTS exam, franchise owners must possess at least a high school diploma and fulfill at least one of four eligibility requirements:
– Have one of the approved industry credentials such as Certified Senior Advisor or NASMM Front Door training certification.
– Have a degree or certificate from an accredited institution in a field related to working with seniors.
– At least two years of paid experience working with seniors.
– Completion of the Senior Relocation training course.
Upon passage of the CRTS exam, franchise owners receive the certification and must complete four continuing education units (CEUs) each year for recertification.

How does the Caring Transitions space planning software work?

Caring Transitions space planning software first creates a scaled computer-aided design (CAD) template of your new home. An employee photographs and measures furniture you plan to move into the new location and enters the dimensions of each piece into the software to produce a color-coded blueprint of your items in the new space. Not only does this help with visualizing and planning your rooms, but the final template also is a plan for movers to place your furniture and belongings.

What can I do if Caring Transitions senior moving service is not in my area?

Caring Transitions has a presence in most states, but at the time this was written, none in Alaska, Delaware, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. The company is seeking franchisees, so call or check the website to see if there’s an office near you.

Which items sell most often in a Caring Transitions estate sale or online auction?

While almost every item has a buyer somewhere, the most popular and sought-after items at Caring Transitions estate sales and online auctions are cars, farm equipment, silver, designer clothes, shoes and purses, vintage jewelry and watches, new and gently used electronics and smartphones and collectible dolls.

Conclusion

Caring Transitions takes a customized approach to senior moving services by treating clients, their homes and belongings with the utmost respect. As older adults transition to a new living arrangement, Caring Transitions makes this major life transition seamless and stress-free while honoring the client’s past and embracing their future.

44 Caring Transitions Reviews

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Featured Review

5 Stars

November 24 2019 2:19AM

Everything was cleaned out and shredded (if needed); value established for tax receipts. Items were delivered to charity for donation. The house cleaned, floors swept and ready to show for sale. We could not believe the transformation. Then they delivered a piece of furniture and a box to Charlotte at Riderwood. Mr. ** returned keys to the house and more...his staff found and returned more than $ 6500 in cash! Plus, his fee was extremely reasonable.

Not only was Mr. **, honest but his team did a fabulous job. I highly recommend them. The company can help sort and do exactly what you want done. They can help you finish completely and faster than alone. They shred items on site. Before starting work, they walk through with you and work hand in hand with you as desired. They walk though with you at the end as well. They are accommodating, compassionate, competent, thorough, business-like and at the same time warm and polite while absolutely professional.

I cannot say enough good about them. Plus it was done in less than 1-1/2 days. I am amazed. Feel free to share this with any senior who is downsizing and or cleaning out their house for sale or rent or initiating a move.

Pat H.
Silver Spring, MD
5 Stars

October 03 2024 1:10PM

My father was transitioning to a retirement community from a 2500 square foot home with three floors filled with 50 years of stuff. My siblings and I had a month to organize his move, get his home ready to close by selling, donating or dumping thousands of items including furniture, art, china, collectibles, electronics, etc. The scope of the task was overwhelming for us. However, Shannon and Brian from Caring Transitions of Franklin Milford are superheroes. Shannon came in and gave a fair estimate of the cost of the project which included an online sale, a full clean out of the home and cleaning services to leave the house in perfect condition for the new owner. Shannon is smart, honest, and hardworking and her team was exactly the same. They set up a work schedule and followed it to the letter.

As a result they not only got the job done two days before the closing, the success of the online sale which was stuff that was in great condition but we could no longer keep and which otherwise have been donated or thrown out reduced the total cost of the entire project significantly. My father remained in the house until the last week and they made sure that he had everything he needed to stay safely in the house despite the project. They were so kind. Our entire family adored each and every team member and we were so touched when some of them visited my father at the retirement home. In short I highly recommend Caring Transitions of Franklin and Milford. Our experience with their company could not have been better.

Janet S.
Foxboro, MA
2 Stars

September 14 2024 3:15PM

This company serves a purpose, so I won’t completely knock it. Make sure that someone is there with these people if they come in a loved one’s home. Don’t give them a key. This place took a mirror fixture from the wall and just stole it. It was not part of the plan. Saved some of the best furniture pieces and knock knacks. A sale of a house didn’t go through. I asked if I could keep some of the pieces like a solid wood Japanese coffee table and was not given a response.

Once they have the key, there is too much distance between what things mean to you and how they feel they can do what they want. Never got a whole itemized list of everything that sold and for what price. There were some very nice items like a Danish table set that had the chairs decisions. The materials alone was quite an expense. I could have kept this when the sale of the house didn’t go through. In the end, they even charged my mom. For the lack of transparency and communication, I would say to not use UNLESS someone is there at all times.

Lisa K.
Houston, TX
1 Star

August 13 2024 1:44AM

It was a huge mistake doing business with Caring Transitions! I am in shock over how underhanded the company is. I firmly believe items were basically stolen from my family. The “stager” supposedly sold an antique bedroom suit to a used furniture store, then asked me to not only provide a mover to put it in her U-Haul— but to pay her personally $18/hour for her time— this eventually fell through and the furniture was “donated” to the Salvation Army! I am regretting using them instead of a more reputable and local estate company!!! Support local business not conglomerates like Caring Transitions!!!

Jane T.
Scranton, PA
1 Star

August 11 2024 8:00PM

My review is regarding Caring Transitions of Central Iowa and the seller Toni **. I recently won cowboy boots in an auction that she held. Everything was great until I received a bill for shipping which I believe was outrageous. I had already paid a handling fee of $10.00. The bill I received for shipping was $31.85. I thought maybe this might have been a mistake, so I sent an email to see if this was correct. She responded saying this was the cost for shipping. My response to her was this was outrageous and highway robbery. The boots were being shipped from their location in Iowa to my residence in Ohio. I had previously won cowboy boots in an auction in Texas and was charged under $20.00 for shipping and handling. So, a similar item and probably around the same distance, Toni ** and Caring Transitions of Central Iowa is charging me an extremely inflated price of $41.85 shipping and handling.

They probably didn't get the price for the boots that they wanted. Just beware of this Caring Transitions franchise. I've had great experiences with other Caring Transitions franchises. I also requested a refund for what I have spent and haven't received a response. So, they got me for $21 and some change. They don't even deserve a star!!!

Vernon W.
Troy, OH
1 Star

April 24 2024 4:57PM

We had hired Caring Transitions in Oct of 23. They came and lotted the items to be auctioned. I went to my parents home after the week they did the lotted. Some stuff was not lotted and some stuff disappeared. My brother in law won a item. Hallmark ornaments and he had gone through them and logged them so we knew what we had. Well he just was able to look at and a couple of the ornaments are missing. They said they would do up to 200 lots. I think they did 99. There were items I knew was in house that are gone. When the people came to pick up, they went through their auction they won, leaving items they did not want. Which left us paying for removal, by the time we were done we did not make much. DO NOT USE.

Roland W.
Shrewsbury, PA
1 Star

April 13 2024 5:45PM

Caring Transition Seminole (Largo, FL) I won a stereo in Caring Transition Seminole online auction with pickup date March 30, 2024 between 1 pm to 5 pm. I arrived at 415 pm. There was no one around. I called the number listed on the auction invoice, received a voice mailbox, which was full. I couldn't leave a message. I texted the number that was listed on the invoice. I didn't get an answer. I contacted Caring Transitions Headquarters and the receptionist told me after checking with a supervisor that Angela had an emergency and couldn't make to the sale for auction pickup. Afterward, the neighbor across the streets said about 15 to 20 showed up today for pickup. I drove 1 hour and 1/2. As I was driving I received a text from Angela stating that she was in the hospital. I asked her why she didn't have one her staff members to be at the residence for people.

I told her I understood your emergency but she has an obligation to her business and she should have someone there to assist her if she couldn't be there. Angela told me that she would block me for not having compassion for her. Lord could someone tell me is this the way you run a business. Angela you need to improve you company organization or sell to someone that know how to run a business. Number 1. No one can run a public business alone. Thanks for blocking me. You saved me a lot of money because I have been losing a lot of money through Caring Transition false listings and threats to block you if you don't comply to their rules. I think it is time to start a class action lawsuit. I know I am not alone.

Joe B.
Seminole, FL
1 Star

March 29 2024 5:20PM

My partner's 85 yr old mother's health got to a critical point where an emergency decision had to be made to move her into assisted living. After making an emergency flight to FL from our home in WA, we contacted Traci ** from the Naples offices in late Feb 2024. Traci met with my partner and told her exactly what the company could do. Traci was very helpful and nice and even praised my partner for all the work she had already done packing things up. 3 days later we received an email with the contact and noticed the amount quoted had changed. We emailed her asking questions and that is where our contact with her ended. Over the course of 4 weeks we called the 2 numbers we had for Traci and emailed her and also contacted the office numbers for Naples and Sarasota. We left numerous messages with different operators who assured us the messages were getting delivered.

At some point we even expressed our concerns that something might have happened to her as it was really unusual for an owner of a company to not return any communication attempts. We called the corporate offices and they sent an email indicating they had forwarded our complaint to Traci, problem with that is Traci is the problem. We sent a rather poignant email back and a person by the name of Lisa from customer relations and care called us and advised that she was told by Traci that we rejected the contract and that she had spoken with us and advised us of that fact. THAT CONVERSATION NEVER TOOK PLACE. Traci ** lied.

Bottom line is this, Lisa at the customer relations and care department doesn't care at all, Traci ** is the most unprofessional person in the business period, and this company apparently only really cares about the auctions and not how the items get to the auctions and the horrible stress families are facing when having to deal with this at the last minute due to an emergency. RUN AWAY and donate your items to a needy organization rather than line the pockets of none empathetic and dishonest people.

Helene B.
Naples, FL
1 Star

January 08 2024 5:42AM

Reading these reviews brings back lot sadness and regrets. While it is too late for my family, I sincerely hope that these reviews along with mine will discourage others from making a huge mistake by entering into a contract with these con artists. These snakes prey on the emotions that are common with individuals or families that are going through the heartbreak of losing a loved one, or relocating from a long time residence.

The owners of these franchises have obviously been trained to use the same technique during their sales pitch. They dupe the owners of the property by telling them exactly what they want to hear and making promises that will not be kept. They assure their victims that everything will be categorized, evaluated for pricing, and that most of the more expensive items will be auctioned on line to maximize sales. We watched as many items were carefully packed into boxes in preparation for the online auction. The boxed items were taken away to never be seen again. The promised online auction never occurred.

A few of the antique furniture items that held figurines were left in the home to display items for sale. The furniture displaying these items were clearly marked “CABINET IS NOT FOR SALE”, yet they were sold anyway. Absolutely no accountability was given for anything that sold. No description or selling price was provided for a single item sold. The items that were boxed for the online auction were supposedly sold in lots at the estate rather than online, yet there is no accountability. An extensive collection of carpenter, mechanic, lawn, and garden tools were liquidated with absolutely no accountability.

The property accumulated over a marriage of 69 years resulted in payment of less than $4,000. Please do not let these frauds plunder your family’s possessions. Do not sign any contract without having an attorney review it. I assure you that investing a few hundred dollars in professional fees will save you thousands of dollars as well as a lot of regret and heartache. The contract they have you sign is nothing more than a license for them to steal.

Jim R.
Weatherford, OK
1 Star

October 10 2023 1:19AM

No one should choose this company. They charge far more than competitors. Just because a person is older doesn’t mean he or she needs a company devoted to older people. I shouldn’t say “devoted.” I should say “preying.” If you use this company to sell your possessions you will get Pennies on the dollar. There are so many subtractions there’s nothing left for you. ONLY “Caring” Transitions makes money. They grouped items for our auction without telling us they would do that.

To clarify, they decided that two rugs would be sold together or a rug would be sold with baskets, or a beautiful handmade end table would be sold with two small bookcases from an unpainted furniture store. This depressed the amount we got. They sent us a link to advertising for our sale. When we clicked on the link, there was no mention of our sale. They took the pictures for our sale. We didn’t even recognize one of our beautiful pieces because the picture was so bad. We gave them a dining table and eight chairs we paid over $4000 for.

After the low sale price and all the subtractions, we netted a little over $16 for them. That is what you will get too if you hire this company. You will pay significantly more than you need to for a move and the auction is a bad joke.

M and J D.
Dripping Springs, TX
12
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