About Us
Senior Downsizing ExpertsÂ
On-Site Downsizing Services in Central Ohio +
Nationwide Consulting & Support
Songbird Transitions specializes in helping older adults downsize and move into senior living communities and smaller homes. We can manage your move from start to finish or you can choose from our menu of downsizing services to best suit your needs.
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Our Story
Our first downsizing experience was helping Samantha’s parents move from her childhood home into a smaller house following her mom’s severe motorcycle accident. Not long after, we helped Samantha's grandmother move into a senior apartment and later into a skilled nursing facility. We learned how stressful and emotional it can be to help a loved one move into a new space and make it feel like “home.” We appreciate how important it is to approach these major life transitions with an incredible amount of kindness, grace and optimistic energy. To us: it’s more than just a move. Â
Songbird Transitions specializes in helping older adults downsize and move into senior living communities and smaller homes. We offer professional on-site downsizing services including move management, estate dispersal and home sale prep to clients in Central Ohio. We also offer downsizing consulting, coaching and support nationwide. Our mission is to make your transition into a new, downsized home as smooth and stress-free as possible.
After helping hundreds of older adults downsize since 2016, we know what works—and what doesn’t —when it comes to downsizing. And we can help you and your family navigate all of the moving details and downsizing decisions —no matter how big or small. Â
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"moving isn’t just about the house – it’s about relocating the home."
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About Us
Samantha Stearns
Sam is the founder of Songbird Transitions and the heart of the business. Sam brings an effervescent energy to everything she does. From the very first consult, to the final walk through of your new home, Sam’s passion for senior downsizing shines through as much as her love for seniors.  Â
Born and raised in Northwest Ohio, Sam’s degrees and early career in professional dance and television production took her and her husband, Luke, to Massachusetts, Arizona and Colorado before the couple moved to Granville in 2015 to be closer to family. Â
In between taking her toddlers to preschool and playdates, Sam started helping older adults get rid of excess items throughout their homes as well as move into a local senior living community. Drawing upon on what she learned from downsizing her parents and grandmother, and using her experience in event production and project management, Sam expertly planned and organized all the details for each downsize. As word of Sam’s skills spread, she quickly built a waiting list of seniors seeking her assistance. Soon after, Songbird Transitions was born.  Â
Sam’s love of Granville and the Licking County community runs deep. She serves on the board of the Michael Dean Gibbs Foundation and the Licking County Community Center for 60+ Adults, was past President of the Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool and is an ardent supporter of Fostering Further. When Sam isn’t downsizing, you’ll find her coaching her son’s soccer team, teaching Pilates, or exploring the outdoors with Luke, their two young sons and dog, Lego.
Lucas Stearns
Luke has a background in real estate, property management and digital media production. Luke met Sam while working at a 480-unit apartment complex, where he was responsible for managing renovations, preparing units for renters, and overseeing property maintenance. Their mutual interest in Toledo Mudhens baseball and home improvement translated into many non-traditional dates! Â
Prior to joining Songbird full-time, Luke worked as a licensed real estate agent and Director of Information Technology at various property management companies and mortgage lenders across the county. When he wasn’t at work, he spent his time tirelessly flipping four homes in the last ten years. Luke’s experience selling homes in the region combined with his keen eye for resale value have been a huge asset to Songbird’s home sale preparation (“prep”) services which enable clients to get top dollar for homes sold after a downsize. Among his many roles in the business, Luke manages all of the logistics for packing and moving our clients’ household items, whether that is doing the heavy lifting or serving as a liaison to a specialty moving company. Â
An avid Ohio State fan, Luke loves watching Buckeye games with friends and his two sons. Luke also enjoys camping, dreaming up comic books ideas and planning fun adventures for his family.Â
Songbird Events & Webinars
SEE EVENTSMeet the Team
Tabitha
Tabi joined the Songbird team in 2021 after a long career in the restaurant industry. As our favorite server at a local brewpub for many years, Tabi’s warmth, fun personality and deep commitment to an excellent customer experience always left us smiling. Tabi’s search for a new career with a more family-friendly work schedule corresponded with our search for a new team member to assist with our growing downsizing business. Tabi brings her caring, can-do attitude to every downsize. She connects easily with clients, is an excellent problem solver and has a great ability to put clients at ease and anticipate their needs. Â
Growing up locally makes Tabi our go-to expert when navigating the Columbus metropolitan area efficiently during senior moves. As the daughter of a minister, Tabi spent part of her childhood helping her dad with home improvement projects for his congregants. This experience has been invaluable to Songbird estate dispersals and home sale preparations. Finally, her art degree and background make her a fantastic “finishing touches” sidekick to Sam when hanging art and making clients’ new spaces feel like home. Â
When Tabi isn’t hard at work, she enjoys painting and exploring central Ohio’s finest eateries with her husband and two sons.
Hannah
Hannah is Songbird's Project Manager. She seamlessly coordinates and communicates all the logistical details involved with moving and downsizing. With over eight years of project management experience, including a significant tenure at a restaurant equipment fabricator/dealer, Hannah's attention to detail enhances the moving experience for our clients and the entire Songbird team.Â
When Hannah is not helping seniors to downsize, you'll likely find her outdoors hiking or kayaking. She also enjoys experimenting with new recipes and spoiling her goldendoodle named Bruce and a cat affectionately known as Waffles.Â
Amy
Amy is a dedicated member of the Songbird Transitions team, known for her warmth and ability to connect with clients during downsizing transitions. With a compassionate approach, she ensures families feel supported every step of the way.
Amy lives in Granville with her husband and their son, an avid baseball player. When she’s not cheering from the stands, she enjoys discovering hidden gems in her community.Â
Ben
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Ben, the newest member of the Songbird Team, moved to Columbus in March of 2024 to be closer to his three little nieces and also "escape" the bitter Wisconsin cold (that he still admittedly loves). With experience in delivering fine wine and spirits across the state of Wisconsin, Ben is great at securely loading and delivering valuables which helps make the moving process as seamless and stress-free for Songbird clients as possible. He brings a contagious energy, strong work ethic, and a can-do attitude to every downsizing project and finds it rewarding to help out seniors.
When he's not lending his helping hand on downsizing projects, Ben coaches volleyball and basketball for the West Licking County Special Olympics. He's also extremely active in the stuttering community because, as a person who stutters himself, Ben makes it his mission to help spread awareness to both those who stutter as well as those who don't that stuttering is okay! On his off days, you can find Ben working on a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, playing rec league volleyball, or obsessing over his beloved Cleveland Guardians.
Kaylee
Kaylee joined the Songbird team in 2025, after nearly a decade of running a subscription and event floral business. As a Client Support Specialist for Songbird Transitions, Kaylee is able to draw upon her Interior Design degree to help clients space plan and visualize their new home prior to their move. Kaylee's business background and detail-oriented nature allows her to work in close partnership with the project manager and team to ensure every move is well-prepared, clearly communicated, and fully supported from start to finish.
Kaylee brings warmth and empathy to each and every client interaction. She enjoys working with and helping seniors move through their unique downsizing process. As a lover of all things vintage (especially mid-century!), Kaylee takes great pride and helping clients sort through and pack their belongings, soaking up the stories, memories, and wisdom they hold.
When she isn't working or playing with flowers, Kaylee enjoys hiking with her husband, crocheting, and watching her two sons play hockey.
Kaitlin
Kaitlin is the Digital Creator for Songbird Transitions. She creates and shares social media content that is authentic to the Songbird brand. As a graduate of Indiana University in Graphic Design and Kinesiology, she has found joy in working with seniors diagnosed with Parkinson Disease while simultaneously helping multiple organizations market their businesses online.
A Hoosier born and raised in Southeastern Indiana, Kate has been working in the fitness and wellness industry for the past 16 years. Kate joined the Songbird Team remotely in the fall of 2023 and immediately improved our online presence and content as we aim to assist more seniors no matter where they live, and no matter where they're moving.Â
Kate and Sam go way back--they met at the age of ONE. Their parents are good friends from college and their extended families get together twice a year to celebrate their beloved "Woodcutting" reunion and Easter traditions. Kate lives with her two children and her high school sweetheart, Noah, in the Cincinnati tri-state area.
Susan
As our website administrator, Susan tends the digital nest of Songbird Transitions. Prior to joining the Songbird team, Susan served as the Digital Content Director at Floret, a flower farm and seed company featured in the Magnolia Network show, Growing Floret. Susan launched Floret's three bestselling books and managed the Floret Online Workshop, a course that teaches small-scale, sustainable flower farming practices to growers around the world. Â
Susan and Sam became fast friends in their sons' “mom & me” preschool class. Their two families later teamed up to create a second grade “pod squad” during the pandemic. The arrangement provided structure for the kids and offered an opportunity to dream big about the future of Songbird. Â
Susan’s personal downsizing experience includes paring down her possessions from an antique-filled, 3-story home to just two suitcases prior to moving to Ecuador to serve in the Peace Corps.
An avid native plant gardener and nature lover, Susan also enjoys cycling, hiking, traveling and finding treasures at yard sales. She serves as chair of the Granville Tree & Landscape Commission, co-founded the Licking County Pollinator Pathway and is Licking Land Trust volunteer. She and her family live in the village of Granville. Â
Learn more about how we can help
CONTACT US FOR CONSULTATIONMeet the Fleet
Boxy
Not too big and not too small, our 15-foot box truck is just right for virtually all our downsizing moves. Boxy delivers all your household goods to your new downsized home and also takes any of your unneeded furnishings to be donated or sold. Boxy's favorite things to transport include bookcases, kitchen contents and wardrobe boxes full of coats and clothing. Boxy advises, “If you fill me up twice, you’re probably taking too many things!” Â
Bingo
This cute addition to the Songbird fleet loves to transport items that you no longer need to foster youth and charitable donation processing centers. Bingo especially likes to haul lamps, glass vases and kitchen gadgets. You might spot Bingo bopping around the Columbus area. Among her many favorite hangouts are: Friendship Village, Wesley Glen, StoryPoint and Cherry Blossom. Be sure to wave at Bingo when you see her!Â
Zippy
Our Ford Transit joined the Songbird fleet in the summer of 2021. Zippy safely transports artwork, special collectibles and any fragile items to your new downsized home. Zippy allows the Songbird team to make quick work of getting all of your most precious possessions set up in your new space. Zippy’s favorite things to transport include antique lamps, pottery, framed artwork and family portraits.
Betty
Betty is our go-to for moving kitchen and closets to your new home. This Transit van is especially handy when we relocate furnishings across the country to our client’s extended family. Favorite delivery adventures include: Northern Michigan, Vermont and Boston.
Teddy
Teddy is the newest addition to our fleet, perfect for delivering sentimental keepsakes and boxes of books with care. This trusty hauler often joins Betty on trips and loves transporting cherished items that matter most to our clients. Teddy is always up for a long-distance delivery!
Featured in:Â
The Care Table Podcast
Navigating Downsizing & Moving with Aging Loved Ones
In this episode of The Care Table podcast, Amy Huddleston speaks with Songbird Transitions founder Samantha Stearns. They discuss the emotional complexities of moving elderly family members, the importance of early planning, and how to initiate conversations about transitions. The conversation emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in these transitions, as well as the resources available for families navigating this challenging time.
Healthy Life Designing
Downsizing with Confidence
In this video, Songbird Transitions founder Samantha Stearns shares practical, real-world strategies for approaching downsizing with confidence. Sam walks through key techniques to help you sort belongings, manage sentimental items, and tackle even the messiest spaces — from closets and basements to storage units — with less stress and more clarity. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of breaking the process into manageable steps, being honest about what to keep and what to let go, and creating an environment that supports your next chapter. Whether you’re preparing for a move or simply seeking to simplify your space, the video offers helpful, compassionate tips to make downsizing feel achievable and empowering.
Free Downsizing Guide
10 pro tips to declutter your basement, garage, or other cluttered space in your home.Â
GET THE GUIDE