Independent Retirement Village Adviser in Brisbane
Choosing a retirement village is a big decision and you deserve the right support
Most people spend months, sometimes years, considering a retirement village before they take the next step and that's completely understandable. Choosing the right village is emotional, complex and full of questions that are hard to answer alone.
At Hazel & Fred, I provide independent, personalised guidance to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. I'm not selling you a property, nor am I tied to any retirement village, operator or placement broker. I'm simply in your corner, helping you make the right decision for your situation, your lifestyle and your future.
I am a Registered Property Valuer, Licensed Buyer's Agent and Town Planner with 25+ years of experience in the Brisbane and South East Queensland property market. I have also guided my own family through these decisions, which is what prompted Hazel & Fred in the first place.
Or call me on (07) 3366 1116
Who I help
Planning Ahead
You're in good health and want to make a considered, unhurried decision about your next chapter. You'd like independent guidance before you commit to anything.
Supporting a Parent
You're an adult child helping Mum or Dad work through their retirement village options. You want someone trustworthy to guide the process and take the pressure off your family.
Facing a Sudden Change
A health event or life change has created urgency. You need clear, calm guidance and someone who can help you move quickly without making a rushed decision.
Choose your level of support
People come to me at different stages of the decision. I offer three levels of service, so you can start where you are.
The Retirement Clarity Roadmap
Best for people in the early stages. You're considering a retirement village but not ready to make decisions yet, and you'd like a clear framework before going further.
What's included:
An initial questionnaire and consultation to understand your situation, priorities and concerns
A general review of retirement communities, with 3 worked examples so you can see how the options compare
A general review of pricing and availability across the communities that fit your brief
A written Roadmap setting out your options in plain English, the questions worth asking and the next steps to think through
Warm referrals to trusted professionals (legal, financial, downsizing support) where useful
Follow-up conversations after the Roadmap goes out, to revisit decisions as your thinking develops
You walk away with clarity and direction, not pressure. There is no commitment to take a next step. If you step up to a fuller level of support within 30 days, the Roadmap fee is credited in full.
The Selection Partner
Best for people ready to inspect, compare and move toward a decision. You've moved past general exploration and want a real shortlist, scheduled visits and someone walking alongside you as you weigh up the options.
What's included:
Everything in The Retirement Clarity Roadmap, with the review of communities and pricing tailored to you rather than general
A tailored shortlist of 3 to 5 retirement communities, based on your situation, budget, lifestyle and location preferences
Each shortlisted community contacted directly to confirm fees, availability and any potential deal-breakers before you visit
Up to 4 inspections I book and attend with you, with a debrief after each one
Warm introductions to trusted legal and financial professionals
General guidance on preparing your home for sale, plus ongoing check-ins through the decision phase
A written report and recommendation once the inspections are complete, naming the two or three communities worth putting your name down at, with the costs, the estimated wait and the trade-offs set out
You walk away with a clear view of your real options and the two or three communities worth putting your name down at. The Selection Partner is complete at that point. If you would like support through the wait and the move itself, Making the Move can be added when you are ready.
The Transition Partner
Best for people who have made the decision, or who would value a steady hand from the first conversation through to move-in day. There is a lot to coordinate: selling the family home, choosing the right community, the move itself and the family conversations that go alongside it. You want someone walking the whole path with you.
The Transition Partner is The Selection Partner and Making the Move together. Making the Move is the stage that begins once you have chosen and are ready to put your name down. It can also be added to The Selection Partner later, when the time is right. Because sought-after communities can have an estimated wait of a year or more, plenty of people prefer to take that decision when they reach it rather than at the start.
What's included:
Everything in The Selection Partner, including the shortlist of 3 to 5 communities and up to 4 inspections
Your name placed on the list at up to 3 chosen communities
Monthly contact with each of those communities while you wait for a place, for up to 12 months
Up to 3 property viewings I attend with you as homes become available
A personalised transition plan with timeline, mapping the key milestones from decision through to move-in (contract signing, sale of the family home, downsizing, moving day)
General guidance on selling your home and choosing an agent, plus warm introductions to trusted downsizing and settling-in support
Support when you sign your paperwork, with your lawyer handling the contract itself and your financial planner the money questions
Regular follow-up check-ins by call, email or video, including family liaison as needed
A final handover summary that ties off what has been delivered and what comes next
You walk away with your place secured and a calm, well-supported move, settled into your new home, with someone alongside you the whole way.
Why independent advice matters
Most people looking at retirement villages encounter advice from village sales staff, placement brokers and online comparison sites, all of whom have a financial interest in the outcome.
Hazel & Fred is different. The fee is transparent, fixed and agreed before any work begins. No commissions from retirement villages, operators or any professional I refer you to. My only interest is helping you make the right decision.
That independence is rare in this space.
If a land lease community is also on your list, that is a different law and a different financial model. I cover it separately on my land lease community adviser page.
The Lighthouse List
The Lighthouse List is my proprietary database of retirement communities across Brisbane. I built it because no public, independent source of this information exists. Village brochures come from the villages themselves and online comparison sites take commissions. Government databases focus on aged care rather than retirement living.
Every entry is built from direct contact with the village or operator, not from marketing material. Each one confirms pricing structures, contract types, availability, lifestyle features and any known issues. The list is refreshed monthly, so when a shortlist is built for a client, it's built from current information, not last year's brochure.
For you, that means the shortlist I put together isn't a Google search dressed up as advice, or generic guidance from a national call centre. It's drawn from a database I maintain personally, refreshed monthly, with real, on-the-ground knowledge of what's available across Brisbane.
Not sure whether a retirement village is the right next move for you?
FAQs
How do you help me choose a retirement village?
1
It starts with understanding what matters most to you: lifestyle, location, budget, family proximity, care needs, and the home itself. From there, I research suitable communities, contact each one directly, and attend inspections with you. You get a written summary so you can make a confident decision. You stay in control throughout. My job is to provide structure, research, and a calm second pair of eyes.
Do you take commissions from retirement villages or operators?
2
No. I charge a transparent fixed fee, agreed before any work begins. No commissions, referral payments, or kickbacks from retirement villages, operators, or any professional I connect you with. My only interest is helping you make the right decision for your situation.
How long does the process take?
3
It depends on which tier you engage and how quickly decisions need to happen. The Retirement Clarity Roadmap typically takes one to two weeks. The Selection Partner usually runs for one to two months. The Transition Partner can run for up to twelve months or longer, depending on the community you choose and the service you select, with check-ins continuing through the wait and the move itself. I can move faster if circumstances require and I won't rush you if they don't.
Do you review retirement village and land lease community contracts?
4
No. Retirement village and land lease contracts are legal documents, and contract review is the work of a lawyer who specialises in community law. I help you understand the disclosure documents and what they show, then connect you with a specialist lawyer to handle the contract itself. That separation protects you.
What happens on the call?
5
It is a free 30-minute phone call, with no obligation to go further. I listen to where you are in the process, what you are weighing up and what kind of support would actually help. By the end you will know whether Hazel & Fred is the right fit and what the next step looks like. You do not need to prepare anything in advance.
Or call me on (07) 3366 1116
“We weren’t quite sure where to begin and it all felt a little unfamiliar. Sam at Hazel & Fred helped us find a great retirement community and introduced us to other professionals who helped make the move seamless. It was very comforting having someone to guide us.”
Margaret & Ron came to Hazel & Fred for help choosing a retirement community and coordinating the move.
