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.
Hazel & Fred exists to provide independent, personalised guidance that helps 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.
Sam Price is a Registered Property Valuer, Licensed Buyer's Agent and Town Planner with over 25 years of experience in the Brisbane property market. He has also guided his own family through these decisions, which is what prompted Hazel & Fred in the first place.
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 a 60 to 90 minute Discovery Session to understand your situation, priorities and concerns
A general review of retirement communities to help you understand your options
A written Summary Report capturing key considerations, 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 report goes out, to revisit decisions as your thinking develops
You walk away with clarity and direction, not pressure. No commitment to take a next step.
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, plus deeper research
A tailored shortlist of 3 to 5 retirement communities, based on your situation, budget, lifestyle and location preferences
Each shortlisted community is contacted directly to confirm availability, entry costs and any potential deal-breakers before you visit
Up to 3 inspections I book and attend with you, with a debrief after each one
A detailed Summary Report covering the shortlist, observations from each inspection, key questions to consider and recommended next steps
A moving checklist and warm introductions to trusted legal, financial and downsizing professionals
Follow-up conversations through the decision phase, with a final handover summary at the end
You walk away with a clear view of your real options, which community is worth pursuing and what to do next.
The Transition Partner
Best for people who've made the decision, or who'd value a steady hand from the first conversation through to move-in day. There's a lot to coordinate: selling the family home, choosing the right community, the move itself and the family conversations that go alongside. You want someone walking the whole path with you.
What's included:
Everything in The Selection Partner, with deeper research and broader scope
An expanded shortlist of 6 to 7 retirement communities, including options refined or added as your priorities sharpen
Up to 6 inspections I book and attend with you, with a debrief after each one
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)
A more detailed Summary Report that ties the shortlist, inspections, transition plan and recommendations together
A moving checklist tailored to your situation, plus warm introductions to trusted legal, financial, downsizing and aged care professionals
Regular follow-up check-ins by call, email or video, including family liaison as needed
A final handover summary that ties off what's been delivered and what comes next
You walk away with a clear plan, the right people lined up and steady support to see the move through.
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.
The Lighthouse List
The Lighthouse List is my proprietary database of retirement communities across Brisbane and inner Southeast Queensland. 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 and Southeast Queensland.
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 about a week. The Selection Partner runs three to four weeks. The Transition Partner spans four to six weeks, with check-ins continuing through 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 contracts?
4
No. Retirement village contracts are legal documents, and contract review is the work of a lawyer who specialises in retirement village 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 a Discovery Call?
5
It's a free 20-minute conversation by phone or video, with no obligation to engage further. I listen to where you are in the process, what you're weighing up, and what kind of support would actually help. By the end, you'll know whether Hazel & Fred is the right fit for you and what the next step looks like. You don't need to prepare anything in advance.
“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.
