The 7 stage process of moving into a retirement village

Stage 1: Getting in touch

There’s no single right way to start, it’s whatever suits you best. You can visit our website, send us an email, give your chosen village a call, or if you’re local to the area, simply pop in for a chat. Whichever route you choose, we’re just as happy to help.

Stage 2: A warm welcome

If you visit in person, our reception team will be there to greet you. If you get in touch by phone or email, you’ll receive a warm reply outlining your next steps. At this stage we’ll also send you our brochure and sales presentation, along with some further useful documents to help you start building a picture of what life in an ExtraCare village looks like.

Stage 3: Meeting your sales consultant

Next, we’ll arrange to meet you at the village of your choice. This is your opportunity to talk through the whole process at your own pace and explore your purchasing options. As a charitable trust our aim is to make our homes as affordable as possible, so we’re able to work with you on either an outright purchase or a shared ownership arrangement, whichever suits your circumstances best.

Stage 4: Touring the village

From there we’ll take you on a guided tour of the village so you can get a real feel for the community, the facilities and everyday life. We’ll also show you our current availability so you can start picturing which apartment, bungalow or cottage (village dependent) might become your new home.

Stage 5: Registering interest or reserving your home

Everyone’s timeline is different and we understand that. Depending on your circumstances we can either register your interest for the future, or if you’re ready to move forward and we have availability, we can reserve a property for you. This reservation typically holds for three months, giving you time to market and sell your current home.

Stage 6: Support every step of the way

Throughout the whole process your dedicated Sales Consultant will be right there with you, answering questions and offering guidance so you’re never left to navigate it alone.
Many of our villages also offer a befriender who is someone who already lives at the village who’s on hand to offer extra friendly support as you move through the buying process. It’s just one more way we try to make your journey as smooth and reassuring as possible.

Stage 7: Settling in

Once you’ve moved in, the support doesn’t stop there as each village has its own way of helping new residents settle in and feel part of the community. Whether that’s an invitation to social events, an informal lunch in the bistro with a friendly face from the village or a welcome coffee morning where you can meet other new residents and start building friendships with your future neighbours. Exactly what’s on offer varies from village to village, but the aim is always the same, to help you feel at home right from the very start!

Ready to take the first step?

Moving into a retirement village is about so much more than a change of address, it’s the start of a new chapter, with community, support and independence all built in! If you’d like to find out more, we’d love to hear from you. Find your nearest ExtraCare community here and let’s start the conversation.