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My first career was as a registered nurse and I worked with a community health organization in Toronto to deliver health care in the home. What a wonderful experience that was indeed. I loved working with a majority of senior citizens although my patient load was a mixed bag of ages, gender, medical and post surgical cases. The seniors were by far my favourite population. Seniors mostly loved to tell stories of when they were young and what their world was like, you know…back then!
I was able to evaluate, interview and communicate with them and really, over sometimes weeks and months, able to know them not only as individuals, but also as the years went on as a group of wonderful people from whom to learn from.
I bring these experiences with me into this downsizing for seniors initiative and thus bring years of knowing what is important to the group overall which helps me determine the needs of the individuals I meet. I think this prepares me very well for working with seniors and their families for needs assessments, what options are available, and how to navigate the system and evaluate the homes that are being considered for the next stage of their lives.
There are some different options to consider and budget is a definite priority to consider. The monthly fees for retirement living are high and can include a menu of other services to choose. The styles of the offerings can range from hotel room style living to separate 2 bedroom apartment style living. The level of independence is important as everyone is different; however, the knowledge that temporary nursing services or cleaning and laundry services are available offers peace of mind. Also knowing there is qualified staff on hand in the residence to call in case of need can be very comforting too.
Just like moving to any other style of residence, location, budget, menu of available services, etc., are all important to consider. Well known brands of retirement living residences are represented throughout the GTA and beyond and available to visit and evaluate. For those who wish, they often allow for a trial period to see if the residence suits your lifestyle. For some, this alone can make the difference between trying it out rather than dismissing it altogether. The amenities allow for both organized and individual activities.
Many of the residences are upscale and lovely. I would liken some of them to a cruise ship with organized outings, a great way to mingle with other like-minded people and make new friends. It’s an ideal option for a senior who sells their home outside the GTA to come live closer to a baby boomer child and family.
Senior focused living can be as flexible as you wish it to be. Get involved with the group activities or not – it’s up to you. And don’t forget to try the food, that’s really important!
Next Steps:
As always I invite you to call for a free personal consultation. See you here next time. Let’s talk Downsizing!
Client testimonials:
We worked with Luci and Marc to buy our new condo sell our Toronto home. The kids had left and we had been retired for a couple of years. We knew we wanted to simplify and move into a space that would be maintenance free. We always loved the idea of moving into a condo and just spending some real quality time travelling and golfing. We ended up buying a condo in the east end of Toronto with amazing views of the Lake – it’s so amazing we can hardly wait to move in! We actually found Luci online, believe it or not. We called Luci and set an appointment for a consultation. Luci and Marc are a husband-and-wife team and were very professional. We had lots of questions they were able to answer all of them. It was a very good experience. We bought the condo first because we wanted to ensure we had a great place to move to. When it came time to sell the house, Luci brought in the service people we needed to get the house ready for sale. The home was staged, and professional photos were taken. We really liked Luci’s quick and thorough communication. She was always available to take our calls. That was really important to us. We sold in 6 days for top dollar and couldn’t be happier with the entire experience. We would not hesitate to refer Luci and Marc to anyone we know. Thank you Luci and Marc!
Steve and Marilyn C.
I used Luci Rizzo to sell my house in Toronto while I was in BC. Excellent service, she helped with every detail including hiring painters, cleaning services and electrical work. I would highly recommend her.
Olive Spence
In the current overheated real-estate market, Lucy is a trustworthy, transparent, honest and proactive partner of any buyer or seller. Thanks to her ongoing commitment and sound advice, I was able to make a great buy and investment. I recommended Lucy to numerous people and I will always do so because it is really hard to find such a great agent who works hard to help her clients succeed by being there for them during the whole process and beyond. I am really glad that our paths crossed because, in the end, her hard work and dedication had an amazing an positive impact on my quality of life.
Charles Jean Sucsan
I would highly recommend Luci Rizzo for any of your real estate requirements. Luci helped us sell our home and downsize to a condo, which we love! With years of experience in the real estate market Luci is trustworthy, personable, is client focused, she listened to what we wanted, and provided great suggestions and communication throughout the process. Always prepared, Luci offered honest feedback and up-to-date research which enabled us to make the right decisions along the way regarding both selling and buying . We couldn't be happier and would not hesitate to use Luci again when we go to sell our condo.
Lesa Warner
Great overall service and experience! As first-time home buyers in Toronto, my partner and I were very nervous and had innumerable questions. Luci guided us, with patience and expertise, every step of the way. I would definitely recommend Luci and her team to friends and family for any real estate needs!
Mauricio Morales
My husband and I worked with Luci Rizzo and Marc de Bellefeuille recently in looking for our new home. We found them to be consistently professional, helpful and very knowledgeable about both the real estate market in Toronto and also about house construction and design. We started house hunting with little understanding of prices and a stubborn and outdated mindset about real estate values. Luci and Marc took us to upwards of thirty properties and always gave us relevant and helpful information, helping us learn to analyze and understand pricing and home value. Looking back, it is clear that we needed to fundamentally change our understanding before we could make a decision that was right for us. Luci and Marc were never impatient with our naive assessments and when we found a house we loved, they gave us clear analyses to help us make the most rational decision we could. I am so impressed by their expert knowledge of both the Toronto Real Estate market and house values. We found a wonderful house and I am certain it is all down to the expertise of this great team, Luci Rizzo and Marc de Bellefeuille.
Katherine Beattie
Recently, I decided to sell and downsize my semi detached downtown Toronto home. Luci was there for me advising on the whole downsizing procedures and suggesting from her contacts various ways that could ease and expedite getting my home ready for the market. Once my home went on the market, Luci really shined as she dealt with numerous inquiries and requests for showings during a covid19 lockdown. She is a great communicator and we exchanged a number of emails and phone calls daily to keep me in the loop and to ensure every detail had been looked after. I found Luci to be dedicated to helping her clients receive the best possible outcome, detailed and an excellent negotiator.
Linda Sebastian
Luci and Marc made my experience as a first time home buyer as easy as I think it could have been. They were really flexible around my schedule and helped me find the perfect place fast. Any questions I had, they had the answer or knew where to find it. I am hoping not to move for a long time but if I did I would use Luci and Marc again in a heartbeat
Michael Legere
Luci was very patient when helping us purchase our current home. As soon as the purchase was confirmed, Luci came over prepared to discuss details of selling our townhouse. She gave us an estimate of market value of our home and went through her market strategy with us. Our property was listed on MLS the next day. And to our surprise, it was sold in a week at the price we wanted. We couldn’t be happier.
Alistair Chan
I’d recommend Luci for managing a Toronto real estate sale. She’s conscientious and careful. She knew the market and gave us good advice. She managed all the showings, and managed the selling process very well. We benefited from Luci’s professionalism and experience.