Making the decision to sell the family home and move to a retirement village is filled with uncertainty. Will you like the community environment? Will you like the downsized home?

Do you want to make a sea change and move away from the city? Will you like the people?

One of NSW's largest village operators is Aevum, the old Hibernian Society, which owns and operates 15 villages here. They have developed a new service where you can ‘try before you buy' in select villages where they have serviced apartments.

The idea is that you can stay at a village for a week with no obligation, so that you can meet the residents and get your own idea if village life is for you. Accommodation is in a servicedapartment; it's like a hotel. The furniture is supplied and you don't have to cook. Meals aresupplied. You are treated like the other residents in the village and you can join in all the activities so you get a real glimpse of what you would experience if you were to join the village.

At the end of the week it's up to you what you want to do. If you enjoyed the experience and think village life is for you, you can go ahead and organize the sale of your home and select a village and home in the village that suits you.  This may take a few months or longer, depending on your situation. There is no pressure; its up to you and when you are ready. Or you may decide to make no move at all.

This service is also a great way to test run a sea change lifestyle. You can try life in the Port Macquarie area, where Aevum offers the Try Before You Buy service in two of its villages.

Leila Abrahams Tries Before She Buys

"I'm 71. My husband died 2 months ago, which of course was an awful shock. I didn't want to be alone in the house any more and although I have many friends in the area, I wanted to be

closer to my family. My daughter found The Willows in Winston Hills on the internet. We booked in for their "Test Drive" program, where you can stay in an apartment for a week to see if you like it before you buy a place. I had a lovely first day; I made some new friends straight away. There's so much to do. I've been to see the beautiful gardens at Mt Penang on the Central Coast, and we went shopping at North Rocks on the village bus. They also have a hairdresser here. Everyone was so kind to me. It's made such a big difference; it's like  starting a new life."

The try before you buy Aevum villages are:

Sydney:

• Lourdes, Killara
• The Willows, Winston Hills
• Cardinal Freeman, Ashfield
• Maybrook
• Cromer
• Bexley Gardens, Bexley
• Castle Ridge, Castle Hill

North Coast:

• Golden Ponds, Forster
• Bellevue Gardens, Port Macquarie