By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The number of retirement counselors recently doubled at Fox Run, a retirement community in Novi, in order to better assist retirees interested in moving there.

While other real estate options remain at a lull, Fox Run has experienced a 14% rise in the number of people moving there during 2007 over 2006. They’ve also noticed a 5% increase in people placing $1,000 deposits in order to “stake their claims” to secure priority for an upcoming move.

In order to meet this growing demand, Fox Run now features two retirement counselors who will be on-hand to walk people through the whole process from start to finish—from the moment they first contact the sales and information center until the day they walk into their new home.

13 years and going strong
Kristine Anderson is already a friendly and familiar face to many people both inside and outside of Fox Run’s sister community, Henry Ford Village—she’s been there for more than 13 years. Now, Anderson will be joining Carolyn Ives on Fox Run’s team. Anderson holds a master’s degree in social work and worked in the field for six years before coming to Erickson Retirement Communities.

She is an expert at getting to know prospective residents through personal appointments, luncheons, and other events on campus. “I like to learn about you, your hobbies, likes and dislikes—basically assessing your needs and desires, and then matching them with what Fox Run has to offer,” she says.

“We tour the community, including the apartment homes,” she says. “Once you reserve an apartment, I go through the whole process with you, including a financial review, pre-residency interview, contracts, settlement—I like to say I walk through the whole process with you.”