If you have been thinking of joining a retirement village it’s most likely because you're planning to secure a safe, comfortable and stable place to live to the end of your days for you and possibly your partner.

But before making such a big move, it makes sense to understand who the owner and operator of your village will be.

It was found in our McCrindle Baynes 2011 village census that most people felt the reputation of a village was significant. For 78% of 10,600 village residents we surveyed, a good reputation was somewhere between 'slightly' and 'extremely' influential in their decision making process.

The operator will be the helping hand that you'll call upon from time to time for support. It's important to know who they are.

With around 2000 retirement villages across Australia, approximately 60% are operated by private companies, both large and small. 40% are run by not-for-profit churches and charities – including local community groups as well as organisations like the RSL.

How do you get a reading on what sort of people these operators are?

You can make contact with the retirement village resident association in your state and ask them about the long-term track record of the village operator you're considering. You will find a link to their websites here on the listing pages.

One of the major benefits of being a village resident is a sense of security and having no worries. The reality is that our survey showed 97% of residents in retirement villages were happy with their decision to join a village.

But it is a big move, especially considering the average time a person lives in one is between eight and 10 years.

So do your homework to ensure that you age well.