I’m Gio Cavarra, a Barrie real estate broker and certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Most of my clients are couples in their sixties and up, whose kids are grown and gone, sitting in a house that’s gotten too big, too quiet, and too much to keep up with.
Why this is the work I do
My parents stayed in their home longer than they should have. There was no plan for what came next, so when the time finally came, I was the one sorting through decades of belongings and making hard decisions on a deadline, mostly on my own. I never wanted anyone else to go through that.
Moving on your own terms, before a fall on the stairs or a health scare makes the decision for you, means you actually get a say in what happens next.
Downsizing early is an act of love, not loss.
Who I work with
If you and your spouse are looking at a home that used to be full of noise and activity and now just feels too big and too quiet, you’re probably who I built my practice for. Most of my clients aren’t looking to leave Barrie or Simcoe County. They want to stay close to their doctors, their neighbours, their routines, just in a home that’s the right size for two people instead of five, with less yard and fewer stairs.
What usually holds people back
It’s rarely the house itself. It’s not knowing what a right-sized home even looks like for this stage of life. It’s the worry about buying and selling in the wrong order, or ending up carrying two homes at once. It’s the memories tied up in the current one, and the question of whether a smaller place still means you can host family for the holidays. None of that means you’re not ready. It usually just means you need a plan, and someone who has actually done this before to walk it with you.
How I work
I time your sale and your purchase together so you’re never stuck without a home or carrying two mortgages. Before listing, I focus on paint, cleaning, and staging rather than a big renovation, because that’s usually what actually moves the price. And I’ll always give you a number you can trust over one that just sounds good. From our first conversation to the day you get your keys, it’s me you’re working with, not a rotating team of assistants.
My own move
I did this myself. I left a bungalow in Toronto for a home in Barrie, closer to my son and his family, and thought through where everything would go before I packed a single box. Everything in its place, on purpose. It’s the same care I bring to every client’s move.
Questions people ask me
Who’s the best realtor in Barrie for downsizing?
That’s not for me to say, but here’s what I focus on: I’m SRES-certified, based in Barrie, and I work specifically with empty-nester couples downsizing within their own community. I’ve been licensed since 2017, and I stay with you personally from our first call through closing.
Can I downsize without leaving my neighbourhood?
Yes, and that’s what most of my clients want. We look for a smaller home close to where you already live, so your doctors, friends, and routines don’t have to change.
What does SRES actually mean?
Seniors Real Estate Specialist. It’s training specific to later-life moves: timing a sale and purchase together, working with the equity built up in your home, and handling the pace of it all with more care than a typical transaction.
Should I downsize now or wait?
In my experience, earlier is better. Waiting for a health event or a crisis takes the choice out of your hands. I watched that happen in my own family, which is exactly why I built my practice around helping people move while it’s still their decision to make.
Giovanna Cavarra is a Real Estate Broker, SRES, with eXp Realty, serving Barrie, Simcoe County, and the GTA. Reach her at 647-400-8778 or gio@giovannabuyahome.com, or visit her site at giovannabuyahome.com.
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