Gliding up the property ladder

Fri, Oct 13th 2006, 11:00

Contrary to one of life’s urban myths, moving home doesn’t have to be stressful, as one carefree family has just demonstrated.

Carol and Chris Meredith have traded up within the same Redrow development in Stoke-on-Trent and found the whole process refreshingly stress free.

They have been living with their two daughters at the Doulton Grange development in Baddeley Green for two years now and wanted something more spacious than the three-bedroom semi-detached home they bought initially.

Carol said: "We liked almost everything about our previous home, it was close to work for both my husband and me, and our daughters were near to their friends. Then, obviously, the fact that it was a new build meant that there were no worries about large-scale maintenance or upgrading or anything like that. The only thing we wanted to change was the size.

"The move has been really easy. It took just over five months in total from deciding we wanted to move to actually moving into the new home, and most of that was spent negotiating with the people who were buying our previous property.

"I suppose it helps that the two homes are fairly close to one another, but the fact that Redrow were so efficient and professional made the switch a lot easier." Linda Androlia, sales director for Redrow Homes (West Midlands) said: "It’s great to see people who want to trade up on site, because it shows that the developments we are creating are really being enjoyed by the people that have moved in.

"With our fantastic range of properties at Doulton Grange there truly is something for everyone from first time buyers to those wishing to trade up to a larger home to empty nesters wanting to downsize – so plenty of opportunities for people to move around once they get here!"

Carol and Chris both work in Stoke; Carol at the housing association, Potteries Housing and Chris at Triumph motorcycles. The Merediths have now moved into their new four-bedroom Ribble home and they already have plans to personalise it and make it their own.

Carol said: "One of my hobbies is interior design. I love doing DIY projects like making curtains and putting in my own little touches. One big thing we are doing in the new house is turning the fourth bedroom into a dressing room, with mirrors all over the walls."

The family’s new detached, four-bedroom Ribble home has a spacious lounge, separate dining room, fully fitted kitchen and a cloak-room on the ground floor; with three double bedrooms and the family bathroom on the first floor and a spacious master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and en-suite shower room at the top of the house. By creating bonus rooms ‘in the roof’ in this way Redrow has created a very spacious and flexible family home.

Carol said: "I’m glad that we found what we were looking for here at Doulton Grange, because I wouldn’t like to have to leave. The people here are so nice and there’s a real community developing."

As an added bonus, Potteries Housing, the housing association for which Carol works, has recently benefited from a donation of furniture from Redrow. The association is using the furniture in setting up a new ‘safe house’, where people who are in crisis or distress can stay in a safe environment with the support they need.

Carol said: "Redrow have been brilliant, I am so pleased they are donating furniture which is pretty much brand new to be used in such a good cause."

Doulton Grange is a well established development with a wide mix of new homes available, including three-bedroom properties from £149,950 and four-bedroom styles from £168,950. Redrow is creating a diverse environment that features a mixed community of families, young professionals, downsizers and first-time buyers.

The entrance to the development resembles a Georgian avenue, with three-storey townhouses lining each side, while further into the development Redrow has created its more traditional two-storey properties and apartments.

Doulton Grange, situated to the east of Stoke on Leek New Road has excellent transport links to the A50 and A500 giving direct links to the M6, Birmingham and Manchester. Also Festival Park and Octagon Retail Park in Hanley provide some of the best local shopping.

To find out more about the homes available at Doulton Grange, call the sales team on 01782 538 486.