When it came to looking for their first home there was more than bricks and mortar to factor in. Steph and Sam were looking for somewhere which would accommodate not just what they wanted in a home but for somewhere they could feel comfortable starting a family without having to settle for second best.
Swapping a do-er upper for a new build home
As with so many first time buyers, the first place Steph and Sam looked for their new place was online. It turned out to be a disappointing process. As Steph explained, “We started off looking for a fixer-upper. Something we could modernise and put our own stamp on. You see the photos of these older properties online and you get a good vibe. Everything looks cool and retro, but when you turn up and view that house with ‘lots of character and potential’, you soon realise that ‘potential’ is the most expensive word in the dictionary, with hidden costs behind every woodchip-covered wall.”
Sam adds “With Drew on the way, we realised that the level of renovation required on many of these older properties would give us even more sleepless nights. Who needs a skip full of stress? So we thought that instead of spending a fortune on getting an old place just the way we want it – why not choose a new house that has everything we want in the first place?”
The level of renovation required on many of these older properties would give us even more sleepless nights.
Buying into much more than a home
It was this thought that led them to The Leamington Lifestyle. This larger than average three bedroom home takes luxury living to a whole new level by taking the space of a four bed home and sharing it out amongst three.
But for Sam and Steph, it wasn’t just the idea of moving into this stunning new home, that really appealed. It was the whole neighbourhood, with its green open spaces, welcoming community, delightful walkways and well-connected scenic routes.
“We’ve always enjoyed walking at weekends, so finding a location that’s perfectly placed for both easy commuting and long, leisurely walks was top of our lifestyle list” continued Sam. “Since Drew came along, we’ve been keen to pick that up again, taking the stroller and maybe meeting up with some of our new neighbours with their kids. It’s reassuring to know that our little girl will be growing up in a place where she can see so much of nature.”
Steph agreed. “My friend Nicole from work told me how much she and Tony enjoyed living in their beautiful Redrow community. We’ve been to several parties at their fabulous home, so we knew that Redrow always create in really nice places. The welcome party that Redrow arranged to introduce us to our new neighbours at our development really helped us to settle in and there are lots of social spaces where we can meet up and the kids can play safely. What’s also great about where we live is that we’ve got lots of outdoor options on our doorstep. Sunday mornings are the best, walking to our favourite brunch spot then stopping on the way back to feed the ducks with Drew.”&
Finding a location that’s perfectly placed for both easy commuting and long, leisurely walks was top of our lifestyle list
First class help throughout the first time buying process
Besides being close to everything, Steph and Sam also found that they could arrange almost everything online. “Jason, our Sales Advisor, was absolutely brilliant from Day One” observed Steph. “He knew that we were cool with doing most things online but right from the start, he and his team were always there in person when we needed a quick chat about anything. Once he’d pointed us in the right direction, we made full use of the My Redrow portal – it could have been made for us! We enjoyed checking in on the app to see where our new home was up to in the build process, it was like Xmas!”
Sam was equally enthusiastic. “Once we’d found the one, we could do the paperwork and also add any extras and finishing touches to personalise our home, before we stepped through the door. The homeowners hub was really helpful too as we needed help getting our heads around our new home”
The last word on enjoying a better lifestyle goes to Steph. “If an estate agent tells you an older property has character or potential, run a mile or simply talk to Redrow. Their homes have great build quality and character, but without the potential for headaches and hassle.”
If you’d like to discover a better way to live like Steph and Sam, find your nearest development today.
