Posted 15 November 2023 by
Helen ChristieWhen Tom and Vanessa got the good news that they were expecting a baby it spurred them on to finally achieve their dream of living a more rural life.
Tom, 36, and Vanessa, 27, found out early this year that they were expecting a little girl in October and decided it was time to pursue their long-held plan to move out of Flixton in Greater Manchester and find somewhere with a more country feel to it.
They are now enjoying their new house at Bovis Homes’ Hazelmere location in the Cheshire village of Haslington, where they have recently been joined by baby Norah Grace, who was born on October 24.
Tom, a chartered accountant, and Vanessa, who works in HR as an early careers learning advisor, love to do the kind of things you find in more rural areas such as country walks and visiting farm shops. Tom is also a keen follower of horseracing, and wanted to be in a setting near to farms and stables, with the thought that perhaps his daughter might one day share his interest in horses.
Tom has relatives in the Haslington area, and a cousin living on Bovis Homes’ Hazelmere location in the village, they took a look around the development and found the perfect property for them – a four-bedroom house in the homebuilder’s Aspen house style.
Tom says: “We wanted to be more in the country and have more greenery around and a better place to be ourselves and raise a child, so when my cousin recommended Hazelmere, we went and had a look at the show homes. My cousin spoke highly of Bovis and how well they had been treated and looked after and how quiet the development is. They drove us around and showed us some really nice properties – and we could see how well spaced out the homes were.”
Although the couple loved their previous home, which was a quirky 300-year-old two-bedroom cottage that had been modernised inside, it was not right for the next stage of their lives. With a baby on the way and busy careers, the couple did not want to take on a house that needed refurbishment or a lot of decorating work, so a new build home was a good option.
Another benefit of buying direct from Bovis Homes was that they were able to use the housebuilder’s Home Exchange scheme to purchase their new place. This meant not only were they assured of a buyer from the start, but they were able to stay in their old home right up until their new property was ready to move into.
Tom continues: “That took the anxiety and worry out of it, which is particularly good when you find a plot you really like. Had we not used this scheme we would have relied on marketing our house as quickly as we could, and we might not have sold in time to ensure we got the plot we wanted. Home Exchange took all the worry out of the process and allowed us to get excited.”
The couple bought their house for £404,995 putting down a 10% deposit and moved in with their pet dog, a pug called Diego, at the end of June.
Their new home has a large kitchen/diner that runs across the back of the house with bi-fold doors leading out to the garden, a utility/cloakroom, a living room, and a study downstairs. On the first floor there are four bedrooms and a family bathroom, and an en-suite shower room with the main bedroom.
Tom adds: “We liked the style of the house, it has a nice main living room and a study which is perfect for me so I can have an office at home. The utility room works well, and the kitchen dining room is big and long with bi-fold doors. It’s practical but with a nice flow to it.”
When family and friends came for their first visits, they commented on how much space there is and the wide staircase and spacious feel to the place – all things that attracted Tom and Vanessa to the house. The couple also love the fact that their home is next to a nature reserve.
Tom admits his favourite room is his office which he has decorated with horseracing pictures. Vanessa, who is a keen baker, loves having a spacious, modern kitchen with plenty of storage for all the equipment.
Tom praised the customer service they received from the sales advisors, who kept them well informed about progress, and the site team who have been helpful since they moved in.
Receiving the keys was a great moment. It was the first time Vanessa had owned a property as Tom had bought their previous place before they met. He recalls: “It was brilliant. I was more about the practical side of it, and for Ness it was more emotional as she was very happy to have her own place. Bovis were fantastic. There was a welcome pack and champagne in the fridge. You didn’t feel it was ‘just another sale.’”
Now they are making the most of the rural life they had dreamed of, with country walks on their doorstep, visits to the Wheelock Hall Farm Shop for a bite to eat or some shopping, and enjoying a trip to the Hawk Inn pub in the village.
Tom concludes: “I get my Racing Post on a Saturday and go for a walk and it’s worlds apart from where we were, which was a nice area, but you could hear buses and traffic there. Life is definitely different but very much for the better. You come home every night and it feels homely and relaxed. It’s a nice place to be and that’s what you want in a house. We’re proud of what we have worked for.”
Properties at Hazelmere currently start from £399,995 for a four-bedroom detached house.
View more developments currently available from Bovis Homes
Find new homes in Cheshire
Find new Shared Ownership homes in Cheshire
Find retirement homes in Cheshire