400-Mile Move Arranged On Zoom

A couple from Northumberland were so impressed with an Isle of Wight development, they are now weeks away from moving the 400 miles to it – after arranging everything over Zoom.

Fiona and Gary Pinfold, wanted to make the move down south, and after holidaying on the Island last year and viewing a show home at David Wilson Homes’ St George’s Gate development, made the brave decision to re-locate.

Fiona said: “We knew we wanted to be close to our daughter, who lives in Portsmouth, and we took a real shine to the Isle of Wight. After looking around St George’s Gate, between lockdowns last year, we knew it would be a great place to call home. It is close to Newport town centre but also benefits from a rural feel – something we are used to in Northumberland.”

Arranging the move to the five-star housebuilder’s development wasn’t going to be that straightforward however, as the couple were purchasing during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

Fortunately, like many other companies, when the Covid crisis hit, David Wilson Homes had to quickly adapt to a new way of working, with virtual viewings becoming the new norm. This method was perfect for Fiona and Gary and was how they fell in love with their two-bedroom Wootton home.

Gary said: “Being so far away and buying during the pandemic meant that we could only have a virtual tour of potential properties, but we felt completely comfortable with that. David Wilson Homes made sure we could see everything that the new homes, and the development, had to offer, and we quickly decided that the ‘Wootton’ home was the one for us.”

St George’s Gate

When it came to making choices about the extras in their new home, the housebuilder also ensured that the couple were sent all the options available so they could make an informed decision from the comfort of their sofa 400 miles away. Fiona added: “When it came to colour and design specifics, we could choose everything from our home in Northumberland, which was great! David Wilson Homes made sure we had all the information we needed to make the right choices. We were also given a virtual walkthrough of our new home as it was being built. Being so far away, this was the perfect way to put any anxieties we may have had, to rest.”

Tammy Bishop, sales director at David Wilson Homes, Southampton Division, said: “For buyers to be able to view and reserve our homes online was a saving grace during the Covid pandemic, and has worked out really well for Fiona and Gary.

“To be able to arrange a relocation online meant they didn’t have to make any unnecessary journeys and weren’t compromising any feelings on safety.”

Fiona and Gary are now weeks away from moving into their new Island home and can look forward to being close to their daughter in nearby Portsmouth.

St George’s Gate is a collection of three-bedroom homes close to the town centre of Newport. Within walking distance of local shops, schools and cafés, and surrounded by rolling fields and country walks, the development is in an ideal location. There are excellent transport links around the Island and via the car ferry terminal to the mainland,.

Find out more about St George’s Gate from David Wilson Homes.

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