Posted 27 October 2022 by
Keith OsborneGetting the keys to a new home is always a day to remember, but it was doubly special for one Bedfordshire couple who got engaged on the same day.
Jamie Walker got down on one knee to surprise his girlfriend Gianna Sinha with a marriage proposal when she walked into the kitchen of their new Linden Homes property at Vistry Group’s St Marys location in Biddenham.
Jamie was helped with his plans by the Linden Homes sales team at the development, who helped him put up decorations in preparation for the big day.
He said: “I was so nervous, I could not sleep the night before. I knew that this day was more important than just collecting the keys. The sales advisors even came to help me decorate the kitchen on their days off in preparation for the engagement. I arrived at the house first, then I called Gianna to tell her we had the keys. As she walked into the kitchen, I got down on one knee and proposed.”
Gianna, 26, a finance analyst, and Jamie, 32, a business consultant, had spent two years saving for a deposit while living with their parents in Bedford and Flitwick. They wanted a three-bedroom detached house that would suit their needs for the next ten years – and when they found the ‘Mountford’ design at St Marys, they knew they’d found just the right place.
The couple bought the property off-plan, which meant they could choose the finishing touches to their home as it was built, and were handed the keys in May.
Gianna said: “It’s my dream house. It has everything we were looking for and it is also very affordable. As first-time buyers, there is such a relief when you finally get on the property ladder and have your own space. I had never left home before, so it is a huge change now living with just Jamie in our own home. We can do whatever we want to the house and put our own stamp on it.”
Jamie added: “Owning our own house has also been a lot better value for money than renting. Before lockdown, I rented on my own, and it was much more expensive than having a mortgage. There is also no concern about being asked to leave by the landlord, and it is a long-term investment.”
Since moving in, the couple are delighted with the design and layout of their new home and the community feel of St Marys.
Jamie said: “When we reserved the house, we were able to design it exactly how we wanted it and we are lucky enough to have a non-overlooking, large garden. There is a large drive, big enough to fit four cars, the roads are wide, and the house is very well designed. It has a symmetrical layout with spacious rooms and an open-plan kitchen and dining area. Our favourite room is the kitchen. We decided to get top specification Silestone worktops and it also looks out into the garden, which will be great for summer barbecues.”
St Marys
Gianna added: “We both occasionally work from home, and the house is big enough for us to both do that when we need to. We have turned one of the bedrooms into an office for now which is very convenient. The living room is large enough to have friends over, as well as having the garden and kitchen.
“Before we moved in, we met our neighbours on Instagram. We get along really well – they are a young couple like us, too. The development has a nice mix of people, there are lots of young families here and a great sense of community.”
The location of St Marys is ideal for Jamie and Gianna, within easy reach of Bedford train station for travelling to London, as well as being just a short drive to the town centre and near family and friends.
Gianna said: “It is close to the train station, which is important to us as Jamie commutes to London three times a week. The train from Bedford to London is only 40 minutes, and the station is only a five-minute drive from our home. It is also close to my family home so I can see them often.”
Jamie said: “When choosing a home, we wanted to find somewhere with a good range of pubs. We enjoy going to Brewpoint, which is our closest pub and has a great London vibe. There is also The Three Tuns in Biddenham which has recently been redeveloped and is not far for us to go. Alongside pubs, there are some lovely walks and nature reserves in the area, as well as Bromham Mill, which has a coffee shop and holds food events. We are also only a two-minute drive to Aldi.”
As well as helping Jamie with his proposal plans, the team at St Marys also helped make the buying process as straightforward as possible.
Gianna said: “The entire process of moving into St Marys has been smooth and made much simpler because of the sales team here. Jo and Kelly were fantastic during our move. They constantly kept us informed and let us know of any updates on the plot. They were also transparent and honest, as well as knowing a lot about the area, the site, and our house.
“They seriously went above and beyond and made us feel so comfortable. This is the biggest purchase of our lives, yet they made us feel very safe and secure. We would absolutely recommend this development to anybody looking to move to Bedfordshire.”
Linden Homes is part of Vistry Group, which also comprises Bovis Homes and Vistry Partnerships. There’s currently a choice of four- and five-bedroom houses available to reserve at St Marys, with prices starting from £500,000. Find out more at lindenhomes.co.uk.
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