A Fresh Start At Houghton Regis Development
After a major life change, Julie, 58, has begun a new chapter at Storey Homes’ Bidwell Mews in a stunning three-bedroom home.
With an interior design scheme in mind, inspired by the development’s show home, Julie is over the moon to begin her new, solo homeownership journey at the new site in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.
Julie, who retired after 30 years working at NatWest Bank, leads an active and busy life enjoying golf, cycling, walking, cooking and seeing friends. She previously lived in Harpenden and remained in the same house for 30 years with her former husband and their daughter, going through multiple renovation projects. However, after her divorce, Julie found herself on a new path; one which involved buying and living on her own. She comments: “We had to sell our family home and I had to find somewhere else to live, so I began looking in areas which were within my budget. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay in Harpenden, but the space you get coming to Bedfordshire in comparison is unbelievable. The search brought me to Houghton Regis, which is also just round the corner from my sister and niece and means I still have ample room for entertaining.”
Upon discovering the Bedfordshire village, Julie visited the developments around the local area. She explains: “I decided my house search would only include new builds – I liked the idea of a house requiring no maintenance and I didn’t want an old, drafty home. Also, I wanted a completely new start so having a blank canvas was perfect for me. I didn’t have an appointment at Bidwell Mews but drove in to have a look at the exterior of the show homes. They looked so amazing that I stopped the car and walked into the marketing suite where I was greeted by Lizzy and her beaming smile. Bidwell Mews is the nicest and smallest site in the area and I liked the fact there’s only one road in and one out, so there’s no traffic passing by. Lizzy invited me to look around the show homes and it all stemmed from there.”
Julie purchased The Adams house type, a three-bedroom semi-detached home, after being impressed with the show home. She comments: “I loved the show home and between my first visit and completion day, I visited many times. I was so inspired by the interior design that I’ve copied some of the looks – if someone came to my house, they might think they were in the show home!”
Julie is settling in well at Bidwell Mews. She comments: “I’m very happy in this home. The hallway and bedrooms are actually more spacious than my previous house. The overall layout is exactly what I was hoping for, with the lounge at the back of the house and the kitchen at the front; lots of the other new builds I looked at had it the other way round. I especially like having three bedrooms and huge wardrobes and have transformed bedroom three into my dressing room. I’ve worked really hard on my interior design and didn’t want reminders of my old home. In fact, I was so excited that I bought everything before I’d even moved in. I’ve added a lovely water feature in the garden, which I can look at from the lounge and the garage is great for storage.”
Julie continues: “I’m so grateful that my new home is energy efficient. I first saw the show home last September and every time I visited, the home was toasty warm without the heating on. The plot I chose also has solar panels, which is a huge advantage. The insulation is wonderful and the quality is brilliant – I can be quite fussy, so that shows it must be good!”
Being a new resident to the local area, Julie is looking forward to exploring the neighbourhood and the nearby walks/cycle routes. Her experience with Storey Homes was a very positive one, as she comments: “The builders on site are very friendly and I even made them cupcakes as they helped me a lot when I moved in. The sales team were very supportive and when there were some issues with the chain for my old home, Storey Homes went out of their way to keep the house for me. They were so personable – even the sales and marketing director knew my name and situation. Overall, I’m so happy to have started this new chapter here.”
Prices at Bidwell Mews start from £375,000 for a three-bedroom home.
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