The Perfect Place After Living In 30 Houses In Three Countries

Tracy Worth finally feels at home after living in three countries and more than different 30 houses, having recently moved into her four-bedroom ‘forever home’ with her husband Calvyn at Ashberry Homes’ Amber Rise development in Ripley.

Tracy, an information security manager, said: “My father was in the RAF and we moved around a lot as children in the UK, Germany and The Netherlands. I have moved about a bit as an adult too. I reckon I must have lived in more than 30 houses in my life, and this is the only one that I have ever really felt settled in so quickly.

“We only moved into this house in December but it already feels like home to me. I can’t believe how comfortable I feel living here.”

Tracy and Calvyn, a 51-year-old IT manager, bought their dream home – an ‘Albertine’ house type – after using the Home Exchange scheme offered by Ashberry Homes.

“We were living in a three-bedroom 1970s semi-detached house in Ilkeston and it was time for a refresh,” she said. “We were thinking of a full redecoration project but then Calvyn’s father passed away and we decided we wanted a fresh start.

“After looking at other homes on other developments online, we saw the ‘Albertine’ at Amber Rise and were really taken with it. We visited the site in September and that sealed the deal for us. We wanted that house on that development. At that point, we had not even put our house on the market, so we talked to the sales team at the site who told us about Home Exchange. Basically, they bought our house for a fair price and we bought theirs.

“It meant that all the uncertainty was removed from the process and we could be sure that we would get the house that we had set our hearts on. We got a good price for our house without any of the usual hassle. It was so effortless and so quick. The sales team led by Ben did all the work for us and they were marvellous.”

The Home Exchange initiative sees Ashberry Homes purchase a buyer’s property for an agreed price, after instructing two independent estate agents to value the house.

Tracy and Calvyn paid £330,000 for their new house, putting down a £110,000 deposit. They now pay £1,400 a month on a mortgage.

“We are paying that much so that we can pay off the house in 14 years,” she said. “I want to be mortgage-free by the time I am 60, so we can relax a bit and kick back.”

Tracy said she loves nothing better than relaxing in her spacious open-plan kitchen/dining lounge area: “It’s absolutely huge. It is my favourite part of the house – and everyone who has been here has commented on the amount of space. We had a big family dinner for 12 people where we were able to put two tables together in the dining room area and there was still room left to move around.

“We have even put a TV and sofa in and it works. We are a close family and when we all get together it’s great that we can all congregate comfortably in the one area. I love it.”

“At the old house we didn’t have much space upstairs or downstairs but here we have the perfect amount. Calvyn has his office/man cave where he goes to do some work and also relaxes playing computer games. I have converted the spare bedroom into my office space as I usually work from home. Calvyn’s 45-minute commute to work is about the same as it was at the old house and so is my short walk to my desk.”

Outside, the pair have big plans for their large back garden. Tracy, who is a keen cook, said she is going to grow her own vegetables, herbs and even fruit. She said: “We have added a greenhouse in the garden already and planted a number of trees, including four fruit trees – one plum, one apple and two pear trees. We plan to extend the patio area, put in a barbecue area and build a pond. The garden gets the sun most of the day and we can’t wait to get it how we want so we can enjoy it with family and friends.

“Our dog Storm, a 10-year-old Alaskan Malamute, just about lives in the garden. The only time he leaves it is to come in for food and at night or to go out for his twice-daily walk across the fields over the road or along the lovely 20-minute stroll into Ripley.

“I can’t believe that after all this time I have finally found the house that feels like a proper home to me. They say that home is where the heart is and my heart is most definitely here in this house.”  

There is currently a choice of three- and four-bedroom homes available to reserve at Amber Rise, off Whiteley Road, with prices starting from £261,900. Find out more at www.ashberryhomes.co.uk.

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