A young couple didn’t let lockdown stop them from moving into their dream home at Buckler’s Park, Legal & General Homes’ development in the leafy Berkshire village of Crowthorne.
“As soon as we saw, we knew we wanted to live here”, says Amy, 28, from the kitchen of her new home. She and her partner Jamie, 28, have been together just over two years and first started their house hunt in January.
“I’m from Wokingham and wanted to stay local. Crowthorne is a lovely village and has a real community feel, so it’s perfect for us”, Amy explained. “I work nearby as an analyst, and Jamie is a sales manager based near High Wycombe but he [normally] also commutes to London a few days a week, so being well connected by road and train was a must. The location is really convenient as I’ll be able to walk to work – it’s only 20 minutes down the road, and it will be great to build in some exercise and fresh air into my daily routine.
“We looked at other developments in the area, but they just didn’t have the same wow factor as Buckler’s Park. The homes here are of such a high quality and finish – and everything, from the Bosch appliances to the Hive smart thermostat and the flooring, is included in the price – so once we’d seen the show homes at Buckler’s Park, everything else was a bit of a let-down.”
Jamie added: “The Legal & General sales team was great from the get-go. We felt that some of the other developers we spoke with didn’t take us seriously because we are young buyers. However, at Buckler’s Park the team was friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to help. This was really important because, although Amy has owned a house before and works in the industry, I’m a first-time buyer.”
Throughout the buying process, the couple were impressed by the housebuilder’s high standard of customer care.
Amy continued: “The lockdown was coming into force just as we were preparing to reserve and could have thrown a spanner in the works, but the team was quick to reassure us and address any questions we had so we never felt stressed about it. We worked with the same person from beginning to end, which made a huge difference. Debbie was very honest and open with us and talked us through what lockdown meant for our homebuying journey. It was exactly what we needed during an experience that was new for everyone. It meant that we could continue the process, reserve the plot and complete our purchase online.
“We had a virtual meeting over Teams where Debbie took us through every document in detail to make sure we were happy, just like she would have done in person at the visitors centre. The only thing we had to do was drop off our passport and proof of address. Everything went smoothly, and in the end, I probably preferred doing it that way because it meant that we could do everything from the comfort of our own home and had digital copies instantly.”
'Ealing' house type from Legal & General Homes
Following the relaxation of government guidelines on moving home during the lockdown, Amy and Jamie were able to move into their spacious three-bedroom, three-storey ‘Ealing’ home at Buckler’s Park in mid-May.
Amy commented: “The move itself was straightforward – we picked up our keys from a drop box, and the team were in touch with us throughout the day. We felt really well looked after despite not being able to see them in person, and it made a big difference that the home comes with everything you need, including an iPad pre-loaded with instruction manuals.
The Legal & General team had also put together a welcome hamper for us filled with produce from local shops.
“Being given sausages, eggs and jams from the local butcher was a really nice touch. It was a great way to introduce us to the brilliant local businesses in the area and we liked knowing that we were supporting the independent shops on our doorstep at this time,” added Amy.
Jamie continued: “One of the things that we love about our new home is the terrace outside the master bedroom and the garden – we wake up to the sun on the terrace in the morning and then have it in the garden in the afternoon. The garden is newly turfed, so it’s a blank canvas for us to make our own. We’re already appreciating the easy access to the outdoors having spent the past couple of months in lockdown. With Buckler’s Forest on the doorstep, there’s no shortage of open, green space that we’ll definitely be making the most of for walks and bike rides in the coming months.
“Having two spare bedrooms, as well as a separate study, means that there’s plenty of space for us while we’re both working from home – and the fast broadband that was wired to our home from move-in day definitely makes adjusting to the new routine easier.”
The couple has already met their new neighbours and are making the best of moving to a new home during these extraordinary times. Amy concuded: “Everyone’s been really keen to introduce themselves while sticking to social distancing rules. We all had a drink together while standing outside each of our front doors – it’s lovely that people are still making the effort despite the unusual circumstances!”
Currently, there’s a choice of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes for sale at Buckler’s Park, with prices ranging from £335,000 to £680,000. Legal & General Homes offers a virtual tour which gives house-hunters a detailed insight into the features, specification and feel of the home that they are interested in, while a member of the sales team will be on hand to answer all questions.
Find out more at www.landghomes.com.
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