First Project in Scothern from Deer’s Leap Properties

Scothern in rural Lincolnshire is set to welcome a new development of 33 luxury houses, perfect for those looking for charm and character within a country setting.

Matt Truelove, MD of Deer’s Leap Properties, tells us how his family business, Truelove Properties, prepared him to take the leap into setting up his own development business at the ripe old age of 28. 

How did Deer’s Leap Properties come about?

I bought my first plot of land from my family on Dunkirk Road and built a two-bed detached house on it. I bought a second plot of land in Welton and built a three-bed bungalow on it. These were small-scale projects which we completed under Truelove Properties. It wasn’t until the next plot in Nettleham, where we built three bungalows and one dormer bungalow, that we decided it needed to be a separate venture and so Deer’s Leap was created. Our first project under Deer’s Leap is Cathedral View on the Scothern site. I’m very lucky to have had the help I’ve had from my family; when I was younger, I used to think every plot of land was a goldmine, I thought my Dad was just over-cautious and negative but now I realise you can’t take any gambles.

Please tell us about your role and responsibilities as managing director of Deer's Leap.

I have various different roles and responsibilities and enjoy being hands-on on site on a daily basis, which means I can be looking at plans for current or future developments or organising trades on site. I try and oversee as much as I can from a sales perspective too, through to setting out the houses. At the moment a lot of my time is spent on-site making sure everything is running smoothly.  Being a family business helps in that people know me personally and I can trust that I don’t need to be on a particular job all the time.

How did growing up with parents who run their own successful property company, Truelove Property, prepare you for a career in home building?

I would say it’s the ideal preparation. I’ve been very lucky in that everybody in my family is hardworking and I have learnt a lot from my Dad, my Uncle and my Mum; they have all given up their time and asked for nothing in return. My grandparents were where it all started though. I remember walking around Lincoln with my Grandad when I was ten years old and being told ‘it’s the first generation that creates a business, it’s the second generation that grows a business and it’s the third generation that loses it all.’ That has stayed with me ever since!

What is the most valuable business lesson your parents have taught you?

They’ve given me a good understanding of all aspects of housebuilding and cemented the importance of attention to detail. I’m not an expert in any particular trade, though I’m a fairly good ground worker and bricklayer. My Dad had me on site from quite a young age, spending a few weeks at a time with different trades. I think you get a much better job from trades when they know they can’t pull the wool over your eyes.

Your first solo project via Deer's Leap is a 33-home development in Scothern: tell us more!

I’ve done a lot of single-dwelling projects so this is a fair bit bigger. We wanted to build houses that would fit well in the village. Nowadays you see a lot of national housebuilders coming along and throwing up 30+ houses made of similar materials that all look the same. Scothern is such a picturesque little village that it deserved something better. 

What are the main projects you're focusing on at the moment? 

At the moment we are probably 25% of the way through the Cathedral View development in Scothern and looking to start Truelove Property’s next site in Nettleham in the next month. These projects will keep us busy for the next four to five years.

What advice do you have for anybody looking to buy a new home?

I would say to make sure you know what you’re buying, take your time to look at room sizes and check the spec. I see a lot of show homes that all have three-quarter sized beds, to give the illusion of rooms being bigger; they can often be fitted with a different spec to that which you actually buy. 

Do Truelove Property's new homes tend to attract a typical 'type' of person?

We tend to build in rural areas, so generally our clients are people looking for a peaceful lifestyle in the countryside with all the benefits that it has to offer. 

Do your new build schemes offer any incentives to buyers such as Help to Buy, Part Exchange, etc.?

Yes, we offer these and we also give people a chance to have an input. Customers can tailor layouts to suit their needs, including kitchen designs and styles. So, customers have more than just a choice of three paint colours: as long as it’s discussed early enough we are more than happy to look at ideas such as moving walls around. 

What interior trends are you keen to introduce to your new homes in Scothern?

I think we are trying to reinvent what it means to buy a new build or at least change people’s perception of new builds. We are fitting the highest quality handcrafted kitchens through Krantz designs and, in my opinion, the interior spec beats that of any other housebuilder. We are trying to build homes that customers can be extremely proud of, with open-plan kitchens, diners and sun rooms. Each bedroom can fit a double bed in comfortably which again, I believe, sets us aside from other housebuilders, where the fourth bedroom generally tends to be a nursery/study. Our show house is the same spec as what we would build as standard, so when people walk round they’re not greeted with the constant comment ‘that’s an extra’. 

What are your predictions for the UK housing market in 2019? 

I think once the Brexit saga is sorted one way or another, things will just carry on as normal.

 To find out more or to arrange a viewing of Cathedral View, contact local estate agency William H Brown