“Knowing when to sell the family home is never an easy decision, but sometimes the moment chooses for us and we just need to recognise it,” Julie commented.
Last year, Julie and George decided to sell the four bedroom dormer bungalow they’d lived in for over 30 years and move to The Cornish Quarter in Wadebridge, using Bovis Homes’ Home Exchange scheme.
George, 63, is a retired lawyer and Julie, 58, works part-time as a legal secretary. They have been married for 36 years and have two daughters and a four month old granddaughter who live near St Austell.
Speaking about their experience, Julie said: “We’d lived in our family home in St Austell for such a long time and knew it would be a difficult decision to move. The children had grown up there, we’d spent time renovating and had added the dormer upstairs. However, it became clear to us both that it was time to move. We wanted to be closer to my parents and George had retired. We recognised that we were suddenly ready for a fresh start and definitely didn’t want a renovation project!
“We’d built a home when we were first married and remembered how lovely it felt that everything was finished. I’d grown up in Bodmin and had always loved Wadebridge so when we saw The Cornish Quarter it felt like the perfect place for us. It’s only seven miles away and feels like I’ve come home.”
Julie and George – who enjoy walks, holidays and going to the theatre in their spare time – bought a four bedroom Aspen house and moved just before Christmas.
Julie added: “I love our home, the bedrooms are a good size and we have a large open plan kitchen and dining room with bi-fold doors that lead out to a spacious south-facing garden. It’s a really flexible home, with plenty of space for family and friends to stay and is just the kind of house we were looking for.
“We’ve not received any bills yet but we’ve been impressed with how warm our new house is, we’ve definitely noticed a difference in temperature compared to our previous property – it doesn’t seem to get cold and is well insulated.”
The couple bought their home using Home Exchange, which meant Bovis Homes bought their property so they could move without a chain.
Julie said: “Using Home Exchange was brilliant, it was very smooth and meant we were quick to complete on moving day – we were carrying boxes through our new doors at 10.30am!
“Overall, it’s been a wonderful experience. Beth, Rachel and Vicky in the sales team were fantastic and it was very memorable choosing our kitchen. Recognising our needs made us realise when it was the right time to move and we couldn’t be happier!”
Pete Castley, area sales and marketing director, commented: “We’re delighted that Julie and George are settled in their new home and found the Home Exchange scheme helpful.
“The Cornish Quarter is located close to the sea and boasts excellent travel links, perfect for families, couples and downsizers. It’s a part of the world you just don’t want to leave and it pulls you back if you ever do go, so we’re not surprised it’s proving popular with locals.”
Situated near good schools, the development is also close to a range of shops, cafes, restaurants, breath-taking scenery and the renowned Camel Trail walk and cycle path.
Featuring a collection of two, three, four and five bedroom properties, along with attractive areas of open space and a play park, The Cornish Quarter will comprise stunning new homes finished in natural stone or render – complemented by slate, stone and red brick detailing.
It will also support the local community by contributing over £1.15 million towards education, highways and off-site open space.
