After a decade of house-hunting in Leicestershire, the Orme family has finally secured a brand new home at Redrow's Thorpe Meadows in Countesthorpe - thanks to the housebuilder's Part Exchange scheme.
Trading in their old 1960s home to help towards the cost of their new one, busy parents Sue and Richard were able to move quickly and simply - and are now enjoying an easier life in their low-maintenance property, freeing up more time to spend time with their four children.
"We had wanted to move for about ten years. Despite extending our four-bedroom home in Glen Parva we needed somewhere larger but hadn't looked seriously," Sue explains. "We were driving past Thorpe Meadows when we first saw the show homes and we knew instantly that we wanted one."
Fearing they might miss out on their dream home because they had an existing house to sell, the couple were delighted to discover they could take advantage of Redrow's Part Exchange scheme. As a result, they secured a four-bedroom detached ‘Salisbury' home in the same style as one of the development's two show homes.
Thorpe Meadows offers a choice of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes priced from £199,995, with the four-bedroom detached ‘Salisbury' available from £349,995 - and Part Exchange available on selected properties.
"Part exchange meant we didn't have to worry about missing out on the new home we wanted, as we didn't need to find a buyer for the house we'd outgrown. It made everything much quicker and easier, especially with four children."
Alternatively, for buyers without a property to sell, or those who have already sold subject to contract, the Help to Buy scheme is also available at Thorpe Meadows - reducing the initial cost of a new home thanks to a government-backed 20% equity loan that is interest-free for five years.
As busy directors of Tyson Spray Booth Services, Sue and Richard are both looking forward to spending less time on home repairs and renovations, less money on fuel bills, and more time with their four children - Lily, seven, Ellen, 11, Rebecca 14, and Daniel 16.
"We love that the house looks very traditional and has lots of character outside; while inside not an inch of space is wasted," Sue says. "The open-plan kitchen and dining area is beautiful with tall cabinets and extra wide drawers that offer plenty of storage. The lounge is spacious and there's also a study and utility. Plus, with two en suites and a downstairs cloakroom to complement the family bathroom, mornings are so much easier with everyone getting ready for work and school!"
She adds: "Our old house was built in the 1960s and we've already noticed how much warmer we are since moving. The thermostat is a few notches lower and we no longer need to supplement the central heating with an open fire."