When life threw a curveball at new retirees Simon and Katie, they craved simplicity.
Their journey north began years earlier; after Simon spent three years commuting, the couple finally made the leap to Shropshire. They initially settled into a 200-year-old coach house, before moving into a 1980s renovation project on the fringe of Market Drayon in late 2020.
As seasoned homeowners and no strangers to “doing up” a home, they set to work on making the house their own. This wasn’t long before Katie received a life-changing diagnosis that made renovating suddenly feel like an unnecessary load.
In search of a new lifestyle promising more certainty and ease, the couple looked into buying new.
It was then that they turned to Tilia Homes, trading the physical and mental toll of a fixer-upper for the comfort of a home that would be ready and waiting for them from day one – allowing them to focus on the things that matter most.
Certainty in an uncertain time
In 2020, at the midst of a global pandemic and personal life changes, the world felt unpredictable for Simon and Katie. They realised that more than ever, they needed a home that worked for them. “We made the joint decision to radically change our lives,” Simon explained. “And to do this, we needed a property that better suited whatever the future holds.”
The couple settled on a new build with a few non-negotiables on their list: space, location, and functionality. As Katie puts it: “We set out with a fixed list of requirements and Tilia Homes ticked all our boxes.”
Close to town, close to nature
Moving from the quiet seclusion of the countryside, Simon and Katie wanted to be close to town without feeling “hemmed” in. They were looking for convenience without losing that connection to nature. At Montgomery Place, they found exactly that (and more): “Our new home backs onto open fields, giving us the sense of space we love, with the added bonus of overlooking the rugby club.”
While the open views offer a calming backdrop, the club is where the action is – and it didn’t take Simon long to find his bearings: “As a big rugby fan, Simon has already found his way there,” Katie teased. “We’ve both ventured round and found the players and fans to be incredibly welcoming from the onset. We are so pleased have such a thriving scene right on our doorstep.”
More room for the things that matter
Downsizing can come with a set of apprehensions, and a big hurdle can be the fear that a smaller house equals less comfort. Simon and Katie worried that the jump from their much larger property could feel like a big compromise, but those concerns soon vanished the moment they moved in.
“Our main concern was that we might feel claustrophobic,” they admit. “But friends and relatives who have visited all remarked on how surprisingly spacious the house is.”
The surprises don’t end there for Simon and Katie, who have discovered features that weren’t on their original wish list. While an ensuite wasn’t a necessity, they’ve found the extra bathroom – and specifically the generous size of the shower – to be a daily luxury.
What could have been a dealbreaker, though, was the garage. Understandably, moving from a double to a single garage felt like a bit of a ‘trust the process’ moment. “Simon has far too many toys to store, so the garage was a real test of faith!”, Katie laughs. “But we actually found the space was much larger than half of our old double garage. It fits everything perfectly – everything is in its place.”
A sustainable new chapter
Moving from a 200-year house and a 1980s renovation project to a modern home is a big shift, especially when it comes to the “hidden” costs of running a house.
“One huge weight off our minds in our retirement was that running costs were not a burden,” Simon explains. “In our old house, we were used to high maintenance and even higher bills.”
“The energy efficiency here has been a revelation. With our new home, we take comfort in knowing it’s built to modern standards and essentially looks after itself,” Katie adds.
For Simon and Katie, this was a move not just for today, but with the future in mind. They wanted a home that would be easy to manage for years to come, allowing them the freedom to focus on life’s simpler pleasures, whether that’s a walk around the surrounding fields, supporting the rugby club, or each other!
A five-star experience from start to end
Even for seasoned homeowners, the process of buying a new build can feel like unchartered territory. Having always navigated the “used” property market, Simon and Katie found themselves facing a new set of questions – and a complicated house chain that added a layer of pressure to their move.
“Moving can be incredibly stressful, but being in an extended chain definitely kept us on our toes,” Katie noted. “But our sales executive, Carol Bradshaw, was a steady hand throughout. She guided us through the entire process, making sure everything stayed on track. Even when there was a lot happening behind the scenes, Carol made the whole experience feel very safe.”
“The site team were just fantastic,” Simon added. “From our very first visit to the day we moved in, they were always on hand to help. Their communication with us was excellent throughout.”
Quality that comes as standard
New to the world of modern construction, Simon and Katie had high standards for their “forever” home, rightly so. “We’d heard all the stories about shoddy workmanship, but in truth, the reality is the opposite. We’ve been so impressed with the quality of the finished product,” says Simon.
This level of care continued long after the keys were handed over: “The site team, led by Joe Day, have been fantastic,” Katie affirmed. “The ‘snagging’ process was a new concept for us, but Joe was always on hand to resolve things personally or drive contractors to a timely solution."
“They’ve gone above and beyond to make sure we are happy, which has made settling in so much easier.”
