A new Barratt Home - just what the doctor ordered

Dr Kim Gooding couldn’t believe her luck when she decided to take advantage of the seven-day part exchange service currently on offer at Barratt Homes’ King’s Heath development on the outskirts of Exeter.

“I told one of my friends I was hoping to move just before she went on a two-week holiday in June,” she explained. “By the time she got back, the house purchase had gone through and I was settled in my brand new home.”

Although raised in Somerset, Dr Gooding (33), a researcher at the Peninsular Medical School in Exeter, has lived in the historic city for nine years.

“I was living in an end terrace, but wanted something that offered more space and a separate dining room,” she said. “Friends told me that I would probably have to compromise as most new houses within my price range are quite small.”

Dr Gooding decided to buy an Essex style three-bedroom mid-terrace at King’s Heath with an asking price of £216,000. To her delight, she found that her new home “ticked all the boxes”.

“The house has a slightly different design so that everything opens up in front of you and there’s lots of space and character,” she continued. “I do have a separate dining room and there’s a garden and garage with parking space.

“I’m really pleased because, in addition to moving so quickly, I didn’t have to compromise on any of the features that were important to me, and the Barratt Homes staff were really brilliant.”

Despite initial concerns about moving to the outskirts of Exeter, Dr Gooding is more than happy with the local transport available. “There’s a park and ride next to the development which takes me directly to the hospital and the trains from nearby Digby Station get you into the city centre within eight minutes. There are also plenty of local buses so commuting is easy.”

With the Barratt Seven Day Part Exchange Service, the housebuilder arranges for three independent professional valuations of a buyer’s existing property and makes a fair offer based on that within seven days - cutting out estate agents fees, chains and last minute haggling over price.

The scheme has been very popular and now only a few properties remain at this site of nearly 400 homes. These include two, three and four bedroom homes with prices ranging from £172,500 to £249,950.

For further details of the homes and part exchange options at King’s Heath log on to Barratthomes.co.uk.