A great exchange at Eden Village

When retired couple John Bray, 62, and his wife Margaret, 60, decided to ask John’s 88-year old mother, Daisy, to live with them, they needed to find a larger home. After living in Bexley for 27 years, they wanted to move further away from London to a quieter area within easy reach of good amenities. The answer was Ward Homes’ Eden Village development in Sittingbourne, where the family has bought a spacious five-bedroom house.

In order to move, both the family homes had to be sold. Whilst Daisy’s sold quickly, John and Margaret had difficulties. John says: “Before looking at Eden Village, we’d found another house we liked, but when we had problems selling our home, the developer was unable to help us.”

John called Ward Homes to enquire about homes in Kent and was told about Eden Village. Margaret says: “We went to have a look and instantly loved the development. The five-bedroom house has plenty of space and was just what we were looking for. The only problem was that we couldn’t afford it without getting the full asking price for our old home, which seemed very unlikely.”

Ward Homes came to the rescue by buying the couple’s old house through its Part Exchange scheme and reducing the price of the new property. There’s no hassle, no estate agent fees or last minute haggling over price.

John explains: “Without having to pay estate agents fees and with Ward Homes helping us towards the cost of Stamp Duty and legal fees the offer was too good to miss.”

Once agreed, everything proceeded very quickly and it took less than two months from viewing to moving in. “Everyone was so helpful. The builders even found some topsoil for my garden and helped me lay it down,” comments John, adding: “Our whole experience of moving house has been so good that if we ever move again, I’ll certainly go to Ward Homes first.”

The family is now enjoying a more relaxed way of life in Sittingbourne in a large house that has plenty of space for them all and a lovely outlook across open land.

Although Margaret and Daisy do not drive, they find it easy to get around on foot or by public transport. Sittingbourne’s high street shops are within walking distance; so too is Swallows leisure centre, where Margaret goes swimming. Sittingbourne Memorial hospital and a doctors’ surgery are both nearby and Margaret can take the bus to visit her mother in the local nursing home. Margaret adds: “It’s easy to take the bus from Sittingbourne to Gravesend, where I like to visit the shopping centre.”

Travelling by car is equally easy. The excellent road network around Sittingbourne gives access to the A2 in about ten minutes and to the Dartford Tunnel and M25 in about 20 minutes.

Eden Village is only about 15 minutes from the coast where John and Margaret enjoy walking their dog and frequenting the very good seafood restaurants.

Currently available for sale at Eden Village are three, four and five-bedroom houses, priced from £199,950. To help families with an existing home to sell, Ward Homes is offering to buy their old home through its popular Part Exchange scheme, which means no chain and no hassle, and saves the cost of estate agents fees and the Home Improvement Pack.

Eden Village is located on Bluebell Drive, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 4EL.

For more information, log on to Wardhomes.co.uk.