Downsizing – The perfect solution

When their son and daughter left the family home for university, Edward and Karen Wright decided to release the capital in their existing property, in Tichfield, less than six miles from Wickham, by downsizing to a modern home of more manageable proportions. Knowle Village, a development by Berkeley Homes Southern, near Wickham, in Hampshire, provided the perfect solution.

"With an acre of land, our previous house was becoming too difficult for us to maintain. As soon as we walked into the showhome at Knowle Village, we knew it was right for us," commented Edward, "We put down the deposit immediately, despite having nearly completed on another purchase, and moved in within four weeks. I own a business, Hampshire Feature Fires, with a showroom in Drayton, and my wife teaches in Southampton, so we needed to stay in the local area.

"We wanted something that was ready to go. As it was the showhome, the property came complete with all the furnishings, light fittings and curtains, which was very useful for us. Even though we are downsizing, we chose a three-storey, four-bedroom property, so there is still plenty of room inside. There are two bedrooms and a bathroom on the top floor, which we've allocated to the children when they come home - they've got their own penthouse suite! My wife and I have the master bedroom, with en suite, on the first floor. The property price fitted easily within our budget, so it was an easy decision for us."

In Knowle Village, Berkeley Homes has created an exceptional new community catering for all types of home buyers with a mixture of new and refurbished properties. The 53-acre location, which originally accommodated the mid 19th century Knowle Hospital, now comprises extensive amenities including a community centre, convenience store and nursery, in addition to around 550 new homes, two playgrounds and a newly opened village green, where local residents will be able to play football and cricket. For further amenities, the local bus service provides a regular service to Wickham and Fareham, which between them offer substantial shopping, education and leisure facilities.

The M27, only a few minutes from Knowle Village, connects to the M3 at junction 4, later linking to the M25 and London. London Waterloo can be reached from Fareham Station in approximately one hour and 40 minutes, or from Southampton Station in approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Southampton International Airport, reached via the M27, provides flights to many domestic and European destinations.

Interested buyers may wish to take advantage of the Berkeley Easy Move scheme, which pays up to £5,000 towards estate agents' fees and removes much of the burden of selling one's own home. Berkeley Homes arranges for valuations from local estate agents, agrees a realistic selling price, liaises with the estate agent and monitors progress once an offer is made.

Alternatively, through the Home Exchange offer, Berkeley Homes agrees to take the buyer's current home as part payment towards a new Berkeley Homes property. It will make an offer based on at least two independent valuations, appoint a surveyor to carry out a comprehensive survey of the buyer's existing property and appoint solicitors to monitor the exchange of contracts.

Three-bedroom homes are available from £250,000, while four and five-bedroom homes are available from £370,000. For further information, log on to Berkeleyhomes.co.uk.