Off-plan buy pays off for young couple

Buying a new three-storey home off-plan at The Sycamores, a George Wimpey development in Boldon, Tyne & Wear, has really paid off for a young couple from Sunderland.

Kirsty Lilley, 30, and her husband Paul, 28, were the first to reserve a home at The Sycamores after seeing the plans for the development, enabling them to select their favourite house and plot.

The Lilley’s new four bedroom townhouse is now finished and the couple moved in just after Christmas.

Paul, a broad band consultant in Gateshead says: “The plans for the house and the development really appealed to us; they were very detailed so we were able to see exactly what we were buying.

“The location is also ideal. We wanted to be in Boldon because it’s convenient for us in terms of getting to work and staying close to family and friends, and there are plenty of good shops, pubs and restaurants nearby.”

Because the couple were the first in line for a new home at The Sycamores, they were given the pick of the plots and are delighted with their house and garden in a corner of the development.

The Lilleys are no strangers to buying new properties; this is the third new property that the couple have bought off-plan.

“One of the biggest advantages to buying off-plan,” says Paul, “is that you are guaranteed it for the price it is marketed at when the homes first go up for sale.

“This means that you stand to make an investment on your property, because there is a likelihood that it will increase in value once the homes are actually constructed.”

To reduce the stress involved with house moving, the Lilleys took advantage of George Wimpey’s Easymover scheme, where the company organised the sale of their existing home in Low Fell. Everything went very smoothly and George Wimpey sold the house quickly.

As a result of using the scheme, the couple estimate they have saved around £10,000 on the sale of their property because the housebuilder paid the advertising costs and estate agent fee as well as making sure they received the amount they needed from their house sale to buy their new property.

The Lilley’s new three-storey home offers the couple plenty of space. The whole top floor serves as the master bedroom with an en-suite, and it has a very spacious living room and kitchen on the ground floor, as well as three good-sized bedrooms on the middle level.

Kirsty, who works in corporate banking in Newcastle, says: “We really liked the design of the house because it offers us lots of flexibility; we’re planning to use one of the bedrooms as a study because Paul sometimes works from home.

“Because we bought so early in the construction process, we’ve been able to choose certain fixtures and fittings inside the house, such as the tiles in the kitchen. We also arranged for George Wimpey to turf the garden, so that we can make the most of it this year.”

The Lilleys have been very satisfied with the customer service they have received from George Wimpey North East. Paul comments: “During the sale of our house, we received weekly updates from George Wimpey on how things were going, so we feel as though we’ve been well informed along the way.”

For more information on the Sycamores drop into the sales office on Henley Way, Boldon, open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Details can also be viewed online at Georgewimpey.co.uk.