Family moves 12,000 miles for a new home in Market Rasen

There aren’t many home hunters who would have the courage and confidence to buy a new home over the Internet without having seen it – let alone from the other side of the world.

But that is just what Tracey Simpson and her family experienced when they moved from their existing home in New Zealand to the traditional Lincolnshire town of Market Rasen.

Tracey, partner Bill Martin and their two children Ellie and Luke are now settling into their new life and home at Stamford Homes’ De Aston Park development.

However, their search for a new home came second to their quest to find a suitable Montessori school for seven-year-old Ellie, to follow on from the education she had received in New Zealand.

Again, the Internet was key in Tracey’s search, and Ellie was found a place at the Lincolnshire Montessori School in Caistor, where she is now settled. Then came the search for somewhere to live.

Tracey said: “Both these decisions were extremely important to us – so much so that we wanted to find the school before the house! We had a lovely lifestyle in New Zealand so moving back to the UK after five years was a little daunting, particularly in terms of finding a home that ticked all the boxes.”

With Bill back in the UK due to work commitments, Tracey spent many hours searching the Internet for a new family home.

After settling on Stamford Homes, a close working relationship with De Aston Park sales advisor Claire Edwards began.

“Claire was great. She was able to answer all my questions in great detail, was very thorough in her correspondence and was a fantastic help – even down to measuring my windows for blinds and giving deliveries access to the home.

“Even though I was so far away, I felt like the whole thing was in safe hands.”

A far cry from the sprawling landscape of their New Zealand home at 26 hours flight away, the family are delighted with their new spacious four-bedroom home and good size garden, as well as their surroundings.

Tracey said: “Market Rasen is such a busy and vibrant town, it is a delight to walk into the town centre and make the most of all it has to offer. With Lincoln just a few miles away, it has been lovely to visit the Cathedral, Castle and enjoy that sense of history.”

Friendly neighbours at De Aston Park have also helped the family to form a new social circle. “Everyone has been so warm, welcoming and friendly,” added Tracey.

Sales advisor Claire Edwards said: “It’s lovely to know that myself and Stamford Homes have been able to make the family’s homebuying process go as smoothly as possible.”

De Aston Park currently has a number of three and four-bedroom homes ready to move into now, with others due for completion this summer.

Limited homes still available through the HomeBuy Direct shared equity scheme, where customers can own 100 per cent of their home for 70 per cent of the price.

Prices currently start from £174,940. For more details visit: stamford-homes.co.uk