Judith and Nigel’s story

Couple upsize to low-maintenance new build home with plenty of room for hobbies

While many people look to downsize in retirement, Judith and Nigel chose to upsize from a two-bedroom cottage to a four-bedroom detached house on Bovis Homes’ Oteley Gardens development – and one of the reasons was Judith’s new-found passion for sewing.

Judith, 63, was keen to have a sewing room where she could spend time on her favourite hobby and store all her equipment and fabrics – something that wasn’t possible in the couple’s previous home.

But now she has a dedicated sewing room in their new Bovis Homes property at the Oteley Gardens location in Shrewsbury.

Opting for more space

Judith and Nigel, 65, and their cat Sootie moved into their new four-bedroom Juniper home in June. “The Juniper offered plenty of space for us both to enjoy each other’s company as well as our own personal hobbies,” Judith said.

“Nigel appreciates the study which holds his computer, allowing him to increase his knowledge of bikes and cars.

“I took up sewing during the pandemic. Since then, I have sewn dresses, skirts, jumpers and tops for myself as well as my family and friends. My twin sister and I are visiting Peru next year, and I have sewn us both some culottes for when we go.”

Having more bedrooms also means that the couple can have family members to stay over.

Choosing a low-maintenance home

 “We had been wanting to move for a few years now,” said Judith, “We finally decided to put our house on the market in December 2021 and move out of our cottage in North Wales.

“We previously owned a two-bedroom detached cottage in Ynys, near Harlech. It was an old school which had been renovated and turned into a home. But the location was too rural.

“We were looking at new builds after deciding that our cottage required too much maintenance and we wanted to move to something which would be less demanding.”

Judith said the main selling points of the Juniper were the fact it had a bathroom, ensuite shower room and downstairs cloakroom, as well as a large kitchen and dining space, plus a detached garage.

“My favourite room is the kitchen and dining area because it overlooks the garden. It is very open and spacious, allowing plenty of room to have family and friends over.”

Located off Oteley Road, Oteley Gardens is within walking distance of Shrewsbury town centre, which offers an array of cafes, shops and restaurants. “When we visited Oteley Gardens, the location stood out the most to us. It was a short distance to Shrewsbury town centre and there were some fantastic rambling and cycling routes nearby, too.”

Supported through the buying process

Judith also praised the customer service they received at Oteley Gardens from area sales director Rebecca Blades, and sales assistant Elyse Turton.

She said: “Rebecca was magnificent. She helped us with any queries we had, such as adding fitted wardrobes into our bedroom as an added extra.

“And Elyse was also very communicative – she kept us informed on every step of the journey and build updates. I would certainly recommend Oteley Gardens to others looking to buy in the area.”

 

View more homes on Bovis Homes’ Oteley Gardens development and other developments near you.

 

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