Buck the trend and upsize
DOWNSIZING from a draughty old family home to a well-insulated new-build is a sensible option for many in their late 50s and over; but there are sensible arguments for upsizing too, especially when it comes to keeping the family together.
It’s why accountant Polly Darrah,
59, moved from her small flat to a three-bedroom home and 61-year-old divorcee Kevin Kidman upsized from a two-bedroom house he had been living in for nearly 20 years. Both had completely different reasons for their decisions.
Kevin moved so he would have room for his two-year-old granddaughter to stay, while Polly wanted a bigger home so she could look after her father and run a business from her spare room.
“With dad getting a bit unsteady, we thought it would be a good idea for us to live together,” says Polly, whose new house is in Herefordshire.
“Dad is enjoying having a garden to potter around in and I’m happier knowing I’m better placed to look after him.”
Polly’s father John was living in
Hereford while she lived in the nearby village of Bartestree when she spotted Crest Nicholson’s new development, Bartestree Grange.
“One of the reasons I wanted to stay in the area was because there are so many places I’ll be able to walk the dog,” says Polly, who bought a sprockador puppy – a cross between a cocker spaniel, springer spaniel and Labrador – to celebrate moving from a flat to a house.
Despite the rise in over-50s downsizing there are still family reasons to ‘big it up’… DEBORAH STONE talks to two people who did just that
“We’ve got the Black Mountains and the Malverns nearby that are beautiful,” she explains. “Bartestree Grange is perfectly located as it gives us access to stunning countryside like that but we’re also close enough to Hereford to not feel cut off.
“The village itself is well-stocked, too, with a shop, a pub, a village hall for activities and good bus routes.”
Over in Surrey it was Kevin’s long-held dream to move to a home big enough for his sons and their families to visit. He also wanted a garage so he didn’t have to park three streets from his home.
“When you reach a certain age you no longer want to compromise,” says Kevin.
“I’ve worked hard for the best part of my life, so I thought now would be a good time to finally enjoy some of the rewards.
“I’m a family man and buying a more spacious property would give me the room I need to properly entertain.as well as space, I really wanted a house that I would genuinely enjoy living in and that my sons and their families would enjoy coming to.”
Kevin was drawn to his three-bedroom Oak Meadows house inwoking’swest End by the development’s play area and the park just round the corner – perfect for his granddaughter.
As well as an extra bedroom he was also keen to have enough room for entertaining and says: “I love having a large dining area, where I can host friends or family for dinner.
“Having a nice big garden is another thing I really like about my new house.
“Now there is no excuse for not hosting barbecues in the summer.”
Oak Meadows is a 10-minute drive from commuter-belt Woking’s excellent facilities including a covered market open all week, New Victoria Theatre, Rhoda
Mcgaw Theatre and The Lightbox, a gallery and museum.
Oak Meadow homes inwoking are available from £530,000 to £545,000 (01483 660370; shanlyhomes.com), while at Bartestree Grange four miles from Hereford two, three and four-bedroom houses are for sale from £235,950 to £474,950 (01432 480108; crestnicholson.com).