At the age of 58, Belinda made the decision to downsize from her four-bedroom house in Swindon to a new build two-bedroom house at the Wichelstowe development. We chatted with her to find out more on why it’s worked out to be the best decision for her…
“I love interacting with people and being outdoors so working for Royal Mail as a postie has always made me very happy” remarks Belinda. Unfortunately, a devastating health issue meant Belinda had to take a break from work and reflect on her lifestyle. “I knew I had to make some financial and health decisions with the main one being to sell my home I’d bought on the Open Market and explore buying through Shared Ownership”
House hunting in Swindon
“My daughter has a Shared Ownership home so she recommended this buying scheme and thought it would be ideal for me”. Brenda explains with the help of her daughter, they set about searching online for Shared Ownership in Swindon and found out about SNG from there. “We visited a couple of other developments before applying for a home through SNG at Wichelstowe but they just didn’t compare. Wichelstowe has the nature and open spaces that other sites didn’t so we just knew it was the right place for me - nothing could compete!”
As the homes at Wichelstowe hadn’t been built yet, Belinda was advised by her Sales Consultant that she could choose a plot off-plan. Sharing her experience of this Belinda remarks “I found the floorplans SNG provided to be a useful guide when choosing my ‘plot’. It meant I could plan out where I’d put all my furniture, so I knew the home I chose was the right one for me. Zachary my Sales Consultant was also a great support with any questions I had, and it wasn’t long before I got to go on site and see my new home!”.
Moving in
“I can honestly say I felt at home from the moment I moved in and had a strong sense of calm knowing buying my home through Shared Ownership was the right decision for me”.
We asked Belinda what it was like to downsize “I don’t feel I have lost space; in fact the layout feels well thought out...the bedrooms feel bigger than my old home! Living by myself, it’s reassuring to know that I have a warm home that feels manageable to maintain. My garden is such a beautiful space and there’s even been consideration for a hedgehog run across the back of it!”
Swindon life
“Being an outdoor person; I have been exploring all the walks and cycle paths right on my doorstep at Wichelstowe which is great for my recovery. Just the other day I took my daughter to the Hall & Woodhouse pub which is a five-minute stroll. We sat outside and watched the canal boats go by – it’s just idyllic!”
Belinda tell us what Swindon has to offer for people looking to put down roots in the area. “I have lived in Swindon all my life and I can certainly say it’s now an ‘up and coming’ area for people looking to settle. There are plenty of amenities close by and the train links are great. I’m looking forward to a new gym and shopping mall being built nearby.
My son lives in the Cotswolds which is also a short drive from this location, so I find visiting him so convenient”.
The future
Shared Ownership offers flexibility for prospective buyers so we wanted to ask Belinda what her future plans are now she’s settled. “I plan to stay here for quite some time, I live on a quiet road with friendly neighbours and cannot wait to continue exploring the area. It’s given me financial stability and it’s reassuring to know that I can staircase in the future which is something I am considering. I’d recommend Shared Ownership to anyone house hunting here in Swindon – it’s worked for me!”
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