Development updates

Out with the old and in with the new for Soham couple

- 26 Jul 17

When Soham couple Kevin and Sharon Halls decided they needed to move home, they also knew they had neither the time nor money to get their old place ready to sell on the market.

So, after some online research, they visited Bovis Homes to find out more about Home Exchange - a scheme where you can 'trade in' your old property to help you buy a brand-new home.

Kevin said: "We had lived in our old house for nearly 20 years and it really felt like it needed some work before we put it on the market. Rooms like the kitchen and bathroom were particularly out-dated.

"However, we didn't have the money or the time to spend on this, so Home Exchange was a perfect solution for us!"

Once the Halls had reserved a new Bovis Home, the Home Exchange scheme swung into action. Bovis Homes instructed two local estate agents to value the Halls' old home and, based on the market value, made them a price offer.

Kevin said: "We didn't have estate agents' fees to pay, so it's possible we received more than we would have done if we sold it privately. We're happy it was the right decision and it meant we could just concentrate on getting ready to move."

Kevin and Sharon could continue living in their old house until their new, three-bedroom Marsden home was built.

Moving from a one-bedroom house to a larger Bovis Home also meant the couple easily fitted the Home Exchange criteria that their old property was no more than 75% of the value of their new one.

Kevin said: "There are several house builders in the area, but we did our research and chose Bovis Homes for two reasons - the Home Exchange scheme and the specification.
"Our new home includes a fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, including a dishwasher, which was a huge plus for us as we weren't able to have one in our old home, and it was something we needed.

"We also have open-plan living downstairs. I wasn't sure about this at first but now we're here it's ideal and it's so good to have the extra space.

"We both work in Cambridge, but properties there are very expensive. Soham is affordable and convenient for visiting both sets of parents so we're very happy. It was a good decision to choose Bovis Homes and Home Exchange. It made what is normally a stressful process so much easier."