Meet the neighbours, says Bovis
29/05/2008
All over the country new developments are springing up - offering purpose-designed and built retirement apartments.
It’s a very different way of life for many people, who will have spent most or all of their lives in a house or bungalow. You are, almost inevitably sacrificing some of the space you are used to. You may well be living on an upper floor of a development, with a shared garden facility rather than tending to your own.
And, it has to be said, you are probably living closer to your neighbours than you have been used to.
Of course the “upsides” of such a lifestyle can be enormous: no maintenance to worry about; no garden threatening to run rampant; fixed, known running costs; the possibility of being able to bank part of the proceeds from the sale of your house to act as a financial buffer for the years ahead; and perhaps most important of all for many people, having a ready-made community on your doorstep which you can choose to be part of.
Bovis Homes Retirement Living has developments all over the country, with seven currently having apartments available for purchase, and their approach is a neat and novel one: “meet us before you buy”.
Anyone interested in finding out what life is like can join in the many social events that the owners hold at the developments - or simply turn up for tea or coffee and chat to the other owners.
Yvvone Hammond manages sales at their Redhill development. “Buying an apartment at Holmesdale Manor is unlike any other type of housing on the market,” says Yvonne. “Where else would you get an invitation from fellow owners to join them for a fish and chip supper, a games evening or a Friday evening ladies’ ‘happy hour’?”
Bovis’s new development of 41 apartments for over 55s is located in the heart of Redhill and looking over Memorial Park. “The owners here are keen to lead an active independent life,” says Yvonne, “but they’re incredibly
friendly, enjoy their neighbours’ company and look out for each other. And that’s why we extend a welcome to anyone interested in knowing more about this style of living to come along to one of the weekly social activities or even ‘try before they buy’ by staying in our guest suite.”
Apartments at Holmesdale start at £274,950 for a one-bedroom apartment and £299,950 for a two-bedroom apartment. And for that owners get a lot more than just a superbly-appointed apartment, thoughtfully designed to cater for people who may have increasing mobility problems.
This new development, which enjoys lovely views from many of the apartments over Memorial Park, is conveniently located close to the town centre with its wide range of amenities including supermarkets, banks, post office and library. There are excellent transport links with the bus depot and train station - both of which are located close by.
Developments like Holmesdale Manor are becoming increasingly popular;
and, maintains Yvonne, they are changing the way people live. “One
of the issues affecting all of us, but particularly older people, is an anxiety about leaving our property for very long. In a safe, secure development like this, that’s not a problem.”
For further information about this and Bovis’s other developments
around the UK, visit the website below or telephone 0845 470 7207.